Wrangell Sentinel -

Months before Alaska’s state elections, the Legislature is set for major turnover.

At least 17 of the Legislature’s 60 members will be in a new position or out of office entirely by next January — and that doesn’t count anyone who loses their seat in this fall’s elections.

The deadline to file for this year’s legislative elections is June 1, but many candidates have already made up their minds.

Because a steep learning curve awaits new legislators, several departing incumbents said the turnover will slow the progress of complicated legislation, such as a long-awaited state fisc...