Kasilof resident Robert Ruffner announced in a Facebook post Friday morning that he’s dropping out of the race for the Alaska House of Representatives seat currently held by Representative Paul Seaton (R-Homer). Ruffner planned to run as a Republican in Alaska’s House District 31, filing his letter of intent with the Alaska Public Offices Commission on April 4.
Ruffner is presently a member of the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission, and the borough Road Service Board. He was executive director of the conservation nonprofit Kenai Watershed Forum for 18 years before stepping down in January 2015.
Ruffner wrote on Facebook that he was withdrawing from the race because being a legislator would take time away from his family. Ruffner has two children in their early teens, and said he may run again once they’ve left home.
“I’m definitely conflicted, but I’m not willing to sacrifice time with my family,” he said. “Sometime down the road I’ll revisit this, most likely when both kids are out of high school.”
With Ruffner out of the race, Seaton’s present challengers are Sarah Vance of Homer, John Cox of Anchor Point, and Henry Kroll.
Reach Ben Boettger at bboettger@peninsulaclarion.com.
