Mat-Su mayoral debate reveals key differences on hot-button issues
A packed crowd turned out for a head-to-head debate between the two candidates vying for the Mat-Su Borough’s mayoral seat. Held Oct. 9 at the Wasilla Senior Center, Edna DeVries and Matthew Beck answered a slew of questions aimed at pinpointing their views
Mat-Su mayoral candidates to face off in head-to-head Oct. 9 debate
An upcoming debate aims to identify the conservative candidates running for Mat-Su mayor and school board. On Nov. 2, Mat-Su residents will vote for mayor, two borough assembly members and three school board members. On Oct. 9, mayoral candidates Edna DeVries
Empowering voters: Who are the principled Mat-Su conservatives running for political office?
In an effort to clearly identify the strongest conservative candidates for local office in the Mat-Su, the Alaska Watchman sent a survey to everyone running for seats in Palmer, Wasilla and the Mat-Su Borough. Our survey focused on some of the most important
Former Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle withdraws from Mat-Su Borough mayoral race for medical reasons
The race for who will become the next mayor of the Mat-Su Borough is now down to two candidates after former Mayor of Wasilla Bert Cottle withdrew from contest. Cottle made his announcement via Facebook on Sept. 27. “It is with a heavy heart that I must
Palmer Mayor wants hand recount of Oct. 5 elections to ensure vote integrity
Palmer Mayor Edna DeVries has submitted a memo asking the city clerk to conduct a hand recount of the upcoming Oct. 5 election in which two new city council members will be elected. “The backbone of our democracy rests on open, and fair elections,” the
Open letter to 4 Palmer City Council members: My opposition is not personal, but based on policy
Editor’s note: At the Aug. 24 Palmer City Council meeting, the writer of this letter, Mike Coons, raised concerns that Council Members Sebrena Combs, Julie Berberich, Brian Daniels and Jill Valerius may have violated the Alaska Open Meetings Act by
Controversial scheme to incentivize COVID injections divides Palmer City Council
A sharply divided Palmer City Council voted June 8 to approve using a $30,000 state grant to incentivize people into getting COVID shots. After lengthy debate, the council voted 4-3 to give a passthrough grant from the Alaska Dept. of Health & Social
Sharply divided Palmer City Council approves study on Anchorage-style mail-in voting
After contentious debate, the Palmer City Council narrowly approved the spending of $3,000 in federal CARES Act funds to conduct a feasibility study on how to create a mail-in voting system similar to what Anchorage implemented in 2018. The 4-3 vote occurred
Palmer City Council to hear proposal from activists who want control of local police
Political activists in Palmer want to take charge of the Palmer Police Department. On May 11 they will give a presentation to the city council laying out their plan, which closely mirrors one of the many demands made nationally by Black Lives Matter
Palmer mask mandate defeated after overwhelming public outcry
After listening to 20 hours of public testimony from more than 700 Mat-Su residents over a three day period, the Palmer City Council voted down a citywide mask mandate, 4-3, on Dec. 4. Nearly 70% of comments – both in-person and written – opposed the idea
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