Bill Elam speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bill Elam speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Elam enters Alaska House race

Elam has represented District 5, which includes Sterling and Funny River, on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly since 2020

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Bill Elam on Sunday entered the race for the Alaska House of Representatives seat that includes the communities of Nikiski, Hope and Moose Pass.

The seat is currently held by Ben Carpenter, also a Republican. Carpenter has served in the Alaska Legislature since 2019 and registered in November to run for the Alaska Senate seat currently held by Jesse Bjorkman. In his bid for State House, Elam will face off against John Hillyer, also a Republican, who filed to run for the seat last November.

On the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, Elam has represented District 5, which includes Sterling and Funny River, since 2020. He has since served as liaison to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and chair of the assembly’s Lands Committee. He currently works as a network administrator for Central Peninsula Hospital.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Elam said Monday that he first considered running for State House after learning that Carpenter wouldn’t seek reelection to the seat. He plans to run as a Republican and said his values include small government and fiscal conservatism. To the Alaska Legislature, Elam said he’d bring statesmanship in addition to a background in information technology and health care.

“I’m really looking forward to understanding issues that people are having,” Elam said Monday. “I want to talk to people and I want to know what they would like, particularly, from their House representative.”

More information about upcoming state elections can be found on the Alaska Division of Elections website at elections.alaska.gov. The deadline for candidates interested in running in Alaska’s 2024 general election is Saturday, June 1 at 5 p.m.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney speaks during a meeting of the UA Board of Regents at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Pitney: UA, KPC seeing momentum, attendance growth

The university president described KPC as “a leader of the pack” in enrollment growth at the university

University of Alaska Board of Regents Chair Ralph Seekins speaks during a meeting at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Where does this end?’: University of Alaska to strip diversity and inclusivity language from programs, policies

The board was clear during the meeting that they were responding to pressure from the federal government.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich holds a telephone town hall on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Screenshot from the Facebook page of U.S. Rep. Nick Begich)
Murkowski, Begich host telephone town halls to address constituent concerns

Both events were inaccessible to some, who grew frustrated at technical problems

Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, speaks on the House floor on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Education funding bill unexpectedly advances again, nears House floor vote amid affordability concerns

HB 69 clears Finance Committee at first hearing as minority says discussions there are not worthwhile.

The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai accepts federal grant for police vests

The funds entirely cover the purchase of three ballistic vests this fiscal year.

Soldotna High School student Ethan Anding asks a question during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
District discusses $17M deficit at community meeting

More than 100 people gathered in the KCHS auditorium.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Man found dead near Kasilof roadway on Tuesday

He was found off Pollard Loop Road near Reindeer Lane in the Kasilof area.

Fire Marshal Jeremy Hamilton gives a tour to students during Job Shadow Day at Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Roddy Craig/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai students try on careers for Job Shadow Day

Roughly 100 students from Kenai Central High School scattered to more than 30 businesses to get a feel for the workforce.

A 2015 Ford Explorer that was stolen from the Kenai Chamber of Commerce before crashing into a tree near Wells Fargo Bank is loaded onto a tow truck in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Car stolen, crashed in Kenai

The car was reportedly taken from the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.

Most Read