Stutes Announces State House Run

Jay Barrett/KMXT
The field is starting to get crowded in the race for House District 32. In an announcement posted online Friday, former Kodiak Island Borough Assemblywoman Louise Stutes stated her intentions to seek the seat currently held by Representative Alan Austerman.
While HE has not declared his plans for re-election, Austerman’s daughter Carol announced last month her plans to run for his office, too.
Stutes and Carol Austerman served on the assembly together for several years, and both describe themselves as fiscal conservatives, though Stutes says they weren’t always in agreement:
“Just suffice it to say that we did not always vote in the same manner, fiscally, when we were both on the assembly at the same time.”
Stutes left the assembly just over a year ago, and said the time seemed right to run for state house.
“I had some discussion with Stormy, and it’s an opportune time. I have no children, no job, no children, nothing to hold me back, I can dedicate my full attention to that job. Stormy’s going to retire, and he said, ‘absolutely, I’m on board.’”
As for her platform, she says it revolves around the sea, the same as the communities in District 32.
“On thing that comes to mind immediately is the replacement of the Tusty. That’s a huge issue for southwest Alaska. That’s our highway, and we need to make sure that stays on track. That’s one of the many issues. Another issue is protecting our fisheries. That’s huge. Most all the communities of District 32 are affected by the fishing, or are fishing communities.
The deadline for candidates to file for this year’s elections is June 2nd, and the primary will be held on August 19th.

*Editor’s Note: Stutes intended to say she had no children at home.