Rubeo leads Wasilla mayoral race as Mat-Su cities report election results
In Palmer, Bruce Brown was ahead of Aundra “Omega” Jackson in a race for a one-year council seat
What you need to know:
- Wasilla City Council member Alina Rubeo leads the mayoral race with 391 votes, ahead of David Wilson with 120 and Stu Graham with 52, with 329 early and absentee ballots still to be counted, according to preliminary results released late Tuesday. Council member Ian Crafton led David Seals 278 to 231 in the race for Seat D.
- In Palmer, Bruce Brown was ahead of Aundra “Omega” Jackson 69 to 48 in a race for a one-year term. In Houston, Council member Lisa Johansen led Cory Rausch 58 to 36 in the race for Seat E.
- Wasilla voter turnout reached about 11%, a recent record and nearly triple last year’s turnout. Turnout was about 4.57% in Palmer and 5.1% in Houston.
WASILLA — Wasilla City Council member Alina Rubeo is on track to become the city’s new mayor following this week’s election, according to a preliminary vote tally released by the city Tuesday night.
Rubeo received 391 votes, former state Sen. David Wilson received 120 votes and Council member Stu Graham received 52 votes, with 329 early and absentee ballots yet to be counted, early results show.
In the city’s council races, incumbent Council member Ian Crafton was ahead of David Seals 278 to 231 in a race for Seat D. Bruce Webb received 441 votes in an uncontested bid for Seat C, according to the early results.
Palmer, Wasilla and Houston hold elections annually on the first Tuesday in October. Final tallies are expected later this week after early and absentee ballots are counted by a canvass board in each city.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough elections for Assembly and school board are scheduled for Nov. 4.
In Palmer, Bruce Brown was ahead of Aundra “Omega” Jackson 69 to 48 in a race for a one-year term, according to preliminary results released by the city late Tuesday, with 109 absentee and early votes yet to be counted.
Council members Sherry Carrington and Penny Mosher were reelected in uncontested races for two three-year seats, with 79 and 93 votes, respectively.
In Houston, incumbent Council member Lisa Johansen led Cory Rausch 58 to 36 in the race for Seat E. The race for Seat B was uncontested, with Council member Jeffrey Brasel receiving 75 votes, according to preliminary results posted on the city’s website late Tuesday.
Twenty-three early votes were yet to be counted, according to a tally sheet.
Voter turnout in Wasilla stood at about 11%, with 893 votes cast through early and absentee voting and on Election Day, according to the city’s website. That’s a recent record, nearly three times last year’s turnout and hundreds of votes above turnout during the last mayoral election in 2023.
In Palmer, turnout was about 4.57%. Turnout in Houston was 5.1%.
Outstanding early and absentee ballots in Wasilla will be tallied by the canvass board Friday, with certification scheduled for Oct. 12.
Early and absentee ballots will be counted in Palmer starting Oct. 7, with final results expected Friday, according to the city’s website. A certification date has not yet been set, the website states.
In Houston, early and absentee ballots will be counted Friday, with certification tentatively scheduled for Oct. 12, according to the city’s website. The city is set to select a new mayor from among sitting Council members during a special meeting tentatively scheduled for Oct. 19.