Borough Assembly rejects attempt to put election changes before Mat-Su voters

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly rejected an attempt on Tuesday to reconsider the ordinance that would allow candidates for elected borough offices to list a party affiliation.

Assembly Member Bill Gamble asked for the reconsideration vote. His stated reason for doing so was to put the measure on the ballot for voters to decide whether to approve it as part of the November Election.

“I don’t care how a vote on this issue turns out. I really don’t. Whatever the voters decide, I’m okay with. Even though I am a Republican, a lifelong Republican and a conservative, I believe that this issue is such a significant change to how we conduct our elections. It should be decided by the voters. The elections are the people’s elections are not our elections. Let them decide.”

Since the founding of the Mat-Su Borough, its municipal elections have been non-partisan. Gamble says allowing candidates to declare a political party would fundamentally change that.

“To say that this is not a partisan issue is very disingenuous.  Just because it’s voluntary, I don’t think that that makes it not partisan. Allowing candidates to put their party affiliation on ballots for elections makes our elections partisan regardless if it’s voluntary or not. It’s an attempt to give one party an advantage over another party.”

Assembly Member Stephanie Nowers agreed with Gamble. She says changes to the borough’s electoral system should be left to Mat-Su voters.

“The residents deserve to have the vote on whether we do this. And honestly, however they vote is fine. But it’s not up to the seven of us. It’s up to all of them to decide. So I hope my fellow Assembly members can support sending it to the voters.”

The motion to reconsider failed with Assembly Members Nowers, Gamble, and Tim Hale in favor.