A former Juneau-Douglas High School teacher has filed to run for the Alaska House seat currently held by Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, representing Skagway, Haines, Gustavus and downtown Juneau.
Sara Hannan of Douglas filed a letter of intent Wednesday that allows her to raise money for the 2018 election season.
“I’m going to run for state House District 33,” she said by phone Friday morning.
Hannan retired from teaching in 2016 and said she now has “some time and attention and energy to put toward other things.”
Hannan was involved with this year’s Women’s March, which encouraged women to become involved with the political process.
“I feel like if I’ve been telling everyone else to step up and get involved, I should take my own advice,” she said.
Hannan previously sought to be appointed to the downtown seat after the 2014 resignation of Beth Kerttula. She was one of nine people who applied to fill the vacancy. Rep. Kitowas ultimately chosen by then-governor Sean Parnell.
In addition to teaching, she has served as a negotiator for the Juneau Education Association and volunteers with groups across the city, including the storytelling forum Mudrooms.
Hannan said she does not yet have an official campaign email address, Facebook page or website; she intends to have those ready by mid-March, when she will file an official form with the Alaska Division of Elections. That will place her name on the fall ballot.
She said education and health care will be among her top priorities.
Kito said Friday that he hasn’t made up his mind about running for re-election, and likely will not until mid-March. Hannan said she spoke with Kito before filing her letter of intent.
Both Kito and Hannan are registered Democrats, according to the records of the Alaska Division of Elections.
“I know he’s not yet made a decision,” Hannan said, but “I needed to make my decision based on me, not based on what anybody else is going to do. … I’m prepared to run this race either way.”
No other candidates have filed in the District 33 race. The deadline to register with the Alaska Division of Elections is June 1.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com or call 523-2258.
