Municipal election Oct. 1, or vote early at City Hall through Sept. 30

Registered voters in Wrangell have several decisions to make in this year’s municipal election — not just deciding their choices for seven elected offices and two ballot propositions, but when they want to vote.

The polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Nolan Center. But for people who like the convenience of voting early, or will be out of town Oct. 1, they can choose to stop by City Hall weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. though Monday, Sept. 30, to cast an early ballot.

All of the ballots will be tabulated at the same time after polls close Oct. 1.

After deciding which day they want to vote, residents will be handed a double-sided ballot with multiple decisions to make. The mayor’s job is on the ballot, with David Powell and incumbent Patty Gilbert running for the seat. And two of the six assembly seats also are on the ballot, although incumbents Jim DeBord and Bob Dalrymple are unopposed in their quest for another three-year term each.

Dan Powers and incumbents Angela Allen and Brittani Robbins are running for two seats on the school board; the top two finishers will win a three-year term.

And Antonio Silva, Chris Guggenbickler and Eric Yancey are running for the port commission, along with incumbent Chris Buness; the top two finishers or the four will win a three-year term.

The back side of the one-sheet ballot asks voters two questions: Do they approve of the borough borrowing $3 million to start repairs on the rot-damaged Public Safety Building; and do they approve amending the municipal charter to allow payment to the mayor and assembly members.

The charter amendment vote is sort of like a permission slip; if approved it would allow but not mandate compensation. The assembly still would need to set up a pay plan, hold a public hearing and adopt an ordinance before anything could happen.

Turnout in last year’s municipal election was low, with just 218 voters casting a ballot. But the mayor’s seat was not on the ballot, and only one of the four races for assembly, school board and port commission were contested.

Voter turnout was substantially higher in 2019 through 2022, averaging close to 500 ballots each year.