Anchorage Daily News

NORTH POLE -- North Pole Republicans on Saturday selected a list of three candidates to replace Rep. John Coghill, who has moved to the state Senate. Among the contenders: The current mayor of North Pole and a candidate trailing in the undecided borough mayor election.

State party chairman Randy Ruedrich said the three candidates for the District 11 House seat are:

• Doug Isaacson, the newly re-elected mayor for the city of North Pole.

• Tammie Wilson, who is in a runoff election for the Fairbanks North Star Borough mayor. If she were to win, the Republicans would have to pull her from the list, Ruedrich says.

• Michael Prax, whom the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner has described as a former borough Assembly member and a current district vice chairman for the Republican Party.

The state party will now forward the names to Gov. Sean Parnell, who has until late this month to choose, Ruedrich said.

The announcement comes as Republicans shuffle leadership in the Interior. Senate Republicans confirmed Coghill on Oct. 22 to replace Sen. Gene Therriault, who in turn resigned to take a job as energy adviser to the governor.

The House District represents roughly 15,000 registered voters, Ruedrich said.

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