Page 7 - Assembly Vice News Today

The two Anchorage School Board incumbents also held wide leads over their challengers in updated preliminary results Wednesday. Most bonds and ballot measures were passing, with the exception of Proposition 13.

Even in what campaigns have perceived to be some of the most competitive races — in Midtown, West Anchorage and South Anchorage — candidates aligned with the current Assembly held striking leads over their opponents.

Anchorage voters will elect seven of 12 Assembly members, two school board members and decide fourteen ballot propositions, including a school bond.

The lawsuit by Roger Hickel Contracting alleges breaches of contract and good faith over work done last year at the East Anchorage site of a proposed facility for sheltering people experiencing homelessness.

Candidate Brian Flynn is married to Mayor Dave Bronson’s Purchasing Department director, Rachelle Alger. Flynn, who is supported by Bronson, has said the personal relationship should not impact his ability to vote on most contracts and purchases.

The ombudsman issued a memo in January referencing a municipal “executive” that said Mayor Dave Bronson’s office was viewing surveillance footage of the ombudsman’s office to see which employees visited the office and spoke with members of the Anchorage Assembly.

“I hope the Assembly will work with us to settle this dispute as quickly as possible,” the mayor said in a statement Thursday.

Several conservative candidates are distancing their campaigns from Mayor Dave Bronson, while some more aligned with the Assembly’s majority say they will work to leave bitterness behind.

El Al planes cross Gulf sultanate's territory en route to Thailand, days after country opened up for overflights from all countries, shaving some 2.5 hours off flight time

Gulf sultanate, traditionally a mediator between Iran and the West, makes move that will cut hours off travel to Far East, but does not indicate impending treaty with Jerusalem