Charges pose little threat in Alaska primary

[Ron Burgundy]

Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in Senate history, faces six challengers Tuesday in Alaska's primary, but his recent indictment on corruption charges poses little threat to Stevens' quest for the GOP nomination to seek a seventh full term.

Opponents of the 84-year-old patriarch of Alaska politics include a former one-term state representative, a small-town pastor and three men who reported spending nothing on the race.

An indictment might sink a lesser candidate, but without a strong challenger, Stevens has few reasons to fear losing.

"I don't think anybody's going to stop him unless he's convicted," said Carl Shepro, a professor of political science at the University of Alaska in Anchorage.

Also on Tuesday, Florida Republicans will nominate a candidate for the House seat they lost in 2006 following Rep. Mark Foley's resignation after he was accused of sending sexually explicit computer messages to teenage male pages.

In Alaska, Stevens is accused of failing to report $250,000 in home improvement work and other gifts from an oil industry businessman.

But he is a beloved figure among loyalists and is known throughout the state as "Uncle Ted," largely because of the billions of dollars in federal aid he has delivered to a frontier state that has precious little industry. Stevens was named the Alaskan of the Century in 2000, and the Anchorage airport bears his name.

On Friday, more than 200 supporters welcomed Stevens to Juneau's convention center for a fundraiser. He was greeted with several standing ovations.

"I'm not worried about the primary," Stevens said. "This support is going on all over the state. I think if anything, I'm energized."

Stevens is accused of failing to report gifts from Bill Allen, the former CEO of now defunct VECO Corp., a company that made millions of dollars providing maintenance, construction and architectural to major oil companies.

VECO officials supported pro-oil candidates with campaign contributions and bribes. Allen was convicted of bribery charges, but his sentencing has been delayed as he cooperates with other federal investigations.

Allen has acknowledged sending company crews in 2000 to work on Stevens' home near Anchorage, helping to double its size. Stevens has said he paid every bill submitted to him.

In a letter to the Anchorage Daily News, one supporter said Stevens has done more for the state than anyone in history.

Concerning Stevens' home remodeling, "shame on all of us for not helping with the project," wrote Richard Rhyner, who has lived in Anchorage for 50 years. "After all he has done for us, every man, woman and child should have chipped in to build our greatest Alaskan ever a home the size of the White House."

Stevens' strongest challenge Tuesday is likely to come from former state Rep. Dave Cuddy, a member of a prominent Anchorage banking family.

Stevens will be tried in September. If he survives the primary, his opponent in November is likely to be Democrat Mark Begich, the popular mayor of Anchorage and the son of former Rep. Nick Begich, who died in a plane crash while in office in 1972.

Begich faces only token opposition in the primary.

The man who replaced Nick Begich faces a stronger test in the primary. Republican Rep. Don Young, who has been Alaska's lone congressman for 35 years, is himself the subject of a federal investigation for his relationship with VECO executives.

Young squares off in the primary against Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who has the blessing and backing of his popular boss, Gov. Sarah Palin.

Alaska voters also will consider a proposal to restrict the pollutants released into salmon streams or drinking water by new, large-scale mines.

Supporters say the measure is needed to protect the world's most productive wild salmon streams from the Pebble Mine, a huge gold and copper deposit in southwest Alaska. Opponents fear the initiative could threaten Alaska's economy, which has more than 5,500 mining jobs.

In Florida, Republicans will choose among three contenders to take on Democratic Rep. Tim Mahoney, who barely beat the GOP's last-minute nominee after Foley resigned.

Foley, who was considered a shoo-in for re-election until the scandal exploded, has never been charged with a crime.

Gov. Charlie Crist has endorsed Tom Rooney, a lawyer and former Army officer, in a competitive three-way Republican race. Other candidates vying to challenge Mahoney are state Rep. Gayle Harrell and Hal Valeche, a wealthy investor and former Palm Beach Gardens city council member.

source: AP - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080825/ap_on_el_ge/alaska_primary [link]