Elections: Talkeetna Council elections on Tuesday

The Talkeetna Community Council at their September meeting voted to extend the nomination process for voting for Board of Directors if the bylaws allow.

Council chair Billy Fitzgerald says the council bylaws say nothing about continuing the nomination process after the September meeting.  The council had less nominees than open seats on the ballot this year, something long time resident Roberta Sheldon called “unprecedented”.

Council member Meghaan Vaughan resigned from the board after getting a new job and moving.  That left one vacant seat as well as the 4 open seats for the October election.

According to Fitzgerald there will be no early or absentee voting as there was last year.  All residents living in the Talkeetna council area can vote at the Talkeetna library for the slate of nominees on October 5^th, the same day as Borough elections.

The ballot now includes 5 candidates, according to Fitzgerald. He added there may be more interested individuals but they have not committed to run for election. There are 5 open seats.  The slate of candidates for the council Board of Directors so far is Larry Dearman, Mary Farina, incumbent Sharon Montanigno, Deb Wessler and Robert Gerlach.

(Voting for residents in the Talkeetna Council area is from 8 a.m. to 8 pm at the Talkeetna Library on October 5th)