Anybody know about possible replacements for RIchard Foster?

[Ken Burch]

I just heard he died last week. Appointing his successor raises an interesting question. Since there's a requirement that his successor be of the same party, is there also a requirement that his successor be in the same legislative organization? Would Foster have to be replaced by another Dem that organized with the 'Pugs?

[Blue_In_AK]

1. I don't know anything about the politics out there in western Alaska.

I've only been to Nome once, and that was for the Iditarod, which I'm sure is not like the rest of the year. All I really knew about Foster was that he partnered up with the minority. I'm not sure I understand that concept of being elected as a Democrat but then voting like a Republican. Seems to be a lot of that going around.

[apaflo]

2. Sense, and nonsense...

The original suggestion is just nonsense.

Foster's actions would probably be nonsensical for someone from an urban area, but from a bush seat it does make a lot of sense, and from Nome might be the only way to continue being elected!

Bush voters don't really care much about Democrat vs. Republican. It's much more oriented towards urban vs bush. And a lot of bush people are basically very conservative, hence they do like at least the rhetoric of the Republican Party. The trouble is they also want action and they want action that affects problems in the bush, and the Democrats win hands down on those issues.

Hence being a Democrat suggests having ones heart in the right place for many many bush issues. Working with whoever happens to be the majority suggests being able to get something done rather than just talk about it on the campaign trail.

Look at history. Hohman from Bethel, Sackett from the Yukon, Hammond from Bristol Bay, Foster and Olsen from Nome, Carl Morgan and Lyman Hoffman from the Kuskokwim, Reggie Joule and before him Furguson and Adams all of Kotzebue... a long list that leaves out even more! Virtually none of them engaged in partisan politics, and probably most people can't name which party half of them actually belonged to!

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I certainly see your point,

I worked for the attorney who represented Hohman in his bribery trial back in the day, and even I can't tell you which party he was. And of all the governors since I moved here in 1975, Jay Hammond was my favorite, and I KNOW he was a Republican...one of the few Republicans I've ever voted for.

[Ken Burch]

4. Hammond was originally elected as an independent, IIRC

Jay would never win a GOP primary for anything today(which is a sad comment on that party, not on Jay).

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Thanks for the info, Ken.

He was already governor when I moved up here, so I did not know that.

[Steerpike]

6. Hey there

Didn't they appoint his son?

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Yes, they did.

At least that's what I heard.

[Ken Burch]

8. They appointed his son, and the son, unlike the father, has promised

to join his OWN party's caucus in the Legislature.

I wonder if this might lead to the Western Alaska Dems who are in the current coalition to withdraw from it and rejoin the minority, since the Foster Son of Foster makes it more likely that the House could flip in 2010.