There were no surprises in the returns of the Mat Su races after Tuesday’s vote count was tallied.
Unofficial general election results show that the Matanuska Valley’s Republican incumbents kept their jobs after the voting was done on Tuesday.
Speaking at Anchorage’s Election Central, House 12’s Shelly Hughes says she’s looking forward to the next legislature.
“I think it’s a good night, I think that the future is bright for Alaska. That there’s work on the gasline, there’s work on bringing down the budget. And we’ve got a good team that’s coming together to be able to do that down in Juneau. Still watching that governor’s race. I think that is the one everyone is watching.”‘]
The governor’s race is too close to call yet, although Republican incumbents Wes Keller, Lynn Gattis and Mark Neuman will return to the state house. Mark Neuman said the wins were the result of hard work.
“I think we’re doing okay in representing the views of the people. I don’t know if I ever really expect anything. I just work hard and we end up where we end up.”
Newcomers to the House’s Valley delegation are Republican Jim Colver, who won a three way race to win House 9. Colver thanked his volunteers, saying
“Yeah, I’ve got a core of folks, you know, working Alaskans. Valley people, Valdez people, we like to hunt and fish. I can relate, we’re all Alaskans. They want a guy like me, that you know, has got a track record, I think. I like to solve problems and build roads. That’s what I plan to do. You know, it looks like I’m going to be in a good sized majority to work with. We got our work cut out for us with the budget, though. “
And Republican Cathy Tilton won her first state election to take the House 12 seat vacated by former Representative Bill Stoltze.
Stoltze handily won his race for the new Senate F seat, besting Democratic challenger Pat Chesbro. Stoltze said he’s ready to take it on.
“A lot of challenges, looking forward. I’m glad our full Valley delegation got a return trip. If any one of us would have lost, it would be a big loss for the whole team.”
Incumbent Republican Senator Mike Dunleavy defeated independent challenger Warren Keogh, to keep his Senate E seat in Juneau.
APTI Reporter-Producer Ellen Lockyer started her radio career in the late 1980s, after a stint at bush Alaska weekly newspapers, the Copper Valley Views and the Cordova Times. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Valdez Public Radio station KCHU needed a reporter, and Ellen picked up the microphone.
Since then, she has literally traveled the length of the state, from Attu to Eagle and from Barrow to Juneau, covering Alaska stories on the ground for the AK show, Alaska News Nightly, the Alaska Morning News and for Anchorage public radio station, KSKA
elockyer (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8446 | About Ellen
