Pete Kelly (Alaska politician)

Peter Gene Kelly (born June 3, 1956 in Fairbanks, Alaska) is an American politician who served as a member of the Alaska Senate.[1] He also served as President of the Alaska State Senate from 2017 to 2019.[2] Kelly previously served in the Alaska Legislature in the Alaska House of Representatives and Senate from 1995 until 2003. He was defeated for re-election in 2018, losing to state representative Scott Kawasaki.

Pete Kelly
President of the Alaska Senate
In office
January 17, 2017 – January 15, 2019
Preceded byKevin Meyer
Succeeded byCathy Giessel
Member of the Alaska Senate
from the A district
B district (2013–2015)
In office
January 15, 2013 – January 15, 2019
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byScott Kawasaki
Member of the Alaska Senate
from the P district
In office
January 19, 1999 – January 21, 2003
Preceded byBert Sharp
Succeeded byRedistricted
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 31 district
In office
January 16, 1995 – January 19, 1999
Preceded byJoe Sitton
Succeeded byJim Whitaker
Personal details
Born
Peter Gene Kelly

(1956-06-03) June 3, 1956
Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Perri Kelly
RelationsMike Kelly (brother; deceased)
Children3
Alma materLiberty University (BS)
WebsiteState Senate website

Early life and education

Peter Gene Kelly was born in Fairbanks, Alaska on June 3, 1956, the youngest of seven children of Halford "Hal" and Helen Kelly. He has lived in Fairbanks for most of his life, and graduated from Monroe Catholic High School in 1974. His oldest brother was Mike Kelly. Mike died in a plane crash on December 7, 2016.[3]

Kelly attended University of Alaska Fairbanks and earned his BS in business administration from Liberty University.[4]

Career

In 1994, Kelly was unopposed in the House District 31 August 23, 1994 Republican primary, winning with 768 votes.[5] He challenged incumbent Democratic Representative Joe Sitton in the general election. Kelly won the three-way November 8, 1994 general election with 2,269 votes (49.9%) against Sitton and Fairbanks Republican candidate Walt Johnson.[6]

In 1996, Kelly was unopposed in the August 27, 1996 Republican primary. He won with 1,986 votes,[7] and went on to win the November 5, 1996 general election with 3,262 votes (66.5%) against Democratic nominee Erik Holland.[8]

In 1998, when Republican Senator Bert Sharp retired and left the District P seat open, Kelly won the August 25, 1998 Republican primary, receiving 2,107 votes against District 32 Representative Al Vezey.[9] Kelly won the November 3, 1998 general election with 5,082 votes (61.80%) against Democratic nominee Jane Haigh.[10]

Kelly was unopposed for the District B August 28, 2012 Republican primary, winning with 2,386 votes.[11] He faced incumbent Democratic Senator Joe Paskvan (redistricted from District E) in the general election; Kelly won the November 6, 2012 contest with 6,232 votes (54.11%).[12]

Personal life

His son, Devin, was found guilty of indecent exposure involving a minor in 2015.[13]

References
  1. "Pete Kelly". Juneau, Alaska: Alaska Legislature. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  2. Hertz, Nathaniel (January 5, 2017). "New Alaska Senate president on upcoming session: 'It's OK for politicians to fight'". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  3. "Wife: Ex-state Rep. Mike Kelly dies in Alaska plane crash". Dailyprogress.com. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  4. "Senator Pete Kelly's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  5. "State of Alaska Official Returns Primary Election August 23, 1994" (PDF). Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. p. 34. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  6. "1994 General Election Official Results Statewide Summary November 8, 1994". Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  7. "Official State of Alaska Primary August 27, 1996 Summary Report". Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  8. "Official State of Alaska General November 5, 1996 Summary Report". Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  9. "Election Summary Report State of Alaska Primary '98 Official Results". Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  10. "Election Summary Report State of Alaska 1998 General Election Official Results". Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  11. "State of Alaska 2012 Primary Election August 28, 2012 Official Results". Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  12. "State of Alaska 2012 General Election November 6, 2012 Official Results". Juneau, Alaska: State of Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  13. "Fairbanks man, son of senator, sentenced to 6 years for indecent exposure". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved March 28, 2016.

Media related to Pete Kelly at Wikimedia Commons

Political offices
Preceded by
Kevin Meyer		 President of the Alaska Senate
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Cathy Giessel
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