It’s time for Page Two: news that might not make the front page on Monday October 13, 2025.
It’s Columbus Day, a federal holiday. Some call it Indigenous Peoples Day. Many federal offices will be closed. Many banks will be closed. Columbus Day is not a state holiday so most state and borough offices will be open.
Congratulations to the newly elected officials in the cities of Palmer, Wasilla, and Houston.
In Palmer, Jim Cooper was elected mayor. Allison Collins and Amanda Graham won three-year council seats, while Sherry Carrington secured the one-year seat. Voters also approved a ballot measure allowing the Palmer City Manager to reside within five miles of the city limits.
In Wasilla, Timothy Johnson and Alina Rubio were re-elected to Council Seats C and F in uncontested races, and incumbent Mark Schmidt retained Seat E.
In Houston, voters elected Jason Kahn to Seat E, Callie Courtney to Seat F, and Dan Lewis to Seat G on the City Council.
Houston voters rejected three of the four ballot measures: to create a Houston Thunder Festival holiday, to increase taxes for road improvements, and to establish a new airport.
Houston voters did approve Founders Day as the city’s first official holiday.
In Palmer, Cooper’s election to mayor leaves his current City Council seat vacant. By ordinance, vacated council seats are filled by mayoral appointment after a 14-day application period.
Applications are expected to open next week. Applicants must have lived in the City for a year and be registered to vote in the city.
Cooper is likely to appoint the new council member early next month. The new member will serve until the next regular election in October 2026.
Voter turnout was about 12% in Palmer, 17% in Houston and 4% in Wasilla.
The 2025 city elections will be certified tonight at 6:00 p.m. in special council meetings at the respective city halls.
And in other election news:
Early voting for the general election for borough assembly and school board begins on Monday October 20. The general election will be on November 4.
Big Cabbage will air interviews with assembly and school board candidates in Districts 1 and 2 on Sunday October 19 at 5 p.m.
The Borough is in need of additional election workers and hand counters for the general election on November 4th. Call the borough clerk’s office at 907-861-8683 for more information on how you can help.
The borough is holding another meeting in their series on the fuel excise tax at 6 p.m. at Knik Elementary School at 6350 West Hollywood Rd. in Wasilla.
The regular Palmer City Council meeting is on Tuesday, October 14 at 6 p.m. We will stream the audio and video of the meeting from bigcabbageradio.org.
The School Board meets on Wednesday, October 15 at 6 p.m. in their chambers at the school district offices.
The Mat-Su Sentinel is holding a Flip The Script Election Connection Night on Thursday, October 16 at 6 p.m. at the Palmer Depot.
Page Two articles are written by Emily Forstner and Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
Thank you for your continued support of Big Cabbage Radio. It’s never too late to donate and be part of your community radio station. Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Monday October 13, 2025.