Wasilla mayor, council candidates face voters at election forum

WASILLA — More than 50 people gathered at the Menard Center Thursday evening to hear candidates for city office discuss taxes, infrastructure, development and other issues facing the city.

The event, hosted by the Mat-Su Sentinel, brought together local voters and candidates running for mayor and City Council in Wasilla’s Oct. 6 election.

Candidates took turns answering a series of questions developed from issues raised by residents during the Sentinel’s voter guide reporting process. Audience members were also invited to submit questions in writing during the event.

Topics included candidates’ priorities for Wasilla, their vision for the city’s future, their views on taxes and spending, and ideas for improving residents’ quality of life while balancing the needs of the city’s businesses.

Mayoral candidates Stu Graham, Alina Rubeo and David Wilson and City Council Seat D candidates Ian Crafton and David Seals attended the event. City Council Seat C candidate Bruce Webb did not attend.

The 90-minute event was the first such nonpartisan forum hosted for City Council and mayoral candidates by a local news organization in at least two decades.

The event ran from about 6:30 to 8 p.m. It was not live streamed or recorded due to unforseen technical challenges.

Election Day in Wasilla is Tuesday, Oct. 6. Early voting is open at City Hall through Oct. 5.

Candidates for Wasilla Mayor:

• Stu Graham
• Alina Rubeo
• David Wilson

Candidates for Wasilla City Council Seat C

• Bruce Webb (did not attend forum)

Candidates for Wasilla City Council Seat D

• Ian Crafton
• David Seals

An interactive digital voter guide featuring candidates’ responses to more than a dozen questions submitted by local voters and produced by the Mat-Su Sentinel is also available. Similar voter guides are in production for state House and Senate races and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s upcoming Assembly and School Board election, scheduled for Nov. 3.