Patkotak on track to be North Slope Borough mayor as early election results show big leads in other races

Following Tuesday’s election in Alaska’s northernmost region, unofficial results show strong leaders in the majority of North Slope Borough races. Only 138 ballots —101 absentee and 37 questioned — remain uncounted.

In the most publicized race, for the borough mayor seat, independent state Rep. Josiah Aullaqsruaq Patkotak holds a decisive lead. With 720 votes, he has over 54% of all votes counted.

Trailing behind him are John Hopson Jr., a current borough assembly member and former Wainwright city mayor, with 307 votes; longtime borough assembly member Doreen Lampe with 188 votes; and former Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. President Anthony Edwardsen with 99 votes.

If Patkotak wins the race — which seems likely, according to the results — he will relinquish his seat in the Alaska Legislature, where he currently represents District 40, covering the North Slope and Northwest Arctic Borough. The governor will appoint his replacement.

As a borough mayor, Patkotak has said he wants to expand job opportunities for residents, ensure the financial security of the borough, improve aging infrastructure in the villages and focus on new projects, such as the Utqiaġvik sea wall and ports in the Arctic.

When it comes to subsistence, Patkotak is a strong supporter of co-management, where local hunters and entities have more control over game management.

Patkotak has said he also wants to address the long-standing lack of housing in the borough by reducing hurdles for construction and transporting materials.

[Four seasoned candidates run for the North Slope Borough mayor position]

North Slope Borough Assembly races

In the race for the Point Hope seat A-1 on the North Slope Borough Assembly, incumbent Eva Kinneeveauk is defeating veteran community leader and Arctic Slope Regional Corp. president Rex Allen Rock Sr. Kinneeveauk now has 821 votes, or almost 63%, while Rock has 476 votes.

Kinneeveauk is the president of the Native Village of Point Hope and has advocated for thriving subsistence resources, a traditional Iñupiaq way of life and a robust economy.

The race for the Utqiaġvik seat A3-B is less decisive. Among the three candidates vying for the seat, Martin Edwardsen is leading with 501 votes. Doreen June Leavitt is next with 453 votes, and Don Anthony Nuunaq Nungasak with 356 votes is in third. With 138 ballots uncounted, the dynamics of this race could still change.

Edwardsen has previously advocated for recreation for youth and supporting subsistence hunters. Leavitt, who spent most of her career in public health, wants to prioritize a health system, public safety services and a balanced budget.

Incumbent Frederick Brower is defeating Corrine Tuurraq Danner in the race for the A-3E Utqiaġvik seat. Brower, who serves as the housing director at the Native Village of Barrow, has 742 votes, or over 56%, while Danner has 554 votes.

Current assembly president Vernon James Amaulik Edwardsen is the only candidate running for the Utqiaġvik seat A3-F and currently has almost 95% of the vote. Edwardsen is a captain of the Amaulik whaling crew and has worked at UIC’s Real Estate Division, was a project manager for home building at the Native Village of Barrow and served on the Barrow Search and Rescue Board.

No Assembly candidates filed for the District A-5 seat, representing Point Lay and Atqasuk, but 417 residents chose write-in candidates.

[Experienced local politicians and new faces run for North Slope Borough and Utqiaġvik city elections]

North Slope Borough Board of Education elections

Three seats on the North Slope Borough Board of Education are up for election this fall.

Current board president Robyn Burke is running for Seat A representing Utqiaġvik and has over 97% of the vote.

In the race for another Utqiaġvik seat, Seat B, Frieda Kaleak is defeating incumbent Qaiyaan Harcharek. Kaleak has 822 votes, or over 62%, while Harcharek has about 36%.

No one filed for Seat E representing Wainwright and Atqasuk. Write-in candidates received 423 votes for that seat.

Correction: A previous version of the story incorrectly reported that Frieda Kaleak is the North Slope Borough’s current school board clerk. This story has also been updated to reflect that Seat E, not Seat C, represents Wainwright and Atqasuk.