Now I know that sounds like bad news for Begich and good news for Sullivan, it's actually quite the opposite:Vic Kohring, a former state lawmaker who pleaded guilty to a federal corruption charge in 2011, has withdrawn his candidacy for U.S. Senate in the interest of getting Republican Dan Sullivan elected.Kohring won the Alaskan Independence Party nomination in last month’s primary. He switched his party affiliation from Republican prior to running.
The director of the Division of Elections confirmed Kohring requested his name be withdrawn and said no replacement candidate was offered in his place by Tuesday’s deadline. - Juneau Empire, 9/3/14
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Here's some more details:Kohring and another former state lawmaker, Pete Kott, were convicted in 2007 after being caught in a wide-ranging political corruption investigation that also ensnared then-U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. But the government’s handling of their cases was questioned after a judge tossed Stevens’ case due to prosecutorial errors. An appeals court made similar findings in the cases of Kott and Kohring, ordering they receive new trials.Kott and Kohring entered plea agreements with prosecutors in 2011, with Kohring pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs that receive federal funds. They were sentenced to time served. - Peninsula Clarion, 9/3/14
So unlike in the Alaska Governors race where the Alaska Independent Party and the Democratic Party joining forces that could hurt Governor Sean Parnell's (R. AK) chances, this doesn't seem to really hurt Begich. In fact, I think it hurts Sullivan more to be endorsed by a convicted felon. But don't worry, there's still a spoiler candidate in this race that could still hurt Sullivan:Kohring was one of six legislators charged and convicted in the corruption scandal that surfaced with FBI raids on his office and others in 2006. A jury convicted him in November 2007 of extortion, bribery and conspiracy and a federal judge sentenced him to 31/2 years in prison. He appealed and got a new trial when the Justice Department admitted withholding information from Kohring's defense -- similar misconduct that led to dismissal of charges against U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens after a jury found him guilty of disclosure violations.Instead of going through a new trial on three felonies, Kohring pleaded guilty Oct. 21, 2011, to a single federal felony for accepting bribes and was sentenced to the time he had served in federal prison: one year, plus 18 months probation. He admitted taking $1,000 cash at a Juneau restaurant from Veco chairman Bill Allen, who was trying to lower oil production taxes in the 2006 Legislature, and to asking Allen to pay a $17,000 credit card debt.
"I believe the timing is right to re-enter public service," Kohring said in his statement, describing what he termed his attempt at a "political comeback."
That seems to be the vogue now, with comebacks attempted or achieved by former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, recently elected to Congress despite his affair with an Argentine woman whom he hid by claiming to have hiked the Appalachian Trail; former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner running for New York mayor despite a sexting scandal; and Eliot Spitzer running for New York city comptroller despite his resignation as governor in a prostitution scandal.
"I don't hold those guys in very high regards, especially that Weiner guy -- with the latest revelations, it makes me kind of sick, frankly," Kohring said in a phone interview Friday. "As far as the other guy, Sanford, if he feels he had lot to offer his constituents, and they were willing to forgive him, well, great for him. If the same thing happens to Mr. Weiner, and Spitzer, well, good for them too."
Kohring said he doesn't put himself in the same category as those politicians, but wants to be considered aligned with Ted Stevens, "who people will look at as having been screwed by the government."
"I'm not saying I'm blameless, that I did not screw up. I certainly did -- I crossed the line ethically in getting involved with a friend," he said.
Kohring has only been qualified to run for office since April, when he was discharged from probation and became a voter again.
"I was given the signed release from the judge and I took that down to Division of Elections within an hour of receiving it in the mail, because I was so anxious to get my voter registration status restored," he said.
Despite getting some rights restored, Kohring's felony conviction still prevents him from possessing a firearm in gun-friendly Wasilla, but he doesn't see that as a political problem. - Alaska Dispatch News, 7/26/13
Speaking of endorsements, Begich scored another big one:Voters who don’t identify with a specific party make up the largest voting bloc in Alaska, and Begich and Sullivan are making a play for them. Republicans hold a huge edge over the other parties.About 16,000 voters are registered with the Alaskan Independence Party, about twice the number of registered libertarians. There were about 133,000 registered Republicans as of early August, according to the Division of Elections.
Begich’s campaign has said it wants all party nominees included in debates. With Kohring’s exit, that would leave libertarian Mark Fish.
Fish, running on a common campaign theme of less interference by the federal government, rejected suggestion he could be a spoiler. Fish said he gets the sense people aren’t happy with just two options.
“I know I can’t compete on a money basis with Republicans and Democrats, obviously. But I do have ballot access, and I do have a voice,” he said. “And I think when people see that and hear that, word can spread and we can be taken seriously.”
Little-known independent and write-in candidates are also expected to run. - Peninsula Clarion, 9/3/14
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Alaska Natives make up 19% of the electorate and they helped Begich win his tight race against Ted Stevens (R. AK) in 2008. The Begich campaign and Democrats have bee ramping up efforts to get Alaska Natives to the polls and Begich has an excellent record when it comes to Native American Affairs. And National Democrats are doubling down to defeat Sullivan:Today, the United Tribes of Bristol Bay formally endorsed Alaska Senator Mark Begich for reelection to the United States Senate. Senator Begich faces former Attorney General and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan, whose short career in Alaska has been dedicated at attempting to overturn Native rights initiatives.“Mark Begich has a solid record supporting Alaska Native interests,” said Robert Heyano, President of UTBB. “He has a demonstrated commitment to protecting Alaska Native subsistence ways of life in addition to assisting our communities with the myriad issues like economic development, public safety, and tribal self-determination.”
Dan Sullivan’s record stands in stark contrast. As Attorney General, Sullivan argued that the subsistence protections established under Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act should be narrowed to exclude vast stretches of Alaska waters from subsistence fishing. As DNR commissioner, Sullivan attempted to reclassify Bristol Bay lands as solely mineral land, omitting any use for subsistence hunting and fishing. In addition, he brainstormed the now infamous House Bill 77 – a bill granting himself the absolute right to issue permits without public notice or input. Alaska Native News, 9/4/14
We can still win this race, we just have to make sure the base comes out to the polls. Click here to donate and get involved with begich's campaign:The "multi-million dollar" ad buy from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee comes as Begich's campaign faces a slew of negative headlines for releasing a political attack ad that focused on a gruesome 2013 murder and sexual assault case.The DSCC said it was already planning to go up with the new 30-second spot before the recent controversy, and the ad doesn't mention Begich's ad. Rather, it hits Dan Sullivan for opposing Obamacare.
In the commercial, an elderly woman whose husband has Alzheimer's disease says Sullivan "supports a plan" to slash Medicare benefits, and his policies would raise prescription drug costs.
In the commercial, an elderly woman whose husband has Alzheimer's disease says Sullivan "supports a plan" to slash Medicare benefits, and his policies would raise prescription drug costs.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Alaska has the largest growth rate for seniors (age 65 and older); the population for that age group increased by 54% between 2000 and 2010.
The ad also hits Sullivan for saying he's open to raising the minimum age for Social Security eligibility. While Sullivan has advocated for reform for younger generations, he has said "we're not going to touch" benefits for seniors who are either receiving Social Security benefits or about to receive them. - WDSU, 9/3/14
