Fairbanks mayor race near finish line

FAIRBANKS - A final tally of ballots Tuesday should settle the race for Fairbanks Borough mayor.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported that with a few thousand ballots outstanding, Luke Hopkins had a 617-vote lead on Tammy Wilson. Both are members of the assembly.

The 61-year-old Hopkins is a part-time land manager at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He says he would keep taxes low while maintaining services.

The 48-year-old Wilson is a former teacher who promises to cut taxes and shrink government if elected.

The winner will be the tenth mayor of Fairbanks North Star Borough. The boroughs annual $130 million operating budget pays for pools, parks, buses and libraries. The borough also funds the Fairbanks public school system.