2004 races draw fewer candidates

Although Juneau voters will make decisions on two propositions, Assembly and School Board candidates, some say today's election has generated little excitement.

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"The number of the candidates is unusual. Normally there is more competition in the Assembly and School Board seats," said Judy Crondahl, a resident for 40 years. She posts Assembly and School Board candidates' answers to questionnaires from seven different organizations on her Web site.

Last year, 12 candidates competed for five seats on the School Board. This year, three candidates are running for two seats. And all the candidates - Mary Becker, LaVonne Garvey and Bill Peters - are similar in their platforms.

In the Assembly election, two candidates fight for one seat in each district. Write-in candidate Sybil Davis and Planning Commissioner Johan Dybdahl bid for one area-wide seat. Incumbent Jeannie Johnson and former School Board President Jeff Bush will contend in District 1. Assembly member Randy Wanamaker faces opposition from Moose Lodge manager James Reid in District 2.

Former Mayor Dennis Egan said his friends seem to care more about the two propositions than the Assembly and School Board races.

Proposition 1 asks voters to authorize $54 million in bonds to build a new high school in the Mendenhall Valley. Proposition 2 asks voters to authorize redirecting the unexpended $18 million bond proceeds to repair Juneau schools.

"In the May election, the pro-second-school camp and the anti-second-school camp spent a lot of money on campaigns, but it has been quiet this time," Egan said. "But it's hard to say that it's because everyone is satisfied now."

Egan said the competition between Johnson and Bush is probably the most contentious among the three districts because both of them are well-known in the community. He said write-in candidate Davis might have a hard time because her supporters need to spell her name correctly.

City Clerk Laurie Sica said it's hard for her to determine whether people are excited about this year's local election.

"People are definitely in the election mood, though," Sica said. "There's been a lot of voter registration drives. We just had the primary. And we are going to have state and presidential elections in November."

Sica said about 1,000 people have cast their absentee ballots at the City Hall or the Mendenhall Valley. Monday was the last day people could cast absentee ballots at these two locations. Sica said many residents voted early so they wouldn't forget to vote on Oct. 5.

Last year, the city received about 1,300 absentee ballots.

Sica said she is expecting more absentee ballots to come by mail.

The polls will close at 8 p.m. today. All the votes will be sent to the election center at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School, 10014 Crazy Horse Dr. The City Clerk's Office will finish counting the ballots around 9:30 p.m. Election results will be certified next Tuesday.

• I-Chun Che can be reached at ichun.che@juneauempire.com.