Election certified, Arvin deputy mayor

The nearly 1,800 absentee and questioned ballots recently counted did not overturn any race or proposition results supported by voters at the polls. The Borough election results were certified last night. The Assembly welcomed Noel Woods and Warren Keogh as new Members and said goodbye to Deputy Mayor Lynne Woods and Pete Houston, and later Mayor Talis Colberg.

Woods and Keogh were sworn in by Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie.

Mayor Talis Colberg presided over his last meeting Tuesday night. Colberg appointed Assembly Member Ron Arvin as Deputy Mayor. While the mayor seat is vacant, Arvin takes over the duties of the mayor, such as making appointments to boards and commissions. Arvin will preside over meetings with the ability to vote but not break ties nor make vetoes. Colberg is the new Director of the Matanuska-Susitna College. A special election on Jan. 11 will seat a new mayor. Mayoral candidates can begin filing for the seat Nov. 8 until Nov. 19. The MAT-SU Borough mayor is a ceremonial position. The Borough manager runs the operations of the Borough.

At a meeting that was extended until midnight last night, the Assembly went into executive session to consider the remaining seven candidates for Borough manager. One of the candidates, Robert Reardon, was added to the list after asking the Assembly to reconsider interviewing him because he was not able to participate in the Oct. 11 interview. The list was narrowed to four, who will be interviewed next Tuesday by video conference.

• Gregory Young, City Administrator of Ferndale, Washington

• Desmond Mayo, Director of Finance with Crowley Petroleum Distribution, Wasilla, Alaska

• Don Baird, Town Manager of Granby, Colorado

• Robert Reardon, Director of Operations and Maintenance with Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, Tampa, Florida

Canvass Board Chair Gerry Keeling reported the results of the election last night. Prop. 1, the vote to repeal the manager form of government, failed. Prop. 2. transportation bonds failed by 166 votes. Prop. 3 education renovation bonds passed. Prop. 4 education turf and track bonds failed. Prop. 5 the Borough exempting out of state financial disclosure rules failed by a wide margin.

For more information call Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan, 355-0103, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Human Resources Manager Sonya Conant at 745-9551 or Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie at 745-9681

Photo by Patty Sullivan/MSB. Pictured left to right: Assemblyman Warren Keogh and Assemblyman Noel Woods. In foreground Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie