Anchorage Daily News

Wasilla's five-way race for mayor ended in a deadlock Tuesday between candidates Marty Metiva and Verne Rupright. The two men, a nonprofit executive director and a defense attorney, will face off in an Oct. 28 runoff.

Kenai Peninsula voters also went to the polls Tuesday, electing challenger Dave Carey over incumbent Mayor John Williams. With all the precincts reporting, Carey had about 64 percent of the vote.

Kenai Peninsula voters also passed a proposition limiting the sales tax on nonprepared food items to June, July and August. The measure won 60 percent of the vote.

And in North Slope Borough voting, results posted late Tuesday night showed incumbent North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta winning re-election with more than 53 percent of the vote. His closest challenger, George Ahmaogak Sr., had nearly 40 percent.

In the Mat-Su borough, two bond propositions, one to use $15 million in road bonds to help build connecting roads throughout the borough and another $19.03 million bond for safety projects at local schools were passing. Both had roughly 1,000-vote margins after all precints had reported.

Absentee ballots were still coming in Tuesday. The borough canvassing board was scheduled to start reviewing absentee and questioned ballots today, with final results expected by Monday.

Other Mat-Su results:

• In the race for Wasilla mayor, Marty Metiva was leading with just over 30 percent of the vote; Verne Rupright had just under 30 percent, Greg Koskela had about 20 percent, Steve Menard had about 14 percent and Mike Carson had 5 percent with both city precincts counted.

• In the race for Wasilla City Council Seat C, Leone Harris led the vote count with 58 percent of the votes to challenger Gretchen O'Barr's 41 percent.

• In the race for Wasilla City Council Seat D, Nancy Hall had 53 percent of the votes and Mary Kvalheim had 47 percent.

• Ron Cox was unchallenged in the bid for Wasilla City Council Seat A.

• In the election for Palmer City Council at-large seats, Brad Hanson and Kevin Brown were the sole candidates for two open seats.

• In Houston, Virgie Thompson had a 3-to-1 lead over Griz Smith for Seat A. In the race for Seat B, past City Councilwoman Ruth Blanchard had a strong lead over appointed councilman Paul Stout. Council newcomer Natasha Rife led a three-way race for Seat C. Lance Wilson ran unopposed for Council Seat D.

• Mark Ewing ran uncontested for Mat-Su Assembly District 4 as did Cindy Bettine in Assembly District 5.

• In the race for Matanuska Susitna Borough School Board Seat D, Ole Larson had a commanding lead over incumbent Patricia Purcell. Brian Sullivan ran unopposed for Seat D and Myrl “Boone” Thompson ran unopposed for Seat G.

• Proposition 1, repealing the borough power plant law, appeared to be failing by nearly 1,000 votes. Proposition 2, which dealt with road bonds, appeared to be winning by more than 1,000 votes. The school safety bond proposition also appeared to be winning by more than 1,000 votes.

• Meadow Lakes and Big Lake voters agreed to consolidate fire service districts in an effort to lower taxes and future insurance rates. That vote carried by more than 70 votes in each community.

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