Absentee ballots change District 7 results, extend Halter's mayoral lead

After counting over 2,000 absentee and questioned ballots, only one race in the Mat-Su Borough election has changed leaders.

Before the absentee and questioned ballots were counted, former assembly member Doyle Holmes held a fifty-two-vote lead on opponent Randall Kowalke for the District 7 assembly seat. According to the results posted early Monday afternoon, Kowalke received a significant boost from absentee ballots, and now leads Holmes by thirty-three votes.

In the Mat-Su Borough mayoral contest, challenger Vern Halter significantly expanded his lead over incumbent Larry DeVilbiss. Before absentee and questioned ballots, Halter held a 189-vote-lead. Monday’s count shows Halter with a 451-vote-lead.

Monday’s results are still considered unofficial. The Mat-Su Borough Assembly is scheduled to certify the election at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. There is not an automatic recount provision in borough code. A losing candidate has until the certification meeting to apply for a recount if desired. As of Monday afternoon, no recount application has been announced.