MAT-SU—Steve Colligan took the oath of office Tues. night, becoming an Assemblymember for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough representing District 4, Wasilla. Colligan will take the seat on Oct. 24. The Assembly also certified the election and said goodbye to departing Assemblymember Cindy Bettine who served six years and reached term limits.

The Canvass Board Chair Gerry Keeling delivered the official numbers for the election. Poll voters and all others that were counted totaled 9,270 out of 59,188 voters. Colligan's final votes came in at 742 votes over Pat Johnson's 623 votes.

Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie administered the oath of office to Colligan. Click here to listen.

Assemblymember Ron Arvin complimented departing Assemblymember Bettine on her time at the table. Click here to listen to a short clip of Arvin.

Former Borough Mayor Darcie Salmon will be sworn in as an Assemblymember for District 5, Bettine's seat. Salmon was unopposed and garnered 957 votes.

Final tallies in the propositions were:

Prop. 1-reapportionment Yes-6,355, No-2,439.

Prop. 2-Fifty Percent State Match Borough Road Bonds Yes-5,434, No-3,683.

Prop. 3-Five-Year School Bonds Yes-4,920, No-4,267.

School Boardmembers Erick Cordero and Ole Larson retained their seats.

PHOTOS:Top Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie administers the oath of office to new Assemblymember Steve Colligan; Middle-Assemblymember Cindy Bettine smiles at the table during her last midnight hour meeting. Also pictured left to right: Borough Attorney Nick Spiropoulos, Assemblymember Jim Colver and Assemblymember Noel Woods. Bottom-Borough Clerks Joell Churck and Debra Wetherhorn serve up election cake with coworkers Elaine Flagg and Holly Dubose looking on. Photos by Patty Sullivan/MSB.

For more information call Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie at 745-9684 or Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan at psullivan@matsugov.us

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