Applicants had until Oct. 31 to apply for the vacant seat for House District 40, which covers the farthest north region of the state, from around Kotzebue to Wainwright, Utqiagvik, Prudhoe Bay, and Kaktovik, and dozens of villages in between.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy will appoint the person to finish out the term of Rep. Josiah Patkotak, who was elected mayor of the North Slope Borough in October.
By law, Dunleavy has 30 days to fill the vacancy, which means this week. Patkotak was an undeclared voter, meaning he had no party affiliation. Normally, the parties get involved in recommending a pick to the governor, but this time, it’s all on Dunleavy to decide who best can represent this vast area of the state, now that Mayor Patkotak won’t be returning to Juneau as a member of the House.
Whoever is chosen would have to head to Juneau in January, and then could run for reelection after session is over, typically in May. House members face reelection in 2024.
The applicants who made the deadline are:
| Calvin Moto |
| Eben Hopson |
| Thomas Baker |
| Derek B Haviland Lie |
| John M Monnin |
| Clay Nordlum |
| Saima Chase |
| Davette Rachelle C G E Phillip |
| Francis Hugo |
| Judy M. Sellens |
| Greta Schuerch |
| Jay Rolf Armstrong |
Of those applicants, some may not live in the district, including Davette Phillip, who appears to live in Tuluksak as of Oct. 15, Francis Hugo, who appears to live in Fairbanks as of Oct. 15, and Judy Sellens, who is shown as living in Anchorage.
