Huggins retires from senate, Gattis to run for open seat

WASILLA — The list of local candidates seeking election to the Alaska legislature may still get shorter in coming weeks, but it won’t get any longer.

With the closure of the June 1 filing deadline, the next deadline is the last day for candidates to withdraw their names from consideration, which must be done by June 27, according to the Alaska Division of Elections website.

On the last possible day, the Alaska Senate majority announced Sen. Charlie Huggins (R-Wasilla) would not seek to retain his District D seat in the state senate, and Rep. Lynn Gattis (R-Wasilla) said she had filed a letter of intent to run for his seat. Wasilla city councilman David Wilson remained her only opponent in the race to replace Huggins.

“I look forward to the opportunity to represent even more of the Mat-Su Valley,” Gattis said, in a press release.

Huggins, a decorated Vietnam Veteran and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, and Silver and Bronze stars, as well as a former President of the Senate during 2013 and 2014, joins Alaska Sen. Bill Stoltze (R-Chugiak) on the list of Mat-Su legislators who are stepping down. Huggins has also served as the Director of Veterans Affairs, and a board member of the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority, according to his bio on the Alaska Legislature website.

Rep. Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer), Northern Industrial Training co-owner Adam Crum, and local Tea Party Activist Steve St. Clair will vie for the chance to take on Democrat Samantha Lauder-Rodgers of Chugiak, who has also filed to run, along with local marijuana business advocate Timothy Hale, who is running as an independent, pending the approval of his nominating papers by elections officials.

On the house level, Brandon Montano and Colleen Sullivan-Leonard have filed to run in the Republican primary for Gattis’s District 7 seat. The winner of that contest will face Democratic candidate Sherie Olson in the primary, pending the approval of her nominating papers by the Division of Elections.

Rep. Mark Neuman (R-Big Lake) and Mike Alexander will vie in the republican primary to take on Democrat Gregory Jones for the District 8 race.

Rep. Jim Colver (R-Palmer) and George Rauscher will compete in the primary for Representative District 9.

Current Palmer mayor Delena Johnson will compete with Palmer city councilman Richard Best, Nancy Campbell and Lawrence Wood in the primary to replace Hughes in District 11.

Neither District 9 nor 11 has drawn a Democratic candidate.

In District 10, Rep. Wes Keller (R-Wasilla) faced three challengers for his District 10 seat: David Eastman, of Wasilla, Steve Menard and Andrew Wright, all of Wasilla. The Republicans will compete to take on Democrat Christian Hartley.

In District 12, Rep. Cathy Tilton (R-Wasilla) will face Gretchen Wehmhoff of Chugiak.

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com or on Twitter @reporterbriano.