Anchorage on track to return Berkowitz-aligned majority to Assembly

Voters were on track to re-elect a substantial Anchorage Assembly majority that is generally aligned with Mayor Ethan Berkowitz Tuesday night, based on initial election returns.

With close to 43,000 ballots counted, Kameron Perez-Verdia, Meg Zaletel and Crystal Kennedy emerged as the leaders in competitive races for Anchorage Assembly.

About 10,000 ballots had been received by election officials but not yet counted. The overall turnout rate so far was about 19 percent. An unknown number of ballots were in the mail, or gathered from drop boxes and at accessible vote centers later in the day Tuesday. Those ballots likely number in the thousands, officials said.

Officials said additional results would be posted daily as results come in.

Of the five races for the Anchorage Assembly, three were for open seats and two were incumbents running unopposed. Assembly races are nonpartisan, though candidates sometimes opt to advertise ideological leanings or party connections, and parties often get involved in fundraising and voter outreach.

In the West Anchorage Assembly race, former School Board president Perez-Verdia was leading Liz Vazquez, a former state legislator. Perez-Verdia had 4,017 votes, or 50 percent, in early returns. Vazquez had 3,164 votes, or 39 percent. In third place was city fleet maintenance worker and perennial candidate Dustin Darden, at 9 percent with 765 votes.

The winner of that race will replace Assembly Chair Eric Croft, who decided not to seek a second term.

Perez-Verdia, a progressive who had the backing of the police and fire unions, campaigned on a platform that included addressing the root causes of crime, like addiction and mental illness. Vazquez, a former prosecutor, campaigned heavily on an anti-crime platform that was particularly critical of the state criminal justice reform law, Senate Bill 91. Perez-Verdia supported the alcohol tax proposition; Vazquez opposed it. The tax was failing with 52 percent of voters opposed to it Tuesday night.

Perez-Verdia was the most well-funded of any individual candidate in the election, raising roughly $70,000 for his bid. Vazquez garnered some attention for an internet video where she hit a would-be thief (an actor) with her purse while declaring her plans to fight crime and Senate Bill 91.

[Anchorage voters reject alcohol tax in initial election returns]

In the initial results for Midtown Assembly, Zaletel had an edge over Christine Hill, the longtime owner of an auction company. Zaletel had 3,362 votes, 52 percent of the vote, compared to Hill’s 2,146 votes at 34 percent. Ron Alleva, the owner of Grubstake Auction Co., was in third place with 853 votes, or 13 percent of the vote.

Zaletel pitched herself as a moderate focused on public safety and neighborhood connections. Hill, meanwhile, branded herself as a conservative who would control spending and taxes.

The two candidates ran a tight fundraising race, each reporting close to $50,000 in campaign donations and personal funds. They also differed on policy issues, including the alcohol tax: Zaletel supported it, and Hill was against it.

The winner replaces longtime Assemblyman Dick Traini, who is reaching his term limit.

In Chugiak-Eagle River, former Anchorage School Board member and conservative Crystal Kennedy held a solid lead over her opponent, Oliver Schiess. Kennedy had 3,666 votes, 57 percent of the vote. Schiess had 2,686 votes, 42 percent.

Kennedy ran on her experience in public service and ties to local conservative leaders. Schiess, a Marine Corps veteran, presented himself as a fresh voice on the Assembly.

[Bellamy, Marsett lead in Anchorage School Board races that attracted big advertising spending]

If the results hold, Kennedy would fill a seat vacated by former Assemblywoman Amy Demboski, a conservative who stepped down in December to work as a deputy chief of staff for Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The current Assembly selected Gretchen Wehmhoff to fill the seat for the reminder of the term.

South Anchorage Assemblyman John Weddleton and East Anchorage Assemblyman Forrest Dunbar ran unopposed and cruised to victory Tuesday night.