Now that the deadline to file for state office passed Monday, 11 Kenai Peninsula residents will be on the August primary ballot.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assemblyman Kelly Wolf is running for Lieutenant Governor, a position made vacant when Mead Treadwell announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Wolf, a Republican, currently represents the Kalifornsky Beach District on the borough assembly, and his term expires in 2015.
Wolf said he has invested the last 18 years working with Youth Restoration corps, a non-profit organization that gets kids involved in community projects throughout Alaska.
“As Lt. Governor, I wish to use this experience to continue helping our youth, elderly, disabled and our veterans because as Alaskans we are big hearted and helpful of one another,” he said.
Wolf is one of two Republicans running for Lt. Governor. Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan is the other candidate. A third, Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, withdrew her candidacy.
Two candidates will be challenging two current state representatives for their seats in Juneau. Nikiski resident Rocky Knudsen has filed as a Democrat in District 29 and will run against the Speaker of the House Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, who was first elected in 2000.
Kenai resident Shauna Thornton has filed as a Democratic candidate for State Representative for District 30 against Rep. Kurt Olson, R-Soldotna.
Thornton, who is on the Kenai Peninsula College council, said she is a big proponent of higher education and it will be one of her main platforms. She said she is running to protect Alaskan values and will focus on promoting a hardworking, ethical and transparent legislature.
Olson, who has held office since 2004, said he would like to finish the progress he’s made on the worker’s compensation and make long-term fixes to education funding.
Soldotna resident Eric Treider, who is running as an independent, will challenge Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Kenai, for District O in the general election.
Treider said he decided to run as a non-partisan because he believes campaign money is part of the problem in politics. For his campaign, he will only accept money from individuals and no more than $100 instead of from corporations.
He said he would like to see Senate Bill 21 corrected and change the trend of politicians ignoring the will of the people.
“Oil companies have the pin number to the state checking account,” Treider said.
Micciche, former Soldotna mayor, was elected to the state senate over incumbent Sen. Tom Wagoner in the 2012 primary and won the general election.
Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer will run unopposed for District 31. Seaton was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
Seven names will be on the August primary ballot for Governor, including Brad Snowden, a Republican from Seward.
Two candidates from the southern Kenai Peninsula have filed for United States Representative. John Cox, a Republican from Anchor Point and Frank Vondersaar, a Democrat from Homer.
Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com
