Alaska Politics Blog

This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has probably never been more interesting than right now -- the governor as candidate for vice president, the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.


Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

SECTION

Alaska political corruption

The FBI raided state legislatures offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.

Bob Poe running for governor - 1/7/2009 1:50 pm

Before the storm - Palin e-mails from Aug. 27 - 1/7/2009 12:07 pm

Reid on punishment for Stevens - 1/7/2009 7:32 am

Polling on Palin vs. Murkowski - 1/6/2009 3:24 pm

Citgo 'suspends' free heating oil program - 1/5/2009 2:37 pm

Palin's comments on first grandchild - 12/31/2008 4:35 pm

Suicide council audit - 12/30/2008 9:11 pm

Son of Snowzilla - 12/30/2008 8:55 pm

'People' editor: No deal for baby photos. Yet. - 12/30/2008 1:12 pm

'Baby Name Bible' - 12/29/2008 8:14 pm

Anchorage Mayor: Begich out, Claman in Jan. 3 - 12/26/2008 12:40 pm

No trash power? (Plus: School board pay) - 12/26/2008 11:22 am

PETA's beef with Palin - 12/24/2008 12:02 pm

"The opportunities that were not seized." - 12/22/2008 1:48 pm

Palin's next big speech? - 12/22/2008 12:37 pm

Here we go - a look at potential 2010 election matchups (and Palin popularity) - 12/20/2008 1:42 pm

Hawker to Palin: Try again - 12/19/2008 5:11 pm

Video: Palin on salary, energy plan - 12/19/2008 9:58 am

Walt Monegan is planning to run for mayor - 12/18/2008 4:40 pm

Covering Juneau - 12/17/2008 5:07 pm

Palin says no to raise; energy plan delayed - 12/17/2008 2:19 pm

Meyer joins majority, gets LB&A (Updated with McGuire, Menard joining too) - 12/16/2008 5:45 pm

Radio Thursday (Updated for Friday)

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Time for everyone to make their last-minute pitches to voters.

If you hear of candidates scheduled to appear on local radio shows, let us know.


Update: U.S. House candidate Diane Benson's camp e-mailed to say Benson will be on the Bob & Mark Show on KWHL from 7 to 8 a.m. Friday . Berkowitz too?

Update: State House candidate Christopher Constant e-mailed to say he'll be on the radio with Andrew Halcro Friday at 2 p.m. on KENI.


Meantime, KFQD 750 AM host Dan Fagan says Vic Vickers will be on his show at about 3 p.m., along with House District 30 candidates Charisse Millet and Bruce Webb at 4:15 p.m. Tomorrow, he'll have U.S. House candidates Don Young, Gabrielle LeDoux and maybe Sean Parnell.

Over at KUDO 1080 AM, "Cutting Edge" host CC says she'll be talking about Ballot Measure 4 - the mining/Pebble stuff - today at about 4 p.m. Look for Bruce Switzer with Alaskans for Clean Water and Willis Lyford of Alaskans Against the Mining Shutdown on the show.

Tomorrow, at 3:30, the topic will be the Ballot Measure 3 - which is either clean elections or publicly funded elections depending on which side you're on -- with Tim June of Alaskans for Clean Elections and Anchorage attorney Ken Jacobus.

To relive last night’s debates on KAKM, click here. You can listen to the audio for candidates in each race.

E-mail me or post a comment if you know of more ...


  4     August 22, 2008 - 1:45pm | pixieteeth

Vic Vickers thought that Maria Downey was an elected official.

How terribly uninformed. Someone so uninformed couldn't possibly be helpful to Alaskans in the Senate. Maria Downey for President!

  August 22, 2008 - 4:05pm | desaerica

Now there's a thought!

Senator Maria Downey. Representative Maria Downey. Has a good ring to it.

  August 22, 2008 - 2:10pm | Diogenes_lamp

Here's a better one...

A few Alaskan's think Ted and Don are innocent!!! Can you believe how uninformed some Alaskans can be? Ted for Prison trustee!

  August 22, 2008 - 2:12pm | pixieteeth

Are you an Alaskan? Show me your papers, please...!

.

  August 22, 2008 - 4:26pm | palmerbuyer

Note to PT:

Just because someone disagrees with you does not make them an Outsider or a non-Alaskan.

There are many of us who know Don and Ted personally -- and have good reasons for the way we feel -- and have been here for many many years.

  August 22, 2008 - 2:23pm | Diogenes_lamp

actually...

They are on record at the states Vital Statistics Office. (Birth records)They were transferred there from the Territory Birth Records back when we became a state.

  3     August 22, 2008 - 10:03am | nautical_nanook

"maybe Sean Parnell"?

What does "maybe Sean Parnell" mean? What kind of candidate doesn't take advantage of an opportunity to show up with other candidates at a forum? MAYBE little Seanie is too scared to undergo another beating at the hands of Don Young? Maybe he realizes he's THE WORST DEBATER ALASKA HAS EVER SEEN and is still trying to coast along on Palin's coattails? Dude, they don't stretch that far. I mean, even Gabby holds her own better than this guy.

Who would ever vote for a guy that hides from his other opponents? Well, there's no maybe about this: Sean Parnell has no kohones.

  2     August 21, 2008 - 8:15pm | auroragrl

A good mix

I think it's good that there will be a good mix of candidates appearing on various radio stations around Alaska - it's always good to hear from the candidates themselves on the various issues.

  1     August 21, 2008 - 2:32pm | Talkradio

More talk shows

Eddie Burke on am 700 KBYR will have Jim Sykes on at 4pm today discussing Clean Elections, Jim Minery and Debbie Joslin at 3pm on Ballot measure 1.

Tomorrow, Eddie will Host Dave Cuddy and Sean Parnell. Burke says, "Ted and Don have refused to come on... they can't handel the Boiler Room. This is the only show in South Central Alaska Ted will not come on." "Many request have been made," said Burke.

Eddie Burke

  August 21, 2008 - 2:39pm | TheSdog

Grunt

Do you need to refer to yourself in the third person?

  August 22, 2008 - 9:40pm | Gus_Davis

You have a much better

You have a much better concept of third person than anyone else, Billy Muldoon!