Dan Saddler, longtime legislator from Eagle River, lost his race for Senate to Lora Reinbold four years ago, and is now seeking election to the House, where he served Eagle River from 2011 to 2018, when he resigned to take a job at the Department of Natural Resources.
He let his colleagues know on Thursday that he was leaving his public information post at DNR and had filed for House for District 24, which is the new number for the area he would represent.
Saddler was a force in the House during the era when he served, when Republicans were mainly in charge of the proceedings under Speaker Mike Chenault of Kenai.
He has worked as a newspaper reporter for the conservative Anchorage Times, magazine editor, legislative staff, public relations professional, deputy press secretary and deputy director of boards and commissions for the Governor’s Office under Frank Murkowski, and was District 18 Republican Party chairman. For a period, he was press secretary for the Alaska House of Representatives Republican majority.
Saddler said he is already working hard on raising funds and securing endorsements.
Former Rep. Sharon Jackson has also filed for House District 24. Rep. Ken McCarty, who represents part the area under the old political boundaries, has filed to run for Senate and so has Rep. Kelly Merrick.
