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.

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.