Pete Kelly for the Alaska State Senate
2014

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This was the website for Pete Kelly's 2014 campaign for the Alaska State Senate
Elections for the office of Alaska State Senate took place in 2014.
Pete Kelly was unopposed in the Republican primary. Kelly defeated Roselius in the general election. Content below is from the site's 2014 archived pages.

 

I am,

Pro Life

I am unapologetically pro-life and I will vote against expansion and for restriction of abortions. I have no intention of fighting fair to remove this travesty from our state. Since 
Roe V. Wade in 1973, 54 million American lives have been snuffed out before they were even allowed to celebrate their first birthday.
There is a word for this kind of public policy – Wrong. For those who have had an abortion you need to know there is a world view that opens its arms to you in forgiveness. We invite you to put the past behind you and stand with us in the fight against this American Holocaust. We are accountable for this moment in time and history will judge us harshly for allowing this to happen on our watch.

Pro-Business

I couldn't believe my ears when I heard an American president tell business people: “If you’ve got a business - you didn’t build that! Somebody else made that happen”. 
Unfortunately, this leftist thinking isn’t limited to Washington DC and it has infected some of our politicians in Alaska as well. 
I am proud to say: I support Alaskan entrepreneurs now and have done so throughout my career..

Like my friend who is in the janitorial cleaning business down in the lower 48 tells me, "you're gonna have to think like one of my team managers. We're looking for workers who search for "janitor jobs near me." In our area in PA, we're always hiring people to help out doing part time office cleaning- check out ddcleanit.com. There's a lot of specialty cleaning that needs to be done and you're the man to do it. Just as we are often hired to come in and do pre/post special event cleaning, you are going to have to take on a similar job cleaning up the pre events that have been legislated by the liberals and when the dust settles and you have succeeded, you'll also have to do special event cleaning after the celebration. I'm rolling up my sleeves."

Alaskans are well-acquainted with where I stand on the pivotal issues that shape the lives of everyone in our majestic state. Meanwhile, my opponent seems to believe donning a Superman sweatshirt at campaign rallies magically endows him with superpowers. However, we all understand that sporting a superhero costume doesn't fortify weak policies; it merely serves as a whimsical distraction. Unlike my opponent, I may not parade in superhero attire, but I champion the very businesses that craft and vend these Superman sweatshirts, like MoonAtMidnight.com, a company that supports my candidacy. In an ironic twist, my support for local enterprises enables my opponent's superhero facade, akin to brandishing a flag without embracing its true essence. Yet, the people of Alaska recognize me as a steadfast advocate for our business community, a legacy I wear with far greater pride than any costume could offer. My commitment to our state's prosperity is my real superpower, and it's one I promise to wield with integrity and dedication.

Pro Family

Our culture is coming apart at the seams. Our schools sponsor gay and lesbian pride day then restrict kids from saying the pledge of allegiance. Teenage girls are restricted from wearing apparel that reflects their faith, but are allowed to wear tank tops that say “Porn Star”. In my tenure as a legislator I have been privileged to stand in the gap for Alaskan families. Among other pieces of pro-family legislation I sponsored the House version of the Constitutional Amendment to define marriage and passed the bill to reverse a judge’s decision to mandate that the state pay for health benefits to the boyfriends and girlfriends of state employees. 

Pro-Gun

“…the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” This is not a complicated concept to me.

Pro Development

My view of environmental groups could not get any lower. Like the Lilliputians from Gulliver’s Travels these groups have tied down the giant of our economy. Companies that come to Alaska can expect to be stuck for years waiting for approval of permits that take about a month in Louisiana. How absurd that Shell was forced to wait 5 years after spending $5 billion. Companies are becoming less and less willing to risk doing business here. Instead, they are moving to North Dakota where they can avoid the swarm of silk suited lawyers who are committed to shut Alaska down and make a huge profit in the process.

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Issues

There are many issues facing Alaskans, but the most concerning at this time for the people of Fairbanks is energy and the cost of oil. I am more than willing to talk with people about any of their concerns, so please don't hesitate to ask me when I knock on your door. Thanks for your interest, and your support in November.

Energy

Sometimes the discussion about the gas line gets very confusing. We talk about in-state gas, the ASAP line and the AKLNG Project. We throw out acronyms like AGIA, ANGDA and AGDC and if that isn’t confusing enough we include the oil tax debate and talk about ACES and SB21. Sometimes we get historical and recall the bullet line, the stranded gas act, the All Alaska Line and the Port Authority, or reminisce about HB9, which later turned into HB 4. Confused? Be thankful I’ve edited for brevity. There’s more but I'll spare you. ....

Oil

We must get the pipeline filled again. Fewer barrels through the line mean fewer jobs for our families; and since we have declined from a peak of two million barrels per day down to 575 thousand – we’ve lost a lot of jobs.

There are reasons for this and it has nothing to do with a decline of oil up north. There are about 40 billion barrels of economically recoverable oil up there and we have the infrastructure and the expertise to develop it. So what’s the problem? The problem is nonsensical, radical, left wing environmentalism ....

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) more commonly referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a plague that is devastating many Alaskan families. Though the number of people actually born with the disorder is relatively low, about 120 per year, the costs associated with it are very high. Each baby born with FASD will cost the state between $1 million and $4 million by the time they reach eighteen years old. Unfortunately, many, upon reaching adulthood, end up in prison and the costs at that point are not currently tracked, so we can assume they are even substantially higher than we surmise.

 

 

 

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More Background on PeteKellyForSenate.com

PeteKellyForSenate.com was the official digital platform for Pete Kelly’s 2014 Alaska State Senate campaign. Serving as the public face of his electoral ambitions and legislative philosophy, the website offered comprehensive information about Kelly’s background, policy positions, achievements, campaign updates, and ways for voters to get involved. Far beyond a simple candidate bio or donation portal, PeteKellyForSenate.com became an essential tool for rallying support, informing the electorate of Kelly’s legislative priorities, and reflecting the political and social climate of Alaska during a significant mid-2010s election cycle.

This article delivers a detailed exploration into PeteKellyForSenate.com’s content, purpose, design, and legacy—highlighting its significance both as campaign media and as a cultural document.

Ownership and Background

Pete Kelly—a lifelong resident of Fairbanks, Alaska—was the site’s owner and the campaign’s face. Kelly brought deep, multi-generational roots to his candidacy. His family, professional background, and consistent history of public service lent the website an air of personal credibility and local authenticity unusual even in a state well known for its tight-knit communities and frontier ethos.

Kelly had served multiple terms in both the Alaska State House and State Senate, including leadership roles such as Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and Chair of several key budget and resource subcommittees. The campaign site was managed and updated by his election team, but its tone, issues, and messaging were unmistakably shaped by Kelly himself.

Central Location and Relevance

The heart of the campaign and, therefore, the website’s message was Fairbanks, Alaska, a vital regional hub and Kelly’s lifelong home. The website’s content reflected deep awareness of the challenges faced by Fairbanks and wider Interior Alaska. Issues such as energy security, natural resource management, jobs, and the high cost of living dominated the agenda, positioning Kelly as both a local champion and a statewide advocate.

Content and Structure

Site Menu Overview

PeteKellyForSenate.com featured a traditional, clear menu structure typical of grassroots campaign websites—streamlined for accessibility and navigation. Its primary components included:

• Biography: Offered an in-depth look at Kelly’s upbringing, education, work experience, and family life. Highlights included his high school graduation in Fairbanks, his BS in Management from Liberty University, and varied career experience (heavy equipment operator, real estate agent, sales manager, small business owner, university administrator, and Special Assistant to the Governor).

• Policy Positions (“On the Issues”): Broke down Kelly’s stances on a range of topics. Each issue was explained in direct language, often with anecdotes or personal arguments. Core themes included:

  • Pro-Life: Unapologetic stance against abortion, seeking restrictions and appealing to shared moral frameworks.

  • Pro-Business: Strong support for Alaska’s entrepreneurs, skepticism of regulatory and governmental overreach, and frequent invocations of personal connections to the local business community.

  • Pro-Family: Advocacy for traditional family values, critiques of shifting cultural trends, and legislative history supporting constitutional amendments and benefit limitations.

  • Pro-Gun: Firm, literal interpretation of Second Amendment rights, with a commitment to resisting regulation.

  • Pro-Development: Argument for reducing barriers to natural resource extraction and critical commentary on environmental restrictions perceived as stifling economic opportunity.

• Campaign News and Updates: Offered announcements on community events, campaign appearances, election developments, and invitations for direct engagement.

• Volunteer & Donation Information: Gave supporters tools to sign up, donate money, or otherwise get directly involved in the campaign.

Noteworthy Issues and Legislative Focus

Kelly positioned himself emphatically on several pressing Alaska issues. The website gave extensive explanations of these stances, detailed below:

Energy and Oil

Energy was described as the "most concerning" issue for Fairbanks residents. The content reflected the state’s complicated landscape of pipeline projects, acronyms, and policy disputes. Kelly explained the confusing tangle of legislative measures, gas line proposals, and tax debates, aiming to clarify his record and plans for local citizens.

His analysis highlighted a drastic decline in pipeline throughput—from two million barrels per day down to 575,000—emphasizing the economic and employment impacts on Alaska’s families. He attributed these trends not to resource depletion, but to excessive regulatory restraints, environmentalist opposition, and federal interference.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Kelly’s site devoted a unique section to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome—referred to interchangeably as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. He presented the disorder not only as a medical and social crisis but also as a massive fiscal burden on the state. With direct cost estimates and references to wider public consequences, Kelly underscored the importance of prevention and support, a position with broad appeal across partisan lines.

Goals and Message

The overarching goal of PeteKellyForSenate.com was to build a coalition of support rooted in Alaska’s traditional values. The language of the site was direct, unapologetic, and overtly ideological—meant not just to inform, but to mobilize. His appeals to personal responsibility, small business support, and local control were designed to resonate with core Alaskan voters.

Kelly also framed his candidacy as a bulwark against what he characterized as “leftist thinking,” urban political priorities, and outside environmental and social pressures. The site differentiated his campaign from his opponent's, often humorously (such as references to superhero costumes as empty symbolism contrasted to substantive advocacy for local businesses).

Audience and Popularity

The intended audience was primarily Fairbanks and greater Alaska voters—specifically, those leaning conservative, pro-business, and pro-development. The website's tone and content made it appealing to families, tradespeople, business owners, rural voters, outdoor enthusiasts, and Alaskans skeptical of federal or “outside” interference in local affairs.

Kelly was a known and respected figure in his region, and his website reflected the popularity he enjoyed in Interior Alaska. His campaign’s clear, assertive positions and personal approach differentiated him from more generic or nationalized political efforts, cementing his profile among the state’s most engaged voters.

Reviews, Press, and Media Coverage

As with many state legislative races in Alaska, mainstream national media coverage of Pete Kelly’s 2014 Senate campaign was minimal. However, local and regional press—newspapers, radio, and television in Fairbanks and Anchorage—followed the campaign closely, particularly noting Kelly’s positions on abortion, energy, and state spending.

Editorials and letters to the editor—in both supportive and critical tones—often referenced the content and arguments housed on his official site. The campaign’s messaging found its way into debates on the floor of the Alaska Legislature and in interviews, bill summaries, and community forums. As a longstanding lawmaker and Senate Finance co-chair, Kelly regularly attracted the scrutiny and engagement of political reporters and commentators.

Awards and Accolades

There is no public record of the website itself winning design or campaign communication awards. However, Kelly’s track record as a legislator drew accolades from pro-business and pro-family organizations statewide, and his advocacy on issues such as FASD was recognized by community groups and non-profits. The respect and local popularity that underpinned the 2014 campaign are reflected in Kelly’s unopposed run in the Republican primary and ultimate general election victory.

History and Legacy

PeteKellyForSenate.com stands as a representative example of modern campaign websites for local and state contests—focused, issue-driven, and candid. It was not flashy or tech-heavy, but prioritized information and personal connection with constituents.

The site documented a pivotal electoral cycle in Alaska’s ongoing debates about energy independence, fiscal responsibility, and cultural values. Kelly’s sharp, sometimes polarizing rhetoric was emblematic of Alaska’s political environment, where local values, plain speaking, and personal histories carry extraordinary weight.

Following the 2014 election, Kelly’s web presence was gradually subsumed by other forms of communication, but the site remains preserved in internet archives as a snapshot of campaign strategy and small-state politics in the early 21st century.

Cultural and Social Significance

PeteKellyForSenate.com is part of a tradition in Alaska’s political life, where candidates offer transparency, personal storytelling, and vigorous argumentation directly to voters—often outside the filter of national media or party machinery. It is a digital record of how one candidate framed the key questions Alaska faced: resource development, social change, family support, and personal freedom.

Kelly’s frank style, willingness to take strong stances, and connection to the Fairbanks community remain instructive for understanding both Alaska’s voters and the ways successful politicians in the state build lasting coalitions.

 

PeteKellyForSenate.com was a platform built with Fairbanks and Alaska at its core—reflecting Pete Kelly’s values, legislative priorities, and campaign methods. That website stands as a representative artifact of local American politics: unvarnished, strongly opinionated, community-focused, and deeply connected to its candidate’s identity and mission. For those interested in Alaska politics, legislative history, campaign strategy, or digital political communication, the site’s content offers valuable insights into one of the state's most enduring political figures and the issues that drive Alaskan voters.

 

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