By Steve Williams

Longtime legislative aide Dewey Skan has joined the race for his former boss’s seat in the Alaska House of Representatives. Friday, Skan announced his candidacy for the House District 5 seat being vacated by Rep. Albert Kookesh of Angoon.

A democrat, Skan is the third confirmed candidate for the House District 5 seat.

Skan has worked as an aide to Kookesh for the past eight years. The Angoon democrat is giving up his House seat to run in Senate District C, for the post formerly held by Geogianna Lincoln, who retired this year.

Skan has served as a city councilor in his hometown, Klawock, including eight years as deputy mayor. He is a former president of the Alaska Native Brotherhood, and served as ANB Grand Camp treasurer from l984 to l990.

In Juneau, Skan has served as a member of Gov. Tony Knowles' Council on Rural Sanitation. Skan’s other committee and commission appointments include: the Alaska Coastal Zone Management Steering Committee, the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, and the Power Cost Equalization Blue Ribbon Task Force. He is a founding member of the Southeast Natives’ Subsistence Commission.

"I believe I am the most knowledgeable candidate due to my experience working as a legislative aide since l996, and my involvement with municipal, state, and federal entities for the past 29 years," Skan wrote in a press release.

Klukwan, Inc. board member Kimberly Strong has also filed for the seat, along with Cordova Republican Gary Graham.

Kookesh said he won’t endorse his longtime friend Skan, or anyone else, until voters choose a candidate in the democratic primary later this year. "I’ve told them all I’m going to wait and see who wins the primary, and then I’ll work with them, travel with them, do whatever they want."