Homer Alaska - News -

"I am extremely grateful to the many people who supported me," Carey said Tuesday night.

The Soldotna mayor, who launched his bid for the borough's top executive position last fall, said the race had pulled together people who held a common belief that the borough government wasn't hearing them. True or not, that motivation had political traction.

Carey said the job now was to develop a budget that reflected the wishes of residents.

"We are up to the challenge and will do that to the best of our ability," he said.

The success of Proposition 1, the food-tax holiday ballot measure that will eliminate the tax on groceries for nine months a year, could put Carey's administration to the test. The measure is expected to cut borough revenues annually by as much as $1.7 million.

Asked if he ever thought he would enjoy such a resounding victory, Carey acknowledged being a bit surprised by the outcome.

"Everywhere we went, people were very positive," he said. "I did not have any knowledge of what the vote would be."

Williams said his race for re-election faced some difficulties.

"I think the main issues were far beyond our control," he said, noting in particular the rising cost of property taxes based on assessing rules written in state statute over which the borough had little control.

Williams' administration did lower the mill rate during his three years in office, but balanced the revenue stream with an increase in the sales tax, a controversial move.

There were, however, several key accomplishments, Williams said.

"We were given $100 million in new construction to finish," he said, referring to capital projects in the works or on the drawing board when he assumed office in 2005. They included completing three fire stations, the new 911 Center, a new school and two hospital expansions.

"That takes money," he said. "We also put the borough back on a good, firm footing, and put money in our treasury. We certainly did something right. But the voters are interested in change across the board."

Williams said he and his wife Sharon would soon take a cruise, spend time working around the house, and enjoying "eight wonderful grandchildren."

In the races for three open seats on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, Harold Smalley defeated Malcolm McBride for the District 2 (Kenai) seat, Charles Pierce out-polled Marty Anderson in the race for the District 5 (Sterling/Funny River) seat, while incumbent Bill Smith ran unopposed and won re-election to his District 8 (Homer) seat.

In the assembly races, Smalley and McBride were competing for the seat being left vacant by Margaret Gilman who is stepping down.

Smalley, a member of the Kenai City Council and a former member of the Alaska House of Representatives, got 634 votes, nearly twice as many as his opponent, McBride, a former borough employee and current CARTS driver. McBride got 321 votes. Pierce, a manager with Enstar Natural Gas Company, topped Anderson, a member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of Education in the District 5 contest, puling down 688 votes to Anderson's 427. Smith, running unopposed in Homer, won the District 8 seat with 893 votes. Hal Spence is a reporter for the Peninsula Clarion.

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