Two Alaska State House seats are now in the process of being filled after back-to-back appointments to the Alaska Senate created vacancies in House Districts 26 and 29.
Two Republican Party District committees met this weekend to review applications and advance recommendations to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who has the constitutional authority to appoint replacements, subject to confirmation by House Republicans.
The vacancies stem from a cascade of appointments triggered by members of the Legislature stepping down to run for higher office. Former Rep. Cathy Tilton of Wasilla was appointed in November to the Alaska Senate to replace Shelley Hughes, who is now running for governor. Tilton’s move left House District 26 without a representative.
Five people applied to fill Tilton’s House seat for District 26:
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Donna Anthony, tribal police chief for Chickaloon
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David Boyle, co-director of Alaskans4PersonalFreedom
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Nancy Campbell, political activist
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Sean McPeck, veterinary surgeon with the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment
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Stephan St. Clair, former legislative aide to Rep. Tilton
The district committee forwarded the names of McPeck, St. Clair, and Anthony to the governor.
A similar process unfolded earlier in the day in House District 29 after Rep. George Rauscher of Sutton was appointed to the Senate to complete the remaining term of Sen. Mike Shower, who is running for lieutenant governor. The District 29 Republican committee met and advanced three names to Gov. Dunleavy:
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L.D. Howard, Officer with the Chickaloon Police Department
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Garrett Nelson, political activist
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John James, former police officer
Dunleavy is expected to make his selections in the coming days. Once he names his appointees, House Republicans in Juneau will hold confirmation hearings and vote on whether to seat them. Both appointments will serve the remainder of the 34th Legislature.
