How to run for office this year in Palmer, Wasilla or Houston
Here's what you need to know about running for office in 2025.
Residents looking to run for city council in Palmer or Wasilla, or for Palmer mayor, have until Aug. 1 to submit their applications.
Houston’s candidate filing period ran from July 1 to 15 and is now closed. Residents there can still run as write-in candidates.
The election for seats in the three cities is scheduled for Oct. 7.
Races in Palmer, Wasilla and Houston are nonpartisan, and candidates do not declare a political party affiliation.
Interested in running? Here’s what would-be candidates need to know about filing for the Palmer and Wasilla races.
How to run for Palmer City Council or mayor
Residents who have lived within Palmer city limits for at least one full year before Election Day and are registered voters can file to run for one of three council seats or for mayor, all of which are up for election in 2025. The mayor and two council seats carry three-year terms; one council seat carries a one-year term.
Unlike in Wasilla and Houston, Palmer candidates must submit both a candidate application packet and a nominating petition. The petition requires signatures from 20 registered Palmer voters.
Packets are available from Palmer City Hall or online and include a checklist, application paperwork and the petition. All materials must be submitted to the city clerk no later than 4 p.m. Aug. 1.
The packet also includes campaign finance paperwork from the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Municipal candidates in Palmer are exempt from filing a financial disclosure form known as a POFD, but they must submit an exemption form, according to the city’s website.
Candidates who raise or spend more than $5,000 must submit fundraising reports to APOC during their campaign. Those who do not must file a pair of exemption forms. Candidates can contact APOC for more information or visit this information page.
Palmer’s city council operates under an at-large system. Residents choose a certain number of council members from a general list of candidates, rather than electing candidates to specific seats. Those with the most votes win. For example, this year voters will select two individuals from the list of candidates running for the three-year terms.
The seats up for election in 2025 are currently held by Mayor Steve Carrington and council members Ken Erbey, Carolina Graber and Josh Tudor.
Residents who miss the candidate filing deadline can still run as write-in candidates. Learn more about write-in candidacy.
How to run for Wasilla City Council
Registered voters who have lived within Wasilla city limits for at least one full year before Election Day can run for one of three city council seats up for election in 2025. Two seats carry three-year terms, and one carries a one-year term.
Candidates must complete and submit an application packet to the city clerk no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 1. The packet is available for download on the city’s website or can be picked up at Wasilla City Hall.
The packet includes campaign finance paperwork from the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Unlike in Palmer, Wasilla candidates must submit a financial disclosure form known as a POFD.
Candidates who raise or spend more than $5,000 must file fundraising reports with APOC. Those who do not must submit two exemption forms. More information is available on the Wasilla website.
Unlike Palmer, Wasilla’s city council seats are assigned, with candidates running for specific positions. Voters select one candidate per seat.
This year, voters will choose council members for three-year terms in Seats E and F, and for a one-year term in Seat C.
The seats up for election are currently held by Council members Alina Rubeo, Mark Schmidt, and Nikki Velock.
Residents who miss the candidate filing deadline can still run as write-in candidates. Learn more about write-in candidacy.
How to run for Houston City Council
The filing period for Houston City Council ran from July 1 to 15, following changes to election rules approved by the City Council this year. In previous years, the filing period aligned with Palmer and Wasilla’s deadlines.
Registered Houston voters who have lived in city limits for at least one full year before Election Day and missed the filing deadline can still run as write-in candidates. Find more information about write-in candidacy here.
Like Wasilla, Houston’s City Council operates with assigned seats, with candidates running for specific positions. Voters select one candidate per seat.
Three Houston City Council seats are up for election this year. A final list of candidates was announced July 15.
- Seat E: David Childs (incumbent) and Jason Kahn are running.
- Seat F: Callie Courtney and Ron Bass are running.
- Seat G: Laurie Faubert (incumbent) and Dan Lewis are running.
-- Contact Amy Bushatz at contact@matsusentinel.com