Juneau lawmaker says he won’t run for re-election, endorses former aide

JUNEAU — A first-term Juneau state House member says he won't run for re-election and has instead endorsed one of his former aides for the job.

Justin Parish, a Democrat who narrowly defeated a Republican incumbent in 2016, announced his decision in a Tuesday morning Facebook post. He said his former aide, Juneau Assembly member Robert Edwardson, would be an improvement.

"I have promised to run again unless I can find someone who will do better," Parish wrote. "I believe I have, and so, to keep my word and to serve my community, I am supporting Robert Edwardson for state House."

Edwardson worked for Parish at least through March, according to a directory of legislative employees. He was elected to the Juneau Assembly last year and has worked in the U.S. Coast Guard and for the state departments of natural resources and environmental conservation.

Parish narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Cathy Munoz in 2016.

His District 34 includes the Mendenhall Valley area north of downtown, which leans conservative; District 33, which includes downtown, is more reliably Democratic.

Parish was already facing at least one Republican challenger in Jerry Nankervis, another Juneau Assembly member, in the November election.

Parish's announcement means that Juneau's entire three-member delegation in the Legislature will be gone when lawmakers return to the Capitol next year. Sen. Dennis Egan and Rep. Sam Kito III, both Democrats, are also not seeking re-election.