Ballot breakdown: Anchorage’s 2025 election

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The Anchorage municipal election is on Tuesday. Here is what you need to know before you make your final vote.

This is an at-home election, meaning that ballots were mailed to qualified voters in the municipality at their mailing address of record.

There are three ways to turn in your ballot. You can return your ballot to a secure drop box, have the ballot postmarked by a postal worker using first-class postage, or deliver your ballot to one of three Anchorage Vote Centers.

The Anchorage Vote Centers will be open on April 1 starting at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. The Anchorage Vote Centers are located at the ZJ Loussac Library (3600 Denali Street), City Hall (632 West 6th Avenue), and Eagle River Town Center (12001 Business Boulevard).

There are nine municipality-wide bond propositions, two special levies, four area-specific propositions, and several elections for Anchorage Assembly and School Board seats.

Results are expected to start coming in as early as 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to acting election administrator Jamie Heinz, after voting centers and drop boxes close at 8 p.m.

ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY

There are six seats up for election.

District 1, Seat L has three candidates: Daniel Volland (incumbent), Nicholas Danger and Daniel George.

Volland is running for his second term in the Assembly. He is currently the co-chair of the Transportation Committee and previously served as co-chair of the Health Policy Committee. He is the owner and optometrist at Ursa Optical.

Danger has served two terms on the Girdwood Board of Supervisors and was appointed as a state municipal safety officer by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

George has work experience in federal and state politics. He worked as a Legislative Correspondent for Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office from 2009 to 2012. From 2013 to 2017, he worked in the Alaska State Legislature as a Finance Aide and Committee Aide. He served as the State Director for the Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives for Rep. Don Young from 2019 to 2022 and then served as the State Director for the Office of Alaska At-Large from March to September 2022. He is a realtor for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alaska Realty and owns Frozen North Enterprises, a property management company.

District 2, Seat A has three candidates: Kyle Walker, David Littleton and Jared Goecker.

Walker is a civil engineer for the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, according to his campaign.

Littleton is a lifelong Alaskan, according to his campaign. According to his declaration of candidacy form, he is a full-time employee at the Alaska Laborers Training School.

Goecker has previous state and local experience, according to his campaign. He was Deputy Director for the State of Alaska’s Division of Personnel and Labor Relations from 2019 to 2022. He then served as the Deputy Director of the Human Resource Department from 2022 to 2024. He is currently the Director of Public Relations for the Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center

District 3, Seat D has three candidates: Kameron Perez-Verdia (incumbent), Jonathan Duckworth and Amie Steen.

Perez-Verdia is running for his third term in the Assembly. He has served since 2019 and is currently the Chair of the Public Health & Safety Committee and the co-chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee. He is also the President and CEO of Alaska Humanities Forum, a local nonprofit.

Duckworth is the owner of AK Pizza LLC and Duckworth Holdings LLC, according to his declaration of candidacy form.

Steen is a U.S. Air Force Reservist and is a mental health specialist at North Star Behavioral Health, according to her declaration of candidacy form. She was recently awarded the 2025 Alaska Air Force Reservist of the Year from the Armed Services YMCA of Alaska.

District 4, Seat F has two candidates: Erin Baldwin Day and Don Smith.

Day worked at the Alaska Public Interest Research Group and was a grassroots organizer for the Ship Creek Group project last year, according to her declaration of candidacy form.

Smith has a long history of serving on state and local boards. He was formerly a member of the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1968. He served on the Anchorage Assembly from 1975 to 1985. He then served on the Anchorage School Board from 2010 to 2013.

District 5, Seat H has three candidates: Angela Frank, John Stiegele and Yarrow Silvers.

Frank is a death doula and owner of Lilies of the Valley, according to her declaration of candidacy form.

Stiegele is a retired broker, according to his declaration of candidacy form.

Silvers currently serves as the Vice President of the Scenic Foothills Community Council, co-founded Anchorage Action and the Alaska Current, and previously served as a legislative aide for Rep. Alyse Galvin, according to her campaign.

District 6, Seat J has two candidates: Darin Colbry and Keith McCormick.

Colbry didn’t list an occupation or campaign website in his declaration of candidacy form, but did write that he helped put in speed bumps.

McCormick previously served in the Marine Corps and is currently working as a Physician Assistant at Alaska Fracture and Orthopedic Clinic, according to his campaign. His declaration of candidacy form also states that he is the communications officer for the Ridgewood Road Association.

ANCHORAGE SCHOOL BOARD

Two seats are up for the Anchorage School Board.

Seat A has two candidates: Margo Bellamy (incumbent) and Alexander Rosales.

Bellamy is running for her third term on the school board. Bellamy began working in the Anchorage School District in 1974 and retired in 2016 as the Executive Director of ASD’s Compliance/Equal Employment Opportunity Office, according to her campaign. She recently served as the School Board President.

Rosales is a U.S. Air Force veteran and is a parent of two kids in the Anchorage School District, according to his campaign. He was a substitute teacher under the SkillBridge Program and previously worked as a Cafeteria Manager for ASD.

Seat B has two candidates: Mark Anthony Cox and Kelly Lessens (incumbent).

Cox is a U.S. Army veteran, father, and owner of two local businesses: Crunchy’s Real Food and Alaska Reserve Study, according to his campaign.

Lessens is running for her second full term. She recently served as the Treasurer and Finance Committee chair for the School Board. She is a PTA member, mom of two and classroom volunteer, according to her campaign.

BALLOT PROPOSITIONS

There are 15 propositions on the ballot.

Proposition 1 is a General Obligation (G0) bond that will be used to pay for the costs of construction, upgrades, planning, design, and renovation of school facilities and educational facility building life extension projects within Anchorage. The total amount that would be approved would be $63,822,000.

If passed, property taxpayers would see an annual tax increase of $12.90 for each $100,000 assessed value.

ASD Chief Operating Officer James Anderson told Assembly members projects would include security systems, building entry improvements, infrastructure renovations and replacement, and upgrades to snow removal equipment.

Proposition 2 is a GO bond that will be used to pay for road and storm drainage capital acquisition, construction, renovation and upgrades in the Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area. The total amount that would be approved would be $33,700,000.

If passed, property owners within the Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Areas will see a tax increase of $7.86 for $100,000 in assessed value. There would also be an annual increase in the municipal tax cap of approximately 46 cents to pay for operation and maintenance costs.

Proposition 3 is a GO bond that will be used to pay for renovating and rehabilitating trails and parks, and making improvements at various parks and recreational facilities in the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area. The total amount that would be approved would be $8,250,000.

If passed, property owners within the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Areas will see a tax increase of $1.73 for every $100,000 in assessed value. There would also be an annual increase in the municipal tax cap of approximately 71 cents to pay for operation and maintenance costs.

The capital raised from the bonds would go towards a number of different capital projects across the municipality. Improvements to Town Square Park, a new chalet in Midtown’s Cuddy Park, and connecting the Fish Creek trail to the Tony Knowles Coastal trail are among the 17 projects proposed.

This is the largest Parks and Recreation bond to be proposed recently.

Proposition 4 is a GO bond that will be used to pay for upgrading the generator at Anchorage Police Department headquarters; replacing the gate, renovating the heating delivery system and making entrance ADA upgrades at APD Elmore Station; and making ADA upgrades at the APD Jewel Lake Training Center in the Anchorage Metropolitan Police Service Area. The total amount that would be approved would be $3,400,000.

If passed, property owners within the Anchorage Metropolitan Police Service Areas will see an annual tax increase of 62 cents for every $100,000 in assessed value.

Proposition 5 is a GO bond that will be used to pay for new replacement ambulances, replacing the fire alarm system panels at major municipal facilities, undertaking facility safety/code upgrades, undertaking signal system, signage, traffic calming and safety improvements, and undertaking school zone safety improvements in Anchorage. The total amount that would be approved would be $9,400,000.

If passed, property owners throughout the Municipality will see an annual tax increase of $1.68 for every $100,000 in assessed value. There would also be an annual increase in the municipal tax cap of approximately 37 cents to pay for operation and maintenance costs.

Proposition 6 is a GO bond that will be used to pay for capital improvements, including window repairs and replacements at Loussac Library, carpet replacement at Chugiak-Eagle River Library and Anchorage Senior Center renovations. The total amount that would be approved would be $2,800,000.

If passed, property owners throughout the municipality will see an annual tax increase of 50 cents for every $100,000 in assessed value.

Proposition 7 is a GO bond that will be used to pay for the replacement of fire engine trucks and fire water tenders in the Anchorage Fire Service Area. The total amount that would be approved would be $2,400,000.

If passed, property owners in the Anchorage Fire Service Area will see an annual tax increase of 46 cents for every $100,000 in assessed value.

Proposition 8 is a GO bond that will be used to pay for road safety improvements to Timberline Road within the Girdwood Valley Service Area. The total amount that would be approved would be $3,000,000.

If passed, property owners in the Girdwood Valley Service Area will see an annual tax increase of $24.35 for every $100,000 in assessed value.

Proposition 9 is a GO bond that will be used to pay for a new overflow parking lot near the Basher Trailhead within the Chugach State Park Access Service Area. The total amount that would be approved would be $300,000.

If passed, property owners in the Chugach State Park Access Service Area will see an annual tax increase of six cents for every $100,000 in assessed value.

Proposition 10 is a special tax levy that will be used to pay for the replacement and acquisition of vehicles used in snow plowing and snow hauling within the Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area. The amount that would be collected, if approved by voters, would not exceed $3,500,000 annually.

If passed, property owners in the Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area will see an annual tax increase of no more than $11.21 for each $100,000 in assessed value.

According to the municipality, it is anticipated that this levy will eliminate the need to bond for Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area vehicles for the foreseeable future.

Proposition 11 is a special tax levy that will be used to pay for the replacement and acquisition of police vehicles within the Anchorage Metropolitan Police Service Area. The amount that would be collected, if approved by voters, would not exceed $3,000,000 annually.

If passed, property owners in the Anchorage Metropolitan Police Service Area will see an annual tax increase of no more than $7.55 for each $100,000 in assessed value.

According to the municipality, it is anticipated that this levy will eliminate the need to bond for patrol vehicles for the foreseeable future.

Proposition 12 asks to increase the mill levy by 0.30 for the Chugiak, Birchwood, Eagle River Rural Road Service Area.

There is currently a mill levy of 2.10 mills where no more than 1.1 mills may be used for road and drainage maintenance, and no more than 1.0 mill shall be for capital improvements.

The proposed increase would be a total of 2.40 mills, where no more than 1.4 mills shall be for road and drainage maintenance and no more than 1.0 mill shall be for capital improvements.

If approved, property owners in the Chugiak, Birchwood, Eagle River Rural Road Service Area would see an increase in property taxes of no more than $30 for each $100,000 in assessed value beginning in tax year 2025.

According to the municipality, this proposition intends to provide additional local funding for road and drainage maintenance.

“Local tax funding is almost exclusively the funding source for road and drainage maintenance. The additional tax funds will provide a more predictable and reliable revenue stream to reduce long-term road maintenance costs, maintain year-round drivable roads, and alleviate unsafe road environments. Subject to the maximum mill rate, the CBERRRSA Board of Supervisors will determine the actual mill rate each year,” the municipality states.

This proposition is only for voters in the Chugiak, Birchwood, Eagle River Rural Road Service Area.

Proposition 13 asks to de-annex Lot 2 Huisingh Subdivision from the Totem Limited Road Service Area and amend the area’s boundaries.

Lot 2 Huisingh Subdivision does not receive direct road maintenance services from the Totem LRSA. The only access to the proposed property is from State-maintained O’Malley Road. The reduction of annual tax revenue resulting from the proposed property de-annexation would be less than $930 and will not have a material fiscal impact on Totem LRSA financial integrity, according to the municipality.

If approved, the property owner of Lot 2 Huisingh Subdivision will incur a decrease in property taxes for road services beginning in tax year 2025.

This proposition is only for voters in the Totem Limited Road Service Area.

Proposition 14 asks to de-annex Lots 1 & 16 Block 2 Elmore Subdivision from the Birch Tree/Elmore Limited Road Service Area and amend the Anchorage Municipal Code.

Lots 1 & 16 Block 2 Elmore Subdivision does not receive direct road maintenance services from the Birch Tree/Elmore Limited Road Service Area. The only access to the proposed property is on Greybull Place. The reduction of annual tax revenue resulting from the proposed property de-annexation would be less than $1,370 and will not have a material fiscal impact on Birch Tree/Elmore Limited Road Service Area’s financial integrity, according to the municipality.

If approved, the property owner(s) of Lots 1 & 16 Block 2 Elmore Subdivision will incur a decrease in property taxes for road services beginning in tax year 2025.

This proposition is only for voters in the Birch Tree/Elmore Limited Road Service Area.

Proposition 15 asks to annex Lots 6 to 18 Block 2, and Lots 9 to 13 Block 3 of the Equestrian Heights Subdivision into the Birch Tree/Elmore Limited Road Service Area.

The increase of annual tax revenues resulting from the proposed property annexation would be approximately $1,435 and will not have a material fiscal impact on Birch Tree/Elmore LRSA financial integrity, according to the municipality.

This proposition is only for voters in the Birch Tree/Elmore Limited Road Service Area.

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