The Ballot Box or the Back Room
The Ballot Box or the Back Room: Why Mat-Su’s Future Depends on November 4th
An Open Letter to District 2 Voters
By Dana Raffaniello, Candidate for Mat-Su Borough Assembly District 2
When fewer than 11% of voters show up to decide our community’s future, we don’t have representative government. We have something closer to selection by default—where the most organized factions win, not because they represent the majority, but because the majority stayed home.
This isn’t just disappointing. It’s dangerous.
The Numbers That Should Alarm Every Mat-Su Resident
Let’s look at what just happened in our backyard:
Palmer: Under 11% turnout. The city flipped from conservative to progressive leadership—not because residents changed their minds en masse, but because conservative voters assumed someone else would show up. They didn’t.
Wasilla: Under 11% turnout. A city council seat was decided by 151 votes. Not 151,000. Not 15,000. Just 151 individual ballots separated the candidates.
District 2 (previous election): Similar anemic participation, with roughly 90% of eligible voters choosing to sit it out.
Think about that. In a district where thousands are eligible to vote, a few hundred determined people are making decisions that affect property taxes, zoning regulations, public safety, infrastructure spending, and the ideological direction of local governance.
This is not democracy. This is minority rule by default.
A Tale of Two Elections: Iraq vs. Mat-Su
Here’s a contrast that should shake us out of complacency:
In 2005, amid active insurgency and credible threats of violence, 70% of eligible Iraqis went to the polls. They risked car bombs, suicide attacks, and assassination. They stood in line for hours, many walking miles to reach polling stations. They voted because they understood that participation wasn’t optional—it was the only way to claim sovereignty over their own future.
Fast forward to 2025 in the Mat-Su Borough. We have:
No bombs
No insurgents
No threats to life and limb
Easy access to polling places
Early voting options
Mail-in ballot availability
And yet, 90% of us can’t be bothered.
What does that say about us? That we take freedom for granted? That we’ve become so disconnected from local governance that we don’t see how it affects our daily lives? Or that we’ve simply given up believing our vote matters?
I refuse to accept any of those answers.
Setting the Record Straight: There IS a Conservative in This Race
Before we go further, let’s address the misinformation campaign currently making rounds: “There’s no conservative running in District 2.”
That’s false. I’m Dana Raffaniello, and I’m a constitutional conservative running for Mat-Su Borough Assembly District 2.
I may not have an R next to my name on the ballot—borough races are officially non-partisan—but my principles are clear, my record is consistent, and my commitment to Mat-Su values is unwavering.
Now, let’s talk about my opponent.
The “Non-Partisan” Incumbent Who Isn’t
My opponent also claims to be “non-partisan.” But the Mat-Su Democratic Party tells a different story. On their official website, they give her their full endorsement and backing.
👉 See for yourself: https://www.matsudems.org/general-8
To be clear: I don’t fault anyone for having party support. What I fault is the disconnect between what voters are being told (“I’m non-partisan”) and what the evidence shows (active Democratic Party endorsement and alignment).
Mat-Su voters deserve honesty. If you’re backed by a party, own it. Don’t hide behind the “non-partisan” label while accepting partisan resources and endorsements.
The Term Limit Loophole: When Voter Intent Gets Rewritten
In 2022, Mat-Su voters spoke with overwhelming clarity: Assembly members should be limited to two consecutive terms. It was a ballot initiative designed to prevent entrenched incumbency, ensure fresh perspectives, and keep local government accountable.
The people voted. The measure passed. The rules were set.
Then came 2024.
The Borough Assembly passed an ordinance to align future elections with federal cycles and extend term lengths from three to four years. To bridge the gap, Districts 1 and 2 were assigned a one-year transitional term—and that term was specifically written to not count toward the two-term limit.
On the surface, this might seem like a reasonable administrative adjustment. But look at the practical effect:
District 1: Tim Hale, after serving two full terms, is stepping down. He’s honoring the voter mandate.
District 2: My opponent, also having served two full terms (elected in 2019, re-elected in 2022), is running again—using the transitional term as a reset button.
Technically legal? Yes. Consistent with voter intent? Absolutely not.
Voters didn’t approve term limits so incumbents could engineer workarounds. They approved term limits to ensure that no one—no matter how well-intentioned—could become entrenched in power.
The voters said two terms. Not “two terms plus a bridge year that doesn’t count.”
The E-Rate Scandal: Defending Insiders Over Taxpayers
If the term limit issue were an isolated incident, we might call it a judgment call. But there’s a pattern here.
When concerned Mat-Su citizens uncovered the misuse of federal E-Rate funds—taxpayer dollars designated for school and library internet access—they expected accountability. E-Rate funds are meant to connect students and communities to educational resources, not to pay outside consultants for unrelated work.
But instead of thanking these watchdog citizens for protecting public resources, what happened?
My opponent defended the contractor who misused the funds
The citizens who exposed the problem were accused of spreading misinformation
Only after sustained pressure did the Borough Manager cancel the contract, effectively confirming the misuse
Let that sink in. Citizens did the right thing—they asked questions, reviewed documents, and exposed improper spending. And rather than stand with them, my opponent stood with the contractor.
That’s not leadership. That’s circling the wagons.
The Pattern: Insiders First, Voters Second
When you step back and look at the full picture, a troubling pattern emerges:
❌ Disregard voter-approved term limits by exploiting a technical loophole
❌ Defend improper spending over community concerns
❌ Protect outside consultants instead of holding them accountable
❌ Silence citizens who ask uncomfortable questions
❌ Accept partisan backing while claiming to be non-partisan
This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about priorities.
Do we want leaders who:
Honor the mandates voters approved?
Stand with citizens who expose waste and misuse?
Tell the truth about their political affiliations?
Put Mat-Su first—not insiders, not party machines, not career preservation?
I believe the answer is yes. And that’s exactly what I’m offering.
Why Local Elections Matter More Than You Think
I know what some of you are thinking: “It’s just a borough assembly seat. How much does it really matter?”
Let me answer that with specifics.
Your borough assembly controls:
✅ Property taxes and assessments — directly affecting your wallet
✅ Zoning and land use — determining what gets built in your neighborhood
✅ Public safety budgets — funding for police, fire, and emergency services
✅ Infrastructure priorities — roads, bridges, water, sewer
✅ Economic development policy — attracting (or repelling) business investment
✅ Education funding — local contributions to schools
✅ Library and recreation services — quality of life for families
✅ Regulatory environment — business permitting, code enforcement, compliance costs
These aren’t abstract concepts. These are the decisions that shape your daily life—whether your commute is smooth or pothole-ridden, whether your property value rises or falls, whether your kids have safe parks, whether local businesses thrive or struggle.
And in Mat-Su, these decisions are currently being made by the 10% who show up.
The Brutal Math of Low Turnout
Here’s what happens when 90% of voters stay home:
Organized factions dominate. Whether it’s a party machine, a special interest group, or a well-funded PAC, those with infrastructure and coordination win by default.
Moderate voices disappear. Low turnout elections favor the extremes—the most motivated voters on either side—while the pragmatic middle opts out.
Accountability evaporates. When incumbents know only a tiny fraction will vote, they have less incentive to listen to the broader community.
Legitimacy erodes. How can we call it “representative government” when the representatives are chosen by 10% of the population?
Frustration compounds. People who don’t vote often complain the loudest later—but by then, the decisions are made and the damage is done.
Want to stop this cycle? It starts with showing up.
November 4th: Your Voice or Someone Else’s
Palmer flipped because conservative voters assumed the outcome was secure. It wasn’t.
Wasilla’s council changed by 151 votes because most voters thought their ballot wouldn’t matter. It did.
District 2 is next. And the question isn’t whether you agree with me on every issue—it’s whether you believe voters should decide elections, not the most organized faction.
Here’s what I’m asking you to do:
- Vote on November 4th (or vote early)
Early voting Starts Oct 20th. In-person voting happens on Election Day. Mail ballots are available. There’s no excuse not to participate. - Bring a neighbor
Don’t just vote—recruit. Text three friends. Knock on five doors. Post on social media. Voter turnout is contagious. - Share the facts
Counter the misinformation. There IS a conservative in this race. The term limit loophole IS real. The Democratic endorsement IS documented. Share this op-ed. Share the links. Let people see the evidence. - Hold leaders accountable
Whether I win or lose, the bigger mission is restoring faith in local governance. That means demanding honesty, transparency, and respect for voter intent—from everyone.
What I Stand For
I’m not running because I love politics. I’m running because I love Mat-Su—and I’m tired of watching our community’s future decided by a handful of insiders while the rest of us complain from the sidelines.
If elected, I will:
✅ Honor term limits — no loopholes, no workarounds, no excuses
✅ Protect taxpayer dollars — standing with citizens who expose waste, not the consultants who cause it
✅ Prioritize transparency — no hidden agendas, no party machines, no backroom deals
✅ Put Mat-Su first — our community’s values, priorities, and future over partisan politics
✅ Listen to voters — not just the 10% who show up, but the 90% we need to re-engage
The Choice Is Yours
You can sit this one out—like 90% did last time—and let someone else decide your property taxes, your zoning rules, your public safety funding, and your community’s direction.
Or you can take 20 minutes on November 4th and cast a ballot that actually matters.
In Iraq, people risked death to vote. In Mat-Su, all we’re asking is that you risk 20 minutes.
Palmer just flipped. Wasilla barely showed up. District 2 is next.
Let’s prove that Mat-Su voters still care about their community’s future.
Learn More
📰 Alaska Watchman coverage:
https://alaskawatchman.com/2025/09/30/constitutional-conservative-aims-to-unseat-democrat-backed-incumbent-on-mat-su-assembly/
🔗 Mat-Su Democrats endorsement of my opponent:
https://www.matsudems.org/general-8
“We respect the law—but we also respect the voters. District 2 deserves fresh leadership that honors the will of the people, not technical workarounds that undermine it.”
Vote Dana Raffaniello