Candidate For Mat Su Borough Mayor arrested

One of the seven candidates for Mat Su Borough mayor was arrested last week for failing to appear in court.

Emil Fondahn was supposed to appear in court on April 14^th on charges that he violated license restriction from a prior drunk driving conviction. Fondahn admitted that he missed the date and thought he had until the end of the month. His driving privileges were restricted from a conviction earlier this year for driving under the influence. As one of the terms of that conviction, Fondahn was prohibited from consuming alcohol. On April 2^nd he was picked up for driving with a revoked license and a breathalyzer test detected alcohol on his breath. Fondahn will fight the conviction, saying that he takes asthma medication, which has alcohol in it.

Candidates Steve Menard and David Straub have prior record as well. Menard was arrested for driving under the influence in 2004 and Straub, a former Iditarod musher, was found guilty of animal cruelty after animal care officers in the Borough confiscated 28 of his dogs.

Residents of the Mat Su borough will go to the polls on June 9^th to select a mayor to replace Curt Menard, who died in March.