Mat-Su Borough election field begins to take shape

This October, voters in the Mat-Su Borough will choose their mayor, three school board members, and three assembly members, including the seat that represents the Upper Valley. Thus far, four candidates have registered with the Alaska Public Offices Commission to run for borough office, which allows their campaigns to both receive and spend funds.

Two candidates have registered with the state as candidates for Mayor of the Mat-Su Borough. Larry DeVilbiss, the current mayor, has registered to seek re-election.   Vern Halter, who currently sits on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly representing District 7, has also registered with APOC to run for mayor. Halter is not eligible to run to retain his assembly seat due to term limits.

Willow resident Randall Kowalke has registered to run for the Borough Assembly seat that Halter is vacating. Wasilla resident Robert Doyle has also registered to run for the assembly, although for a different seat.

Three individuals have filed letters of intent with the state, which allows them to receive campaign donations, but not to spend them, and the state does not officially consider them candidates, yet.

Sarah Welton of Wasilla has filed a letter of intent to seek re-election to the Mat-Su School Board. The other two letters of intent, one filed by Erick Giorgiana of Palmer and one with the candidate name “Exploratory,” but filed by Roger Purcell of Houston, do not specify the office they might eventually run for.

While all candidates may currently, the borough’s candidate registration will take place from July 20^th through the 31^st.  The Mat-Su Borough election will be held on October 6^th.