Gilman beats Glick: Merkes, Martin race still too close to call

Margaret Gilman unseated Betty Glick for the Kenai assembly district winning almost 60 percent of the vote.

"I'm just very pleased and very thankful that the voters have chosen me to be their assembly person and I will take that responsibility seriously," Gilman said Tuesday night.

Gilman won 57.95 percent of the vote with Glick taking 41.83 percent.

Both candidates speculated that the voters' decision in the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly District 2 centered on campaign rhetoric about the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget.

Gilman has said throughout the campaign that her biggest priority is making sure the assembly funds education to the full amount it is allowed to by state law.

"I would expect that ... is something that will continue to be a top priority in my district," Gilman said.

As a new member of the assembly, Gilman said her first move will be to find out as much information about the budget as possible. She added that she also will try to learn as much as she can from other assembly members.

Glick sat on the assembly for 14 years, took a six-year hiatus and was elected to represent the Kenai district three years ago.

"If I was supposed to be there I'd of won," Glick said after the election results were in. "I guess the best person won — according to the voters."

She said a lot of emphasis was put on the school budget and some comments were made during the campaign that the assembly should not have "line item control" over the school budget. Glick said the assembly never had line item control over the budget. She added that she always voted to fully fund the school budget.

Even though she is no longer on the assembly, Glick said she will not have problems filling her time. She said she will volunteer for the Arctic Winter Games and will probably get involved in some church activities and nonprofit organizations.

In Sterling District 5, incumbent Grace Merkes led with 40.73 percent of the vote. Glen Martin followed closely with 38.2 percent and Amber Elsey with 20.66 percent. Absentee ballots had not yet been counted.

"It's still kind of close," Merkes said Tuesday night. "I'm feeling pretty confident that it will hold up."

Martin said he will wait to see until the absentee ballots are counted and then probably request a ballot recount.

Both candidates said that, if elected, they will look for ways to make cuts to the borough budget.

Merkes said there are a lot of conservative people in her district and thinks they expect "more conservative representation than they've had."

"I feel like we've gotten a mandate from the public to cut government," she said.

The assembly's decision to raise the sales tax by one percent allowed the borough to maintain the status quo, she said. Since Proposition 5 — the sales tax cap — passed, there will have to be some cuts, she said.

Merkes said the assembly may have to look at cutting borough staff in the maintenance, planning and economic development departments as well as the school district.

If Martin emerges as the victor?

"We're going to teach them how to cut," Martin said. "You do efficiency checks. You need to privatize."

Elsey said the campaign has been "a terrific experience." She said she was honored that she received 20.66 percent of the vote and plans to run again in three years.

In Homer District 8, Deb Germano won the seat previously filled by Chris Moss with 46.87 percent of the vote. Bill Smith was second with 39.78 percent followed by Heidi Fielding with 13.35 percent of the vote.

"I look forward to doing the work," Germano said. "There's an incredible amount of work to do."

Germano said that at first, she will dig in and learn more about the issues.

"I wish (Germano) good luck," Fielding said. "I wish the assembly good luck."

Smith could not be reached for comment.