On Tuesday, Nov. 8, elections will be held for U.S. House and Senate, Alaska Legislature and the Alaska governor.

To help inform voters, the Homer News will introduce the southern peninsula candidates, show their answers to a group of questions and give them an opportunity to make their pitch on why you should elect them. This week, we introduce the candidates.

For Senate District C, incumbent Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, is being challenged by Republicans Heath Smith of Homer and Anchor Point resident Walter Jones.

Heath Smith, 57, was born in Anchorage and lived there from 1965-73. He lived in Fairbanks 1973-74 and Homer 1974-present. He has lived in Homer 48 years.

Contact information: smithaksenate@protonmail.com; smithaksenate.com

Education: Homer High School; Northern Arizona University; BA International Relations and Affairs, Brigham Young University

Current occupation: Service Provider at United Parcel Service (UPS) 25 years

Previous occupations or businesses: Owner: Comfort Flow Heating Service 1997-2005; Owner: Active Car Rentals 2006-2012

Elected or appointed experience: Homer City Council 2015-2021

Community service: Elks

Hobbies or interests: Family, fishing, hunting, travel, photography, learning.

Personal statement:

“For decades now we have seen the same story play out time and time again. At what point do we ask ourselves who the common denominators are in those outcomes…or the lack thereof?

Over the six years I served on the Homer City Council I became increasingly frustrated with the lack of commitment our current senator showed to our priorities as a community, and his unwillingness to use his ‘experience’ and ‘leadership positions’ to resolve our long-standing fiscal issues.

Many in our district feel as if their votes have been taken for granted for far too long. They are ready to see the baton passed to someone energized and committed to represent every community in the district and driven to work with the people and other legislators to establish a sustainable fiscal policy that can reasonably deliver mandated government services to Alaskans.

I’m running for Senate because I love Alaska and I care about what the future holds for our coming generations. It’s time to pull anchor.”