Tom Bearup, a former Soldotna mayor, announced he is running for Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor.
Standing in front of a banner with the slogan “The People’s Mayor,” Bearup addressed a group of community members that attended the 2 p.m. Thursday press conference he held at Froso’s restaurant in Soldotna.
“It’s not about me … it’s about the people,” he said.
Bearup said he will use veto power to control the spending of taxpayer money and that shrinking the national deficit needs to start locally.
He said he wants to support local businesses and encourage manufactures to come to the Kenai Peninsula to create jobs.
“If we can stabilize (the economy) by diversifying, then we have an opportunity to really do something more for our people,” he said.
Bearup is a pastor and a Vietnam veteran. He has worked in law enforcement locally and in the Lower 48.
He has been married to Adele Bearup for 38 years, has nine children and 33 grandchildren.
