Student tackles Alaska legislation

  • By Kelly Sullivan
  • Sunday, April 5, 2015 7:46pm
  • News

Student Jackson Blackwell is diving into local politics as a Soldotna High School sophomore.

As his grade’s vice president, a member of the Kenai Peninsula Youth Court and the student representative on the Soldotna City Council, Blackwell recently levied his experiences into the state capitol’s political sphere during the 2015 legislative session.

In February he spent one day lobbying for the American Cancer Society. He travelled to Juneau with Soldotna’s Teens Against Tobacco Use chapter and the Teen Tobacco Control Line to speak out on the dangers of tobacco products.

Blackwell spent a few hours acting as a guest page in the House of Representatives for Rep. Kurt Olson, R-Soldotna, he said.

“That was really cool,” Blackwell said. “I learned a lot from that.”

Most surprising was the representatives communicate with handwritten notes during the session, since they are not allowed to use phones, Blackwell said. Texting is out, he said. Back home, Blackwell was the catalyst that reintroduced the student representative seat back to Soldotna’s City Council. After he was elected as sophomore class vice president, he met with council member, and Soldotna High School teacher Meggean Bos to look at the possibilities of reviving the position.

Blackwell said he wanted to be the liaison between school and city. He uses his role to advocate for the youth voice within the community, he said.

Recently Blackwell heard a piece of information that Senator Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, which made an impact on him about the importance of officials being aware the student voice in the capitol.

“One letter of a student is worth ten from adults,” Blackwell said.

Reach Kelly Sullivan at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com

More in News

People carrying flags and signs line the Sterling Highway for a “No Kings” protest in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna ‘No Kings’ protest draws hundreds

The nationwide protest came the same day as a military parade organized at the behest of the Trump administration.

Council member Jordan Chilson speaks during a Soldotna City Council work session in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna council mulls change to meeting time

Meetings would be moved from 6 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. under a resolution set to be considered on June 25.

Mountain View Elementary School is photographed on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Mountain View vandalized by children, police say

Staff who arrived at the school on Monday found significant damage, according to police.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress 4th grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy vetoes education funding to $500 BSA increase

Per-student funding was increased by $700 in an education bill passed by the Alaska Legislature in May.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Job Center is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on April 15, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Minimum wage increases to $13 per hour on July 1

Since 2014, Alaska’s minimum wage has increased from $7.75 to $11.91 through the Alaska Wage and Hour Act.

Leads for the Sterling Safety Corridor Improvements Project field questions and showcase their “preferred design” during an open house meeting at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Preferred design alternative for Sterling Highway safety corridor introduced at town hall

The project is intended to redesign and construct improvements to the highway to reduce the number of fatal and serious collisions.

Alaska State Troopers badge. File photo
Recovered remains confirmed to be missing Texas boaters; fourth set of remains found

Remains were recovered from the vessel sank that in Kachemak Bay last August.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD issues notice of non-retention to pool managers, theater techs and library aides

Those notices were issued due to the ongoing uncertainty in state education funding.

National Guard members put on hazmat suits before entering the simulation area on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
National Guard begins exercise in Juneau simulating foreign terrorist attacks

Operation ORCA brings 100 personnel to Juneau, disrupts traffic around Capitol.

Most Read