Prior to Sen. Gary Stevens announcement that he will not run again for the Kodiak-Homer area Senate Seat C, Rep. Louise Stutes made her move to file for his seat.
Now, two Kodiak residents have now filed for Stutes’ House seat: Katherine Simpler, a Democrat from Kodiak, and Sheldon Prout, a Republican.
Stutes, too, is a Republican, but has caucused with the Democrats for most of her career in the House.
Prout was born and raised in Kodiak. He now travels widely, doing advance work for Vice President JD Vance in the Office of the Vice President. He’s worked as a deckhand and in college-level athletic management.
“I’ve built my career through hard work in diverse environments, from the fishing grounds of Alaska to football fields in the SEC and into national-level operations and logistics. Whether serving as a deckhand, supporting athletic programs, or working behind the scenes on high-level campaigns, I bring a strong work ethic, sharp attention to detail, and a deep respect for teamwork and bringing people together. Alaska is home, and I’m committed to serving it with integrity, grit, and purpose,” he says on his LinkedIn profile. His sister, Silver Joy Prout, is the press secretary for Congressman Nick Begich.
Simpler, the Democrat who jumped into the race, is a union activist for the National Education Association, where she is listed as as a “representative on the NEA Board of Directors, the top decision making body of our national affiliate which includes at least one director from each state affiliate.”
She began her career teaching in Kodiak in 1996 and now serves as her school district’s migrant education facilitator. She has served as NEA-Alaska Region 2 director. Since 2022, she has represented NEA-Alaska as its director, advocating for the union’s priorities at the national level. The NEA’s political arm will be bringing a lot of cash for her in this race.
Kodiak-Seward-Cordova District 5 voted for Trump in 2024 — 54.3% to Harris’ 41.5%, which nearly mirrors the state’s overall results of 54.5% to 41.4%, but the district also voted for Stutes, who is well known for aligning with Democrats.
Homer-based Rep. Sarah Vance on Wednesday filed a letter of intent to run again in 2026, but has not indicated if she will run for her current seat or try for Senate. Several people are encouraging her to run for Stevens’ seat.
Let’s hope that district learned about Democrats and Rino’s And votes Prout
Just what the Legislation needs, another potential NEA union leader. What could go anymore wrong?
We just had a meltdown in ethics with Rep. Chuck Kopp leading the charge for the Defined Benefits bill, while being a lobbiest for the AFL-CIO….
Sooo… I’d have to guess being a Union rep wouldn’t be a conflict of interest on anything schools or State labor issues???
This is just disgusting.
Another NEA monster mobster…………..NO.
WOW!!!!! What Great Race!!!!! Free Enterprise. Vs. Communism. C’mon Kodiak, go Real Red, and not in Phony Name Only.
Simpler? I thought Alaska already had plenty of deviant radical groomer teachers and Peducation Union activists in state government.