Begich announces run against Sen. Stevens - We should support this guy!

[Breeze54]

Begich announces run against Sen. Stevens

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/begich-announces-run-against-sen.-stevens-2008-02-27.html

By Aaron Blake
Posted: 02/27/08 03:03 PM

National Democrats have their man against Sen. Ted Stevens, and he appears set to give the party its first real shot at the senator in his 40-year career.

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich announced Wednesday that he is entering the race against Stevens (R-Alaska), setting up an exploratory committee and ending months of speculation about whether Democrats could field a formidable candidate against the embattled lawmaker.

A federal investigation into Stevens’s ties to the Veco Corp. pushed the seat into the realm of possibility for Democrats. Begich’s entry makes it an official race.

In launching his committee, Begich said in an e-mail to supporters that the exploratory committee is a significant step forward that he doesn't take lightly.

“This exploratory committee gives me the opportunity to talk with Alaskans within the provisions of federal election laws,” he said. “After hearing from Alaskans across the state, I will make a final decision on becoming an official candidate well before the June 1 filing deadline.”

A competitive race in Alaska would add another to the growing list of takeover opportunities in unexpected places for national Democrats.

The recent entry of other top recruits in open-seat races in Mississippi and Nebraska could also expand the field for a party that seems to have nearly everything working in its favor so far this cycle, including the electoral map, money and GOP retirements.

Begich’s announcement, which comes just six days after Stevens filed to run for a seventh full term, helps put to rest questions about whether the 84-year-old would retire amid his legal problems.

Authorities are investigating a remodeling job done on Stevens’s home by Veco Corp., whose former executive has confessed to bribing Stevens’s son, former state Sen. Ben Stevens. The elder Stevens’s home was raided last summer, and Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) is also being targeted in the probe.

Stevens told the Anchorage Daily News upon filing last week that this “is going to be a really strong race” and that lots of bloggers and Senate colleagues would be gunning for him.

The senator and World War II veteran won 60 percent of the vote in his first race in 1970 and has never taken less than 66 percent since then.

Stevens’s office declined to comment by press time

I have never heard of Mark Begich but if he can kick Stevens out, then I say, "Go for it!" ;)

MEET THE MAYOR

http://www.muni.org/mayor/mayor.cfm



Mayor Mark Begich

Biography

Following his first election on April 1, 2003, and continuing through his overwhelming re-election in April 2006, Mayor Mark Begich has continued to focus on improving public safety, creating jobs, stimulating economic development, and relieving traffic congestion.

During his first term in office, Anchorage voters approved the largest bond package for road improvements in the city’s history, construction of a new civic and convention center, and a $100 million expansion of the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center.

The city is enjoying its 18th consecutive year of economic growth, with more than 2,500 jobs added to the city’s economy over the past year. Under Mayor Begich’s leadership, the city also recently received an upgrade on its bond rating from Standard & Poor’s, going from AA-minus to AA, resulting in cost-savings to taxpayers.

The first municipal mayor born and raised in Anchorage, Mark, 46, is a 20-year Anchorage businessman. He has owned and operated several Anchorage businesses, upgrading commercial buildings and renting affordable housing to nearly 50 Anchorage families. His wife, Deborah Bonito, owns and operates three retail stores, which feature the products of more than 130 Alaska craftspeople.

Mark was first elected to the Anchorage Assembly in 1988 at age 26. During his 10 years in elected municipal office, he focused on strengthening Anchorage's economy, creating new opportunities for young Alaskans and sound fiscal management. He was widely praised for his ability to bring diverse Anchorage groups and residents together, and was three times elected by his fellow assembly members as Assembly Chair, Anchorage's second highest office.

Mark's parents, Pegge and the late Nick Begich, ventured to the territory of Alaska in 1957 as teachers. Following a career as a teacher and Superintendent of Military Schools on Fort Richardson, Nick was elected Alaska's third U.S. Congressman. While running for reelection two years later, Begich's airplane disappeared in the Gulf of Alaska when Mark was 10 years old.

From his parents, Mark learned the values of hard work, strength of family, and commitment to community. These are the values he has applied to a successful business career and long record of public service. He founded the Making a Difference Program, which seeks to set straight first-time juvenile offenders; 90 percent of the youth who go through the program do not re-offend. He has served on numerous boards, including the Boys and Girls Club, Spirit of Youth Foundation and Family Resource Center. As chair of the statewide Alaska Student Loan Corporation, he applied sound business practices saving the corporation from bankruptcy and ensuring affordable student loans for Alaska's college and vocational-technical students for years to come. He is a corporate member of the Association of the United States Army, a member of the Air Force Association, a life member of the National Rifle Association and served on the board of the Resource Development Council.

Mayor Begich was twice named Alaska's top elected municipal official by his colleagues statewide in 1997 and 2004, and was honored as a Friend of Education by the Anchorage Education Association. For his work for drug-free and crime-free neighborhoods, he was recognized by the Mt. View Community Council.

Mark was born in the Old Providence Hospital in downtown Anchorage in 1962. He and his wife Deborah live in East Anchorage, have been married 18 years and have a young son, Jacob.


Related Links
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External Links
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Contact the Mayor's Office

[Parche]

1. Big Itch For Senator!!!!!

:woohoo: :hi:

[Breeze54]

4. LOL! Stevens needs to go ...

to JAIL!! :P

Hell yeah! Go Begich!

Hey Stevens? Be-Gone!!

[annabanana]

2. Seems a decent sort. . . But then, I'd support

a rabid mongoose, or a drawer full of doorknobs if it mounted an opposition to this great roiling tsunami of tshit!

[Breeze54]

3. roflmfao!!

:rofl: :rofl:

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Mark's a good guy...

Intelligent, personable, and he gets things done. We've all been expecting this announcement for a while, and I'm glad he's going to go for it. It should be mentioned that Ted Stevens also has competition in the Republican primary, banker David Cuddy, but he probably doesn't stand much of a chance.

There is also an excellent chance that Don Young will be voted out this year, as well. There are three good Democratic challengers, so for now we're concentrating on the primary ... but I think Don is toast.

[Breeze54]

6. That's good to know!

Thanks for weighing in! ;)

It would be awesome to get both Stevens and Don Young out at the same time!

:woohoo:

[Breeze54]

7. Please DU this poll between Begich (D) and stevens (R)!!

Look to the bottom left...

http://www.ktuu.com/

If the general election were tomorrow, who would you support for U.S. Senate?

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich or Incumbent Sen. Ted Stevens?

Thank you for participating in our poll.

Here are the results so far.

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich 40%

Incumbent Sen. Ted Stevens 60%