North Pole Republicans pick possible Coghill replacements

NOVEMBER 7, 2009 - 8:05 PM

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

North Pole Republicans today selected a list of three candidates to replace Rep. John Coghill, who has moved to the state Senate.

State party chairman Randy Ruedrich says the candidates are:

-- Doug Isaacson, the newly re-elected mayor of North Pole.

-- Tammie Wilson, who is trailing in a runoff election for the Fairbanks North Star Borough mayor. (If she wins, the Republicans will have to pull her from the list, Ruedrich says.)

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Palin, Huckabee and yesterday's elections

NOVEMBER 4, 2009 - 1:22 PM

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's role in several East Coast elections got a lot of attention in recent weeks, especially when she threw her support behind a third-party conservative candidate over the Republican in the NY-23 congressional seat. (The Democrat, Bill Owens, won the race.)

Here's what Palin had to say (on Facebook, of course) about the defeat of the candidate she backed, Doug Hoffman: "The race for New York’s 23rd District is not over, just postponed until 2010. The issues of this election have always centered on the economy – on the need for fiscal restraint, smaller government, and policies that encourage jobs. In 2010, these issues will be even more crucial to the electorate. I commend Doug Hoffman and all the other underdog candidates who have the courage to put themselves out there and run against the odds."

Another "underdog candidate," Mike Huckabee, had a few words, too, about the NY-23 seat. Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP presidential nomination last year, spoke with reporters this morning in Washington at a breakfast roundtable hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

Huckabee (who did not support anyone in the NY race) had these thoughts: "If people believe that the way to sort of get the attention of Washington is through third party candidacies, I hope they will rethink that because typically what a third-party candidacy does is ensure the election of the one you liked the least in the first place. I just hope that that will become more and more clear to the political participants because whether we like it or not we have a two-party system."

And as for potential 2012 rival Palin and her decision to endorse Hoffman, Huckabee wouldn't bite: "It's her right, there were a number of Republicans who did. It apparently didn’t seem to have a big impact on the ultimate outcome."

As for who he sees as a GOP frontrunner three years out from the next presidential election: "I don’t think there really is one and any of the polls right now are meaningless...It's like speculating who's going to be the best actor next year when we don’t even know what the movies are."

Huckabee said he himself hasn't yet focused on whether he’ll run in 2012. He's got a gig on FOX and (like Palin) a new book out, the feel-good "A Simple Christmas," which he insisted this morning has "no ulterior motive" behind it in terms of positioning him for a future run.

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Sarah Palin's book tour

NOVEMBER 3, 2009 - 5:51 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

Sarah Palin posted this afternoon on her Facebook page that she hopes her upcoming book tour will include interviews with Barbara Walters and several conservative talk show hosts as well as "local Alaska personalities Bob & Mark and Eddie Burke."

Here's her full post:

I am very, very excited about the upcoming road trip for my book. It will be an honor to meet as many of you as possible!

- Sarah Palin

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John Harris may get out of the race for governor

NOVEMBER 3, 2009 - 4:37 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage –

John Harris told me today he might drop out of the governor’s race.

“I just want to see what the governor does, I think that’s fair. If the governor does fine I probably won’t run. There’s no reason to go after somebody if they’re doing a good job,” said Harris, a Republican state representative from Valdez.

Harris filed his letter of intent to run with the Alaska Public Offices Commission in July, just days after Sarah Palin announced her resignation. He said at the time he didn’t think anyone could have beat Palin in the Republican primary had she sought re-election.

He said today that Sean Parnell, who took over from Palin, is now in a strong position in his bid to be elected next year.

“The governor is going to have to make some mistakes in my opinion, probably, for anybody to beat him, at least on the Republican side,” Harris said.

“I’m not wishing anybody to make mistakes, but if he does we’ll look at taking him on.”

Harris has not filed with the division of elections to be a formal candidate for governor. He said that if he does file, it won't be until after the next legislative session ends in April. Harris said that allows him to keep his position as the chair of Legislative Council, which handles legislative business in between sessions, and gives him time to watch Parnell.

Harris does have a campaign web site at http://www.harrisforgov.com/

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Knowles in D.C., talking energy

NOVEMBER 2, 2009 - 3:57 PM

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. –

Former Gov. Tony Knowles was one of nearly a dozen Alaskans in Washington D.C. today to talk alternative energy at an Interior Department conference.

Knowles, a Democrat who was Alaska governor from 1994 to 2002, was invited to the event in his capacity as the head of the Tulsa, Okla.-based National Energy Policy Institute. The institute is working with the Washington D.C.-based think tank Resources for the Future to develop a ranking system for various energy alternatives. When they’re finished with their work next year, Knowles said they hope to have a standard for assessing the cost-effectiveness for various types of energy – as well as their potential for reducing imported oil and greenhouse gas emissions.

Monday's discussion focused on the Interior Department’s role "in the changes necessary in getting a clean energy economy," Knowles said.

Other Alaskans at the event included Chris Rose of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project and Meera Kohler, president of Alaska Village Electric Cooperative. The clean energy forum, in the Executive Office Building next to the White House, attracted people from 39 states and was broadcast on C-SPAN2.

"Alaska was well represented," Knowles said, joking, "We must have been given representation on a square-foot basis."

And as for the rumor about an appointment in the Obama Administration's Commerce Department? Nope, Knowles said Monday afternoon, no truth to that.

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House Ethics Committee and Young

OCTOBER 30, 2009 - 9:43 AM

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. --

All of Washington is abuzz today over a report in the Washington Post about a memo accidentally leaked by the House Ethics Committee. The July memo details how the committee's investigators "have been scrutinizing the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling," according to the Post. (The memo itself was mistakenly posted on a publicly accessible computer network, the Post reports.)

Now, this short article from the Post, concerning Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, and the infamous Coconut Road earmark:

"The House ethics committee sought information from Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) regarding a $10 million earmark in his district that connects Coconut Road near Fort Myers to Interstate 75.

"We've been told that we may be a witness to an investigation of others, but we are, of course, not the subject of any investigation," the statement said.

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Parnell talks to reporters three months into office

OCTOBER 29, 2009 - 5:35 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage –

Gov. Sean Parnell met with the press today in a wide ranging discussion in his downtown Anchorage office. Here are some excerpts.

On Sarah Palin:

I think I have a calmer existence here than Gov. Palin experienced. Being able to speak with two, four, six, eight, ten, 13 of you instead of having a crush of national reporters. It’s easier in that sense for me to actually get to the issues before the state... She doesn’t call and offer advice. We have communicated a number of times on just personal issues, just greetings. We became personally acquainted with each other and just inquire about our families and the like.

On whether the state might pursue its own prosecution in the corruption scandal:

You know, I've left that in the attorney general's hands, that if he believes that violations of state law occurred than I expect that he will follow up. I have not had that conversation with him since (Bill Allen's sentencing) yesterday.

On oil taxes:

No oil company has made a proposal to me to change the oil taxes…with the companies having taken roughly $20 billion in profits in the last three years under the existing tax structure, they haven’t come forward with a proposal for change. And frankly my pitch has been stability of a tax regime is more important to job creation and investment by these companies over the long term.

On changing the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act:

I’m working within the AGIA framework. I’m committed to the AGIA framework. In the end, if something different is required to get a gasline, I’m open to listening. Until some companies together as a project are willing to say, here’s what’s needed and here’s why it’s justified, I’m not going to sit here and pit Alaskans against ourselves.

On Native dissatisfaction with state subsistence management:

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Democrats suggest replacements for Richard Foster

OCTOBER 29, 2009 - 3:53 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

The Alaska Democratic Party today sent three names to Gov. Sean Parnell as suggestions for him to choose between in picking the late Richard Foster's replacement in the state House.

One of them is Foster's son, Neal Foster, who is on the Nome City Council.

The other two are from Unalakleet.

One, tribal administrator and fisherman Ralph "Weaver" Ivanoff, ran against Foster as an independent in 2004. Foster defeated him 2990 votes to 1661 in the general election.

The other, Sam Towarak, has long been involved in Western Alaska school administration and is listed by the Democratic Party as a "former advisor to Governor Tony Knowles."

Foster, a Nome Democrat who caucused with the Republican-led majority, died of a heart attack earlier this month. The Republican Parnell does not have to choose from among the Democratic Party's recommendations in picking Foster's replacement, but Alaska governors usually honor the party slate.

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New CNN poll numbers on Palin

OCTOBER 28, 2009 - 6:13 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

A new CNN poll says 64 percent of those questioned feel Sarah Palin is a good role model for women. But more than 7 of every ten people felt she is not qualified to be president.

CNN reports Republicans appeared split with 52 percent saying she is qualified to be president and 47 percent disagreeing with that view.

Mike Huckabee was the candidate that received the most support in the poll among Republicans saying who they would be likely to support as president in 2012.

Palin was seven points behind him at 25 percent but four points ahead of Mitt Romney.

CNN gave her approval rating among all voters at 42 percent. The network said 56 percent of those surveyed believe Palin cares about "the needs of people like you" and 55 percent found her honest and trustworthy.

It was a telephone poll of 1,038 adults around the country. Read pollster.com's raw numbers here.

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Palin on Levi: "those who would sell their body for money..."

OCTOBER 28, 2009 - 12:48 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage -

Sarah Palin emailed a statement today following claims by Levi Johnston on the CBS "Early Show" that he's keeping some unspecified "huge" things about Sarah Palin from the public.

Johnston also said on the show that Palin joked about her son Trig, calling him her "retarded baby."

Here's the statement Palin released through her spokeswoman, Meg Stapleton:

"We have purposefully ignored the mean spirited, malicious and untrue attacks on our family. We, like many, are appalled at the inflammatory statements being made or implied. Trig is our 'blessed little angel' who knows it and is lovingly called that every day of his life. Even the thought that anyone would refer to Trig by any disparaging name is sickening and sad. CBS should be ashamed for continually providing a forum to propagate lies. Consider the source of the most recent attention-getting lies - those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention."

Johnston is preparing to pose nude in Playgirl.

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Ramras: prosecutors too easy on "despicable" Allen, Smith

OCTOBER 27, 2009 - 8:40 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

State House Judiciary Chairman Jay Ramras wrote Judge John Sedwick today asking him to throw the book at Bill Allen and Rick Smith.

Sedwick is to sentence the former Veco executives tomorrow for bribing Alaska legislators.

"Their degenerative behavior cannot be whitewashed by any provision of "cooperation with federal prosecutors"....Please demonstrate that these truly rogue characters, using the proper definition of the word, are sentenced to the maximum prison term allowed and are mandated into custody immediately," Ramras wrote in his letter.

Ramras noted to Sedwick that prosecutors' request of just over 40 months in prison for Allen and Smith means they "will potentially be sentenced to spend less time in prison than what the legislators they were accused of corrupting are spending."

Ramras, a Fairbanks Republican, is running for lieutenant governor.

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Palin's book retainer: $1.25 million (Updated)

OCTOBER 27, 2009 - 8:32 AM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

Sarah Palin reported in financial disclosures out this morning that she received $1.25 million from publisher HarperCollins as "retainer for book" before she resigned as governor in July.

The report doesn't give a date for when Palin received the money. But the disclosures cover money that Palin received during her final seven months as governor, from Jan. 1 to July 26.

No other details are offered on the book deal, but a retainer would just be an upfront piece of her money. Palin's memoir, "Going Rogue: An American Life," is to hit bookstores on Nov. 17.

UPDATE -- Palin's spokeswoman, Meg Stapleton, just emailed me this statement:

"The Governor has complied with Alaska disclosure law by her filing yesterday. Now, as a private citizen, her business dealings, including her publishing agreement, are confidential."

Palin's report also lists her as owner of "Pie Spy LLC," described as a marketing business. It's referred to as "Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities" in the state's corporation database. The address of the business is listed as the office of Palin's lawyer in Anchorage, Thomas Van Flein.

Palin listed several gifts as well, including $4,250 in Yankees tickets in June from Rudy Giuliani for herself, her husband and her daughter, Willow.

Palin reported receiving $1,664 from evangelist Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse for airfare to Russian Mission and Marshall as part of an effort to deliver food aide to the Western Alaska vilages last spring.

Her husband, Todd, reported a $2,000 gift from the teen abstinence advocacy group Candie's Foundation for a May trip to New York. Their daughter, Bristol, was a spokesperson for the group.)

These are the final financial disclosure reports that Palin will be required to file with the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

Palin reported that she received $73,000 in salary and $6,370 in per diem during those final months before resigning as governor.

Todd Palin reported receiving $34,086 during that time as a BP production operator. He also reported $32,260 from his commercial setnet fishing operation in Bristol Bay, under the business name "Toad's Fisheries."

Todd Palin also reported $3,500 in winnings from the Iron Dog snowmachine race.

He disclosed a $3,252 snowmachine discount from his sponsor, Arctic Cat.

SECOND UPDATE --This was not included in our story about Sarah Palin's disclosures. But our initial online reporting linked Palin’s home loan and her legal expense fees. Sarah Palin’s attorney, Thomas Van Flein, confirms there is no connection.

That was my error, based on misreading one of the filings.

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Wall Street Journal writes about Parnell

OCTOBER 26, 2009 - 4:44 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

The Wall Street Journal has a story up today on Sean Parnell. The hook, of course, is Sarah Palin. The headline on the piece reads "Palin Successor Focuses on Energy Agenda."

Here's a taste:

Mr. Parnell, a Republican who was one of Ms. Palin's allies and the state's former lieutenant governor, didn't care to discuss his predecessor in an interview late last month. The 46-year-old brushed aside questions regarding Ms. Palin, saying at one point, "I thought we were here to talk about what I'm doing."

Mr. Parnell has been focusing on how to rebuild Alaska's energy-dependent economy, which has been battered by falling oil prices, and jump-starting a proposed natural-gas pipeline project. While Alaska has only 700,000 residents, the governor's role is nationally significant because the state is home to some of the country's biggest deposits of mineral riches such as oil and gold.

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Legislators looking at new office building in Anchorage

OCTOBER 26, 2009 - 3:56 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage--

Alaska lawmakers are again talking about building a new legislative office building in Anchorage, after ditching a plan to do so last year because of the price tag and worries of Juneau legislators that it could be a backhanded Capitol move.

The Legislative Council, a panel of state senators and representatives that handles day-to day business of the Legislature, is scheduled to meet in Anchorage Tuesday and discuss whether to move forward on the idea. Another option they will talk about is to just renew the lease at the current legislative office building on West 4th Avenue.

“I think we need to have a larger building with more offices and adequate parking, said Senate President Gary Stevens, a Republican from Kodiak.

The Legislature last year was planning to raze the downtown Anchorage block across from the state courthouse. The idea was to construct a new building with more office space for legislators as well as court officials. But the project cost doubled to $86 million from the original estimate and the proposal was abandoned.

Now legislators are eyeing other potential locations. The most seriously discussed is a piece of state-owned property near the Atwood building, at what is now a parking lot near 9th and E. The cost of building it there hasn’t been determined.

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Richard Foster's funeral scheduled

OCTOBER 23, 2009 - 5:36 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

An Anchorage funeral for longtime Nome Rep. Richard Foster will be held Nov. 6.

It's to start at 2 p.m. at the Alaska National Guard headquarters on Fort Richardson. Attendees will have to go to the visitors building at the gate and show drivers license, proof of insurance and registration. Legislators and staff are being told they should arrive at the gate an hour beforehand.

Services for Foster are also being held in Nome on Oct. 30 at 3 p.m.

The 63-year-old Foster, a legislator for 21 years, died of a heart attack last week.

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Sen. Wagoner rebuffed from majority

OCTOBER 23, 2009 - 4:04 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage--

Kenai Republican Sen. Tom Wagoner’s request to join the bipartisan majority has been declined, Senate President Gary Stevens confirmed today.

“I’ve just spoken with Senator Wagoner and explained to him that, as much as some of us would have liked to have him aboard and in the majority, there was not support for that,” Stevens said.

Stevens, of Kodiak, was responding to a question asked during a press conference he called today to talk about new committee assignments.

“There was just some concern here at the last minute as we’re facing the end of this two year session, that it might cause some disruption to change the majority caucus, it might change things, it might unbalance some issues out there,” Stevens said.

Stevens would not say if it was the Republicans or the Democrats who didn’t want Wagoner on board.

The Senate majority is composed of 16 of the 20 members of the Senate, so does not need to add another vote in order to get accomplished what it wants.

Stevens also said that new Sen. John Coghill, who has chosen to join the all-Republican minority, will have a seat on the judiciary committee and the ethics committee.

He said Juneau Democratic Sen. Dennis Egan will take the seat on the legislative council (which spends money when the Legislature isn’t in session) previously held by Kim Elton, who Egan replaced.

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Coghill confirmed, Bunde new minority leader

OCTOBER 22, 2009 - 6:00 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage-

The nine state Senate Republicans today unanimously confirmed John Coghill to take North Pole Republican Sen. Gene Therriault's seat.

Gov. Sean Parnell earlier appointed Coghill, a Republican state representative from North Pole, to take the Senate seat that opened when Therriault resigned for a job advising Parnell on energy issues.

Coghill will caucus with the three members of the all-Republican Senate minority instead of the bipartisan Senate majority.

Therriault had been the Senate minority leader, a position taken by Anchorage Sen. Con Bunde.

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Frank Bailey book: “Renegade: Sarah Palin's Hatchet Man” (Updated)

OCTOBER 21, 2009 - 12:01 PM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage –

Frank Bailey is jumping on the Sarah Palin book bandwagon with his own upcoming tome entitled: “Renegade: Sarah Palin's Hatchet Man.”

For those who don’t remember Frank Bailey, he was the “Troopergate” figure who was Palin’s close aide and director of boards and commissions.

He's best known for calling a state trooper lieutenant and complaining about trooper Mike Wooten (Palin’s ex-brother-in-law), saying Palin and her husband couldn’t understand why Wooten still had a job.

Bailey also was the subject of a separate ethics investigation into whether improper influence was used to win a state job for a Palin campaign supporter. Bailey had an "improper motivation" to get the supporter a job, concluded investigator Tim Petumenos, who recommended Bailey get ethics training.

Bailey is writing the book with two co-authors, Joy Morgan and her daughter, Christiana Grace. Both are public relations pros who live in Southern California. Grace apparently met Bailey in college and they've remained friends.

The web site for the book describes it as being “from the unique perspective of one of Palin’s three inner circle.”

(UPDATED -- the web site crashed from all the hits so it's been moved to www.palinshatchetman.com)

Morgan told me that, while the publisher "has not been determined," the plan is for the book to come out in approximately three months. Morgan wouldn't provide any details on the contents other than to say “the book is factual and documented and it’s going to be very accurate.”

She said Bailey, who resigned from his state job this summer “to pursue other opportunities,” won’t do interviews until the book is out.

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Got pipeline questions?

OCTOBER 20, 2009 - 1:28 PM

Alaska revenue commissioner Pat Galvin and pipeline coordinator Mark Myers are taking questions from the public tonight about the state’s efforts to secure a natural gas pipeline to the Lower 48. The meeting, put on by legislators Bill Wielechowski and Max Gruenberg, starts at 7 p.m. at Begich Middle School.

They said it's a chance for people to hear about developments and ask the experts.

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Ramras running for lieutenant governor

OCTOBER 20, 2009 - 9:31 AM

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

Jay Ramras put out a press release this morning to announce his plan to run for lieutenant governor in next year's election. He is the second Republican to get into the race, the other being Craig Campbell, who is currently filling in the position.

No Democrats have yet announced plans to run for lieutenant governor.

There was some speculation that Les Gara might, but he told me that's not so.

Ramras, a three term state representative from Fairbanks, has been highly critical of the Palin/Parnell administration and its approach to pursuing a natural gas pipeline. He's coming by the Daily News in a minute and I'll ask him about why he wants to try and be lieutenant governor.

He owns Pike's Waterfront Lodge, Pike's Landing, and the Food Factory restaurant in Fairbanks.

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