Local elected official Kelly Wolf, R-Kenai, is running for Lt. Governor.
Wolf said he decided to run to give voters a choice and because too much of state representation comes from Anchorage and the Matanuska Valley.
“I believe in the electoral process and that the people should have a choice,” he said.
Wolf, 52, currently represents the Kalifornsky District for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 2002, serving one term.
“The Lt. Governor is a representative of the people and I’ve always … tried to honor and respect that my voice is a representation of what the people want,” he said.
In the primary election on Tuesday, Wolf and Dan Sullivan, R-Anchorage, current Anchorage mayor, will appear on the Republican ballot. Hollis French and Bob Williams are running as Democrats, and Andrew Lee is running for the Libertarian party.
Wolf said he didn’t think he would be elected to House of Representatives in 2002 and isn’t fully confident of his chances in being elected as Lt. Governor.
But said he has counted only 11 campaign signs for Sullivan in Southcentral Alaska. Wolf said he has been meeting with different groups and participating in speaking engagements about his candidacy.
Wolf, a retired contractor, said he doesn’t claim to be a politician. As a teenager, he and his family moved to Alaska in 1975. He currently serves as a board member of Friends of Athletes with Disabilities and the Friendship Mission homeless shelter and board chair and project coordinator for Youth Restoration Corps, an organization he co-founded with his wife.
Wolf and his wife, Vera, have four grown children. Ryan, who has Down syndrome, works at Fred Meyer. Josh served with the U.S. Army and is going to school to become a diesel mechanic. Justin is serving with the U.S. Air Force. Salena will begin college working toward a career as a registered nurse.
His experience in working with youth through YRC, which mentors youth through community-based projects, is a benefit. Working with youth to get them job experience, teach habitat restoration and provide job experience is one of his focuses, he said.
“I’ve always believed in our youth and I feel very strongly that our youth can do just about anything,” he said.
He is also concerned about issues seniors and veterans are facing.
Wolf said he is in favor of Senate Bill 21, against the legalization of marijuana in Alaska and is not supportive of abortion.
Kaylee Osowski can be reached at kaylee.osowski@peninsulaclarion.com.
