newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS -- With all precincts reporting, incumbent Rep. Woodie Salmon secured a substantial lead over challenger Ward Sattler in the race for House District 6.

The massive district spans the state from Aniak to Arctic Village to Tok, and includes scores of small communities along Alaska’s major waterways.

At midnight, with only 27 precincts reporting, both candidates were optimistic that results looked good for them. Twenty-two minutes later, though, the rest of the precincts' tallies were reported.

The totals showed Salmon with 2,594 votes, or 55.27 percent. Sattler had 2,089 votes, or 44.51 percent.

Salmon, a Democrat seeking his third term as representative for District 6, said final counts aren’t usually posted until 1 or 2 a.m.

“I think I’ll pull it off,” he said, speaking from Anchorage at about midnight. “The last two times, it’s the same thing.”

Sattler, a Republican, said absentee and early ballots could give him an edge in the coming days.

“If they’re holding on all of that, I think I may be fairly comfortable,” Sattler said. He watched results trickle in and chatted with Interior supports from the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks. The numbers weren’t coming in fast enough, he agreed.

“We’ve still got a whole bunch of votes out there,” he said. “I have no idea where those votes are.”

Location was key for both candidates. Voters on the road system, such as in Tok, Circle and Eagle, are more likely to vote Republican. Those on the river system or only air-accessible tend to cast their votes for Democrats.

“I think things will go good,” Salmon said, adding that the highway-city ballots are generally the first to be counted. “Once we get off the road system, I’m OK.”

Sattler is challenging Salmon’s tenure. He made a strong go for the seat in 2004 but fell short. In 2006, Sattler ran in the primary but lost the party’s nomination to Carl Morgan.