Photo courtesy of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough
Borough Assembly Member Agnes Moran announced her candidacy for House District 36.Moran filed for office on Monday. She says she was encouraged to run not only by locals, but also by others around Southeast Alaska.
“…basically because of my experience at the local level, and my ability to take on some hard issues and work to see them through to the end. And of the candidates that are in the pool now, I’m the only one that has elected government experience.”
Moran says supporters believe her political experience and leadership skills will allow her to step into the job quickly.
Moran was appointed to a Borough Assembly seat in 2010 and elected to complete the remaining term of that seat in 2011. She was then elected to a three-year term the following year. During her time on the Assembly, Moran has served as co-chair of the Assembly / School Board Liaison Committee and co-chair of the Cooperative Relations Committee. She also has served on the Alaska Municipal League.
If elected, Moran says her top priority is fighting for access to resource development.
“After going back to Washington, D.C. this week and meeting with the Forest Service and the Undersecretary of the USDA, it’s really hard when you face these people who are more concerned about this fictitious sub-species of wolf than having viable, healthy communities in the Tongass. We really have to start pushing back, as a state, on that attitude.”
Along with Moran, Ketchikan residents Patti Mackey, Chere Klein and John Kanarr are seeking the House District 36 Republican nomination.
The winner of that contest will face Ketchikan resident Dan Ortiz who is running as an independent.
Representative Peggy Wilson of Wrangell announced at the end of the legislative session that she would not seek reelection. The newly-formed House District 36 represents Ketchikan, Saxman, Wrangell, Metlakatla, Hydaburg and Loring.
The deadline to file for state office is 5:00 pm on Monday, June 2nd.
