One of the more interesting races in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s Nov. 7 election is a school board race, where a Democrat-backed candidate has reported raising more than $38,000 to take out Republican Ole Larson, the conservative incumbent.
Dianne Shibe’s report at the Alaska Public Offices Commission’s website shows that most of her $38,000-plus is coming from the efforts of teachers union types and Outside the district. What is clear in the filings is that Larson has become a target of the Democrats, as shown by the fact that former Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Pat Chesbro is a deputy treasurer for Shibe, and Anchorage School Board President Margo Bellamy is a financial contributor.
Ole Larson has been a conservative voice in what is arguably the most conservative school district in the state. But he has raised just $9,472.49 from campaign supporters — a third of what Shibe has to spend to reach potential voters.
In the District 3 school board seat, conservative incumbent Kathy McCollum has raised $9,472, while her liberal teacher-union-supported challenger Sydney Zuyus has reported raising $4,970.
Here are the seats up for election, with early voting starting Oct. 23:
| SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 3 Three Year Term Ending November 2026 (Vote for One) |
| MCCOLLUM, Kathy, incumbent ZUYUS, Sydney |
| ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 4 Three Year Term Ending November 2026 (Vote for One) |
| YUNDT, Rob, incumbent, unopposed |
| ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 5 Three Year Term Ending November 2026 (Vote for One) |
| GAMBLE, Bill TEW, Clayton E. “Mokie,” incumbent |
| ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 6 One Year Term Ending November 2024 (Vote for One) |
| ABNEY, Jackson L. COMAN, Kerby J.A. FONOV, Dmitri, incumbent GLASHAN, Stafford |
| SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 6 Three Year Term Ending November 2026 (Vote for One) |
| LARSON, R. Ole SHIBE, Dianne K. |
Proposition 1 is also on the ballot. It would authorize the Matanuska-Susitna Borough to build transportation systems projects listed and issue bonds in the amount of $38,168,210, which is 50% of the cost of the projects.
The question is:
Shall the Matanuska-Susitna Borough engage in the construction, additions, improvements, betterments, repair, reconstruction, and acquisition of public roads and pathways, and facilities related thereto, in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough of the following Projects, together with all necessary equipment and transportation facilities, including improving school access, and the acquisition of lands or rights in lands in connection therewith, and issue its areawide general obligation bonds, in an amount not to exceed the sum of Thirty-Eight Million One Hundred Sixty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred and Ten Dollars ($38,168,210) for the purpose of financing the cost, in part, of the following Projects in accordance with and ratifying and approving the provisions of Ordinance Serial No. 23-077?
