Stevens, Austerman File for Re-Election

Jay Barrett/KMXT

Kodiak’s delegation to the state capital are both seeking re-election to their respective offices. Senator Gary Stevens and Representative Alan Austerman have both announced their intent and have filed with the Alaska Division of Elections.

Austerman, who served in the House and Senate before taking a job in the Murkowski administration, was most recently elected to the District 36 seat two years ago:

— (Delegation 1 7 sec "I, yes, I have already … I’m going to stay at it.")

Stevens has been in the Senate since he was appointed to Austerman’s seat in 2003, and before that, served in the state House:

— (Delegation 2 12 sec "I’m running, I’ve … most definitely, I’m running.")

As Senate President the past two years, Stevens has put together a coalition of some Republicans and all the Democrats in the upper chamber to form a majority coalition:

— (Delegation 3 30 sec "The voters, in their wisdom … to at least get to 11.")

There were four much more conservative Senators that refused to join the majority coalition, and formed the Senate Republican minority.

Stevens said his majority was able to work together by concentrating on common ground:

— (Delegation 4 16 sec "Right from the start … from moving ahead.")

So far, nobody has filed to challenge either Stevens or Austerman in either the closed Republican primary or in the general election. The deadline to file for the August 24^th primary is June 1^st.

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