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
Except that he’s working for the biggest orange rino tool of them all. Not exactly a sterling endorsement of being a true republican in any sense
Just what the Legislation needs, another potential NEA union leader. What could go anymore wrong?
More orange rinos not stepping up to put Alaska first??
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.
Nope looks like another orange rino for Kodiak here
Simpler? I thought Alaska already had plenty of deviant radical groomer teachers and Peducation Union activists in state government.
I wonder what a “school district’s migrant education facilitator” does and how much they make per year, how many other jobs with similar sounding titles do our school districts have?
Sarah…time to step up 🙂
If he works for JD, it’s time to volunteer folks. Let’s take back Kodiak !
Please, please, please do not vote another public education grifter into the Alaska Legislature, Kodiak! I’m begging you!
This race will be a sign for what Kodiak is. Fed up and ready to correct years of failures, or woke crap hole. Frankly 63 years in, I’m looking for a new place to enjoy my retirement and bail on my one and only home. My kids, grand kids will all follow. I know many life long Alaskans that are ready to throw the towel in just as I am. We are disgusted with what our once beautiful state has become.
Stand up to the oil industry and the orange rinos then, not just the “evil” democrats
Get true fiscal conservatives and moderates who stand for Alaska and Alaskans into our government and we will see a return to what makes our home so great
There is nothing to indicate that Prout won’t be another rino like Stutes. 🧐
It should be illegal for anyone involved with the NEA to run for any public office.
You can’t tell me working for Vance has any positive value. Dude is a tool at best.
Good luck