Sam Kito III facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Kito III
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| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 33rd District |
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| In office January 20, 2015 – January 15, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Sara Hannan |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 32nd District |
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| In office February 26, 2014 – January 20, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Beth Kerttula |
| Succeeded by | redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964 (age 60–61) Anchorage, Alaska |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Juneau, Alaska |
| Alma mater | University of Alaska (B.S., 1988) |
| Occupation | Civil engineer, politician |
Sam Kito III, born in 1964, is an American politician from Alaska. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He served as a representative for Juneau in the Alaska House of Representatives from 2014 to 2019.
Before becoming a politician, Kito worked as a lobbyist and a civil engineer. A lobbyist is someone who tries to influence lawmakers. A civil engineer designs and builds things like roads and bridges.
Becoming a Representative
In early 2014, Sam Kito III was chosen to fill a vacant seat in the Alaska House of Representatives. The previous representative, Beth Kerttula, had resigned.
Governor Sean Parnell picked Kito from a list of three people. He was sworn in on February 26, 2014. He then joined the group of Democratic representatives.
Running for Election
After being appointed, Kito decided to run for a full term. The election was for House District 33. This district was new because of redistricting, which means changing the boundaries of election areas.
Kito won the election easily against his opponent, Peter Dukowitz.
Why He Didn't Run Again
Later, the state government changed a rule. Lawmakers who lived close to the capital city, Juneau, would no longer get extra money for living expenses. This extra money is called "per diem."
Kito realized that his salary as a lawmaker would be much lower without this payment. It would be hard for him to pay for his daughter's college. Because of this, he decided not to run for re-election.
Personal Life
Sam Kito III was born in Anchorage. He currently lives in Juneau. He has a daughter named Gabi.
His family has a rich history. He is part Tlingit (an Indigenous group from Alaska) and part Japanese. His father, Saburo Kito, Jr., also worked as a lobbyist for many years.
Kito is named after his grandfather, Saburo (Sam) Kito, Sr. His grandfather lived in Petersburg, Alaska. During World War II, his grandfather was sent to a special camp by the U.S. government. This was part of the Internment of Japanese Americans, where many Japanese Americans were held during the war.
