Diana Haecker, KTNA – Talkeetna
The University of Alaska Anchorage has named former state Attorney General Talis Colberg as director of its Mat-Su College in Palmer.
Colberg plans to resign as mayor of the Mat-Su Borough to take over his new job. His term expires in 2012.
Meanwhile, the search for a new Mat-Su Borough manager has produced a list of 42 applicants. Long-time borough manager John Duffy left the post last month and the borough is looking for a replacement. In their last meeting, the borough assembly went into executive session to discuss the hiring process.
According to acting borough manager Elizabeth Gray, the assembly asked the human resources director to be more specific on the job advertisement. The assembly wants applicants with experience of managing an area with a population of more than 20,000 or experience of managing 200 or more employees.
Gray said the position is open until filled and the borough is still accepting applications.
She said it’s up to the Assembly to decide whether or not to hire a new manager before the October elections in which Mat-Su voters will decide if they want to change the way the borough is managed. Currently, a borough manager oversees the borough’s day-to-day operations. Assemblyman Mark Ewing proposed in May that the borough should switch to a strong-mayor form of government where the mayor would be playing a stronger role in daily business decisions of the borough.
The Assembly put the question before the voters to decide in October.
Until then, assistant borough manager Elizabeth Gray is the acting borough manager.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
