Two political newcomers join Borough Assembly
Published Wednesday, October 8, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — Voters picked Joe Blanchard, a university student, and Tammie Wilson, a nonprofit manager, Tuesday to join the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly.
Incumbents Tim Beck and Bill Stringer also withstood challenges to retain their seats. The four will be sworn in next month after election officials certify Tuesday’s election results.
Blanchard, 23, is a truck driver and former president of the student body at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He collected 44 percent of the vote Tuesday in a three-way race against Joshua Lott and Mark Ames.
Blanchard, who is studying for a bachelors in political science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said he plans to study up on issues facing the borough, including a pending set of air-pollution regulations mandated by federal environmental authorities. “If this thing gets through, we’re going to have a hard time burning wood in this borough,” he said.
Lott trailed Blanchard with 31 percent of the vote. Ames came in third with 24 percent. Lott said he was pleased with the support he received and said he’ll run again.
“I’m going to continue to be involved,” he said.
Ames declined to comment when reached at home Tuesday night.
Election workers tallied results fairly quickly. A small crowd including a handful of candidates gathered downtown at the Borough Assembly’s chambers to watch the numbers roll down the projection screens.
Wilson, a manager at the nonprofit Love Inc., enjoyed the luxury of running unopposed this year after two straight unsuccessful races in 2006 and last year. She repeated basic campaign messages Tuesday night: “I’m open, I’m honest and I’ll listen to people.”
Stringer, a retired geophysicist, earned 47 percent of the vote in a three-way race, edging out North Pole councilman Doug Wilson to retain a seat with one year remaining on its term. Stringer said he looks forward to focusing on recycling issues and on planning for the prospect that Fairbanks could one day host a proposed coal-and-biomass-to-synthetics fuel plant.
Local officials have pushed early plans for the proposed plant for almost a year, something Stringer called a wise effort in the face of uncertain and volatile energy markets.
“We have to make sure we get the homework completed,” he said of the proposal.
Beck earned almost 60 percent of the vote to beat businessman Wayne Swanson, and earned a fourth term on the assembly.
“Time to get back to work,” Beck said by phone Tuesday. He thanked all the candidates for “throwing their hats in the ring” and said he hopes they stay interested in local politics.
Community Discussion
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Congratulations, Joe!
ok joe, i voted for you based on one commercial i heard on the radio. the one where you seemed to say that you will fight the EPA. i hate the EPA. go get them!
congratulations tammie. i know you don't remember me but we used to work together with the salvation army raising money for their charitable activities. i remember from that experience that you are a wonderful caring person.
congrats to everyone. especially beck!! thank you everyone for keeping someone who knows what they are doing.
tough loss mr swanson at least the city wont have to be subject to your negative attitude.
Thank you Tammie.
You are the only one or thing I voted for that won. As usual.
Voting is my only form of gambling really; except the Ice Classic. And the House almost always wins. Oh well. I keep trying.
Lets see, 7 liberal Democrats and 2 fiscal conservatives and an out of control socialist mayor now run our bourough.
well, Fairbanks, You get what you deserve . sustained higher and higher taxes, a red carpet for the EPA, an attack on our wood stoves, and a lawsuit if the Mayor disagrees with you...
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