Murkowski concedes Senate race to Miller
By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
Senator Lisa Murkowski conceded the Republican primary election to Tea Party candidate Joe Miller.
The highly favored incumbent going into the primary, Murkowski faced a virtual political unknown in Miller.
But after Election Day voting, Miller led Murkowski by 1,688 votes a slight 50.9 percent to 49.1 percent lead. Still, 25,000 votes remained to be counted that were not counted on Election Day.
On Tuesday, Aug. 31, most absentee ballots were tallied and a gap of 1,630 votes separated the two candidates with Miller ahead 52,988 to 51,358.
Early Tuesday night, Murkowski called Miller’s campaign headquarters to say she was conceding.
Locally, Girdwood voted 161-67 in favor of Murkowski, whose residence is in Girdwood. Indian voted 31-22 for Miller, and Miller won in Hope 20-12, and in Whittier Murkowski won 29-14.
Voter turnout was poor overall with only 27.5 percent of eligible voters heading to the polls. Girdwood (1,774 registered voters) also had a poor showing with slightly more than 24 percent voting. Indian (252 voters) had close to a 38 percent turnout, Whittier (310 voters) around 23 percent and Hope (175 voters) 35 percent.
Ballot Measure 1, an initiative prohibiting the use of public funds to lobby or campaign, and prohibiting holders of government contracts and family members from making political contributions, did not pass with 63 percent voting no and 37 percent voting yes.
In Girdwood, Ballot Measure 1 received 276 votes against the measure and 155 in favor. Indian voted 71 against and 27 in favor. Whittier was nearly even at 38-34 in favor and Hope voted 41-21 against it.
Ballot Measure 2, requiring an abortion for a minor (under 18 years of age) to obtain a notice of or consent from parent or guardian or through judicial bypass, passed with a vote of 55 to 45 percent.
In Girdwood, voters were strongly opposed to Ballot Measure 2 with a vote of 306-129. Indian voters narrowly opposed it 49-46 and Hope voted 35-24 against the measure. Whittier also opposed it 38-28.
In the Governor’s race, democratic candidate Ethan Berkowitz won with 48 percent of the votes. Hollis French came in second with 39 percent.
Girdwood voted voted for French 99-74. Indian was 19-18 in favor of Berkowitz. Whittier was a draw 7-7 and French won 20-4 in Hope.
Governor Sean Parnell won his race with 49 percent of the votes statewide. Bill Walker came in second with 33 percent.
Walker nearly edged out Parnell in Girdwood, losing 86-80, and Ralph Samuels received 47 votes. In Indian, Walker won receiving 26 votes to 22 for Parnell. In Hope, Walker won 16-12, and Whittier voted 19-14 in favor of Walker.
U.S. Rep. Don Young won easily in his race with 70 percent of the votes statewide to second place finisher Sheldon Fisher’s 23 percent.
Young won in Girdwood with 141 votes to 63 for Fisher. In Indian 28-16 for Young, 20-9 in favor of Young in Hope over Fisher, and 32-10 for Young in Whittier over Fisher.
On the Democratic ticket for Lt. Governor, Diane Benson easily defeated second place finisher Jack Powers, receiving 60 percent of the votes.
On the Republican ticket, Mead Treadwell received 53 percent of the votes to Jay Ramras’ 31.
Cathy Giessel took the Senate race for the Republican party for District P (Turnagain Arm and South Anchorage), winning decisively with 46 percent of the votes. Mark Moronell came in a distant second with 28 percent of the votes, and Jennifer Johnston received 25 percent.
However, in Girdwood, Giessel lost to Johnston on a vote count of 100 to 59. Moronell came in third with 40 votes. In Indian, Giessel won receiving 23 votes, Johnston got 18 and Moronell 14.
Giessel will face Democrat Janet Reiser in the General Election Tuesday, Nov. 2.
