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Hopkins holds slight lead in Fairbanks Borough mayor runoff

by The Associated Press
Tuesday, November 03, 2009

FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- Voters headed to the polls in Fairbanks Tuesday for a runoff election that will decide the new mayor for the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

Assembly members Luke Hopkins and Tammie Wilson gained the most votes at the Oct. 6 municipal election. But both failed to break the 40 percent threshold to avoid a runoff. Four other candidates were eliminated.

The 48-year-old Wilson taught school for a few years before deciding to stay home and raise four children. She manages rental property and is a community volunteer who was elected to the assembly last year, promising to cut taxes and shrink government.

Hopkins is a 61-year-old retired superintendent of maintenance who promises to keep taxes low while providing good services.

The winner of the runoff election will lead a local government with an annual $130 million operating budget.

Hopkins held a slight lead over Wilson Tuesday night with 52 percent of the vote before absentee and question ballots were counted. One precinct also remained unreported, according to the Borough Web site.