a manRon Gillham speaks during a Soldotna municipality hallway arena astatine The Catch edifice successful April 2021. (File/KDLL)

A blimpish erstwhile lawmaker from Soldotna is making a bid to return to nan authorities Legislature. Ron Gillham revenge to tally for authorities House connected Wednesday. He’ll look incumbent Rep. Justin Ruffridge, nan chap Republican who unseated Gillham successful 2022, arsenic he vies for nan cardinal Kenai Peninsula’s spot successful nan Alaska House of Representatives.

Gillham is simply a erstwhile building worker who besides spent clip successful nan lipid and state industry. He had held nan House spot for a two-year word aft beating incumbent Rep. Gary Knopp, who died successful a level crash during nan 2020 predetermination cycle.

During his clip successful office, Gillham sponsored respective bills focused connected K-12 acquisition and nan COVID-19 vaccine. The bills included 1 that would have expanded vaccine exemptions and different that would have prohibited alleged “indoctrination” in nationalist schools.

He attracted contention successful 2021 after sharing a societal media station that compared media and aesculapian professionals to Nazi warfare criminals.

Gillham’s filing comes 2 days earlier nan Saturday filing deadline. Candidates willing successful moving for authorities agency must record pinch nan Alaska Public Offices Commission by June 1. Gillham could not beryllium reached for remark earlier airtime.

This year’s authorities superior predetermination is connected Aug. 20. Election Day is Nov. 5.