JUNEAU -- After 18 years in the Alaska Legislature representing South Anchorage and the Hillside, and more recently serving as the Senate's minority leader, Sen. Con Bunde announced his retirement Thursday morning.
A retired educator, Bunde, a Republican, said he's been frustrated by his status in the Senate's four-member minority caucus.
"It isn't any secret that I've had some questions about how at least the current Senate majority operates and where they're taking the state," Bunde said. "Someone said once that if you can't fight them, join them, and if your principles don't let you join them, maybe it's time to let someone else do the job."
He also cited unspecified medical problems in his family.
Bunde made his announcement at the end of a news conference by the minority caucus.
Reminiscing about the first day he arrived in Juneau, he said he saw flags flying at half-staff across the street from the Capitol but had no idea who was being honored. A friend giving him a guided tour sensed his confusion.
"You see that?" the friend said. "Some day those flags will be at half-staff for you and someone's going to come by here and look up and say, 'What old fart died now?' "
Earlier in the meeting with reporters, Bunde expressed concern that the state isn't doing enough to prepare for the day when North Slope oil runs out and the trans-Alaska pipeline must be dismantled. At the current rate of state spending, each Alaskan would have to pay $13,000 in state taxes to make up for a complete cutoff of oil revenue, he said.
Bunde has indicated for months that he might not run this year, and that's attracted a lot of interest in the seat.
Cathy Giessel, a nurse practitioner and Republican Party activist who was field coordinator for Sean Parnell's 2008 run for Congress, has filed with the Division of Elections to run. Mark Moronell, a cardiologist and partner at Alaska Heart Institute, has also announced plans to run in the August Republican primary.
Janet Reiser, a member of the Chugach Electric Association Board of Directors and the former president of NANA Pacific, is running for the seat as a Democrat.
Senate District P includes the Hiland Road area of Eagle River and the Anchorage Hillside, as well as running south along Turnagain Arm through Indian, Girdwood, Whittier and Hope.
Daily News reporter Sean Cockerham contributed to this report. Find Richard Mauer online at adn.com/contact/rmauer or call 257-4345.
By RICHARD MAUER
rmauer@adn.com