Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, announced Wednesday he would not seek re-election in the Alaska Senate. Micciche has been a senator for District O since being elected in 2013; he was elected as Senate President in 2021.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to represent the interests of the people of the Kenai at the state level for the past three terms,” Micciche said in a statement.

Before serving in the Legislature, Micciche was mayor of Soldotna, a commercial fisherman and an executive with ConocoPhillips. Micciche said in his statement that as his children got older, he needed to be closer to his family. Though he was leaving the Legislature, Micciche said he would still be involved in public service in the future.

“Public service is what the Micciche family does. We love our state and community and plan to stay involved as we have always done,” Micciche said. “A true leader does not need a political campaign, or the associated recognition to serve. I don’t know exactly what the future holds for us, but I can assure you that, as before, it will involve service to our Kenai Peninsula community and all Alaskans. My vision for what this amazing state can become is in no way diminished by this decision.”

Micciche said he and his staff would remain available to constituents until his replacement is sworn in in January 2023.

Contact reporter Peter Segall at psegall@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @SegallJnuEmpire.