Newly elected and re-elected Assembly members Rolland Howell and Stephen Prysunka are sworn in by city clerk Kim Lane on Monday, following approval of last week's municipal election results. Seated in the background between them, outgoing member Mark Mitchell will be headed to the Port Commission after running unopposed.
Results from last week's elections were certified and accepted by the City and Borough Assembly in a special meeting Monday.
Turnout in the largely uncontentious October 3 municipal elections had been low, with only 16 percent of the borough's 1,721 registered voters polling in. Of these, 242 cast votes on election day, with 29 others turning in absentee ballots ahead of time. Two other ballots had been rejected, due to the voters not previously being registered in the Wrangell polling area.
Of eight seats up for election this year, one unexpired two-year term on the Wrangell Medical Center Board garnered no candidates. City Hall will continue to advertise the opening, with the mayor able to appoint an applicant to fill this position. Those interested can submit a letter or message of interest to the city clerk's office.
One unexpired two-year term on the Wrangell Public School Board had three candidates for voters' consideration. Incumbent Robert Rang wanted to run for a completed term, after being appointed to a vacancy on the board in April. Residents David Wilson and Caitlin Cardinell also were running for the office.
After the close of last week's polls Wilson appeared to be one vote ahead of Rang, making the race too close to call until the canvass board convened Thursday. With the addition of absentee ballots, Wilson gained an additional net vote, putting him two ahead in the official tally with 92 votes. Rang was just behind with 90 votes, and Cardinell had 72.
Other positions had one candidate apiece, with no declarations of candidacy for a write-in option. Each elected for a three-year term on the Assembly were incumbent member Stephen Prysunka with 224 votes and Rolland Howell with 198. Not wanting to run again for another term on the Assembly, Mark Mitchell instead ran unopposed for the Port Commission, earning 227 votes. Jessica Rooney was elected to a three-year term on the school board with 245 votes, while Rebecca Christensen and Jennifer Bates were each elected to the hospital board for four-year terms with totals of 210 and 203 votes, respectively.
Meeting during Monday's lunch hour at City Hall, Assembly members confirmed the canvass board's results and swore in Prysunka and Howell, who were both present. They also issued certificates of service for outgoing officials: Mitchell, on the Assembly from June 2014 to the present; Walter Moorhead, on Ports since October 2014; Susan Eagle, on Schools since January 2009; and Bernie Massin and Terri Henson, both serving on the WMC board since October 2012. After being sworn in, new officials can take their seats at the next meeting of their elected body.
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