With all absentee, questioned and special needs ballots counted, conservative, pro-life and pro-family candidate Brian Endle has lost – by just 25 votes – a race for a seat on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly. On the Nov. 5 election night Endle led Tim Hale by two votes, 983 to 981. The final count, however, gave the victory to Tim Hale – 1135 to 1110. Voter turnout was just 10.3% of all registered voters.

In the lead up to the election Endle answered survey questions from the Alaska Family Council indicating that he opposed public funding for abortion, and laws that would pose a threat to religious liberties. Additionally, Endle agreed that the borough should designate that public restrooms and locker rooms be exclusively for persons of the same biological sex, and that taxpayer funds should not be used to promote “Drag Queen” events in public libraries. Hale refused to respond to any of the survey questions.

In the other assembly race, the final count has Stephanie Nowers beating conservative candidate LaMarr Anderson with a vote of 717 to 578. Neither Nowers nor Anderson responded to the survey, but Anderson was considered the more conservative candidate.

In the school board races, however, three conservative, pro-life and pro-family candidates held onto their election night leads. In District 2, James Hart beat Ray Michaelson by 27 votes – 689 to 662. Ryan Ponder easily outpaced Alma Hartley – 344 to 208. In District 7, Jeff Taylor ran unopposed.

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly will certify the election results on Nov. 19.