Palmer Annexation

Standing Against Forced Annexation Protecting District 2’s Autonomy

Palmer’s Dysfunction Is Not Our Burden

The City of Palmer has shown a troubling pattern of mismanagement and internal conflict. From the abrupt resignation of a city manager after just 53 days complete with a $75,000 severance payout to the public fallout between the mayor, council members, and department heads, Palmer’s governance has been anything but stable.
The most glaring example? The $20 million library debacle. What began as a modest renovation spiraled into a bloated, mismanaged project that now burdens Palmer taxpayers for years to come. These decisions were made without transparency, without accountability, and without the input of the very residents who will foot the bill.

Annexation Offers No Real Benefit

Now, Palmer wants to annex surrounding neighborhoods like Mountain Ranch communities that already function independently and efficiently. But let’s be clear:

We already have EMS coverage from the Borough, with an ambulance barn right outside our subdivision.
Fire services are volunteer-based, and annexation wouldn’t change that.
Water and sewer systems are privately managed, with no city plan to extend infrastructure.
Annexation would impose new taxes, new regulations, and new bureaucracy—without improving services or infrastructure.

We Support Palmer But Not Its Governance

We shop in Palmer. We support local businesses, attend community events, and contribute to the local economy. But that doesn’t mean we want to be governed by a city whose dysfunction was enabled by voters who either endorsed the chaos or didn’t show up to stop it. Forced annexation would drag our stable neighborhoods into a system we didn’t choose, under leadership we didn’t elect, and with liabilities we had no hand in creating.

The People Have Spoken

In Area F (Mountain Ranch), over 80% of residents opposed annexation.
Across District 2, opposition ranged from 60% to 80%.
Even in Area G, support barely reached 43%.
This isn’t a fringe concern it’s a clear mandate. Our communities value independence, fiscal responsibility, and local control.

What the Borough Can and Can’t Do

The Mat-Su Borough cannot directly block annexation. Under Alaska law, cities can petition the Local Boundary Commission (LBC) to annex land through a legislative review process—without a local vote.

But as your Assembly representative, I will fight to ensure that:
The Borough formally opposes any annexation that lacks majority resident support.
We send letters of opposition to the LBC, demanding that annexation petitions be converted to local action, requiring a vote.
We educate and empower residents to submit responsive briefs and protect their rights.

Annexation without consent is taxation without representation. I will stand with District 2 to defend our homes, our voice, and our right to self-determination.