Fairbanks voters opt for change on assembly, school board, rejecting right-wing candidates

The Fairbanks borough assembly and school board elections turned into a rout, with right-wing candidates losing by margins of about 500 to 1,800 votes with all 32 precincts counted.

It was a clean sweep for supporters of education and public services and a rejection of the culture war claims the Republican Party injected into local politics. Ginning up hysteria about library books and fear-mongering about teachers and administrators was a losing strategy.

The margins are big enough in most of the contests that I don’t expect them to change with the counting of questioned ballots.

Assembly incumbent Tammie Wilson trailed Liz Reeves-Ramos by about 850 votes, while Jimi Cash trailed Nick LaJiness by 607 votes. Scott Crass led Aaron Gibson by 840 votes.

In the school board races, Bobby Burgess led April Smith by more than 1,822 votes, the biggest gap in any of the borough contests.

Tim Doran won re-election handily over Michael Humphrey and Meredith Maple defeated Maggie Matheson.

Wilson, who quit the Legislature to take a state job created for her by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, is likely to say that she, Gibson and Cash lost because of Outside money spent supporting Reeves-Ramos, LaJiness and Crass.

“The other side has spent so much outside money to get their group elected, what they don't have is you. Please get your friends and family out to vote on Tuesday. Jimi, Aaron and I can't win without you,” Wilson wrote on Facebook Sunday.

The people who run for local office who see only “our side” and “the other side” and “our group” and the “other group” are missing something important. Local government is all about making decisions about issues that are close to home. The work requires compromise and an ability to work with people of all kinds.

In a letter to the editor last week, April Smith claimed that the three candidates who won school board seats “want a militant, radical social agenda to be infused into every single aspect of education.” No they don’t.

Smith, who ran on hyperbole, also claimed the three assembly candidates who won “want an oppressive climate action agenda and higher taxes with unlimited government.” No they don’t.

Humphrey, who lost to Doran, claimed that the retired Denali Elementary School principal is a “radical leftist.” No he’s not.

Matheson, who lost her school board race to Meredith Maple, wrote on Facebook that she is “disgusted” by the election results. She claimed Maple is a “groomer.” No she’s not.

Money makes a difference in these races. Just as presenting sensible ideas and a positive message about what you want for the community makes a difference. The ability to show widespread community support is essential.

The voters sent a pretty clear message to the candidates Tuesday about what they want for the future of Fairbanks.

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