Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss won re-election by a wide margin on Tuesday in one of many municipal elections statewide. Devilbiss defeated challenger Mark Masteller, 5,566 to 3,722, according to results posted on the borough's website. Turnout was about 15 percent boroughwide.
In Juneau, voters picked former Assemblyman Merrill Sanford as mayor, replacing Bruce Botelho, who was prohibited by term limits from running again. The Juneau Empire reports Sanford led Cheryl Jebe 3,334 to 2,674 after votes were counted Tuesday.
In the Fairbanks North Star Borough, incumbent Mayor Luke Hopkins won a second three-year term with more than 51 percent of the vote. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports he defeated his main challenger, Norm Phillips, a former Doyon, Ltd. executive who took 45.4 percent of the vote.
Bryce Ward defeated three others to win the North Pole mayoral election. He currently holds a city council seat. He will replace Doug Isaacson, who served two terms.
In Palmer, voters approved a public smoking ban by a wide margin, 452 to 283.
