Somewhere, Nick is smiling tonight

[Ken Burch]

I found this old picture just now and it seemed a good moment to post it.

the Age of Shame is beginning to end here on the Last Frontier.

Let's take down Don next!

[Ken Burch]

1. For those Outside Du'ers who may not have recognized this picture

Nick Begich was Mark Begich's father, and was Alaska's Democratic Congressman from 1970 until the small plane carrying him and House Majority Whip Hale Boggs disappeared towards the end of the 1972 campaign.

(this was a button from Nick's first Congressional campaign, in 1968)


Despite the fact that everyone knew by election day that Nick was dead, he still defeated Don Young by fifteen points in the Congressional race(Young took over after winning a special election in the spring of '73, and he plagues our state still as "The Congressman for All Alaska", as he modestly styles himself).

The disappearance of Nick Begich marked the beginning of a long-term decline in the fortunes of Alaska's Democratic Party, and the victory of his son Mark in our Senate race this year is, in the view of many folks here, the beginning of the reversal of our party's "wilderness years" period.

[Steerpike]

2. Congrats to Mark!

The only downside to this is that Dan Sullivan will probably be our next mayor.

[Ken Burch]

3. Well, Eric Croft could take a shot at it, couldn't he? Or Ethan?

n/t.

[Steerpike]

4. My error!

Matt Claman will be "Acting Mayor" until July I believe. Eric Could win, possibly...maybe even Berkowitz...boy this whole thing is going to turn into a can o worms...Sheila Selkregg will run too on the liberal side.

[Steerpike]

5. Another interesting question...

Who will Clamen appoint to his seat on the assembly when he takes on the Mantle of Mayor?
Actually, I think the assembly appoints...

[Blue_In_AK]

6. I don't see Dan Sullivan getting elected...

Anchorage is a lot more left-leaning now than in the past. Sullivan's a putz.

[Steerpike]

9. Can You say...

Tom Fink? George Wuerch? Rick Mystrom?

And lets face it Begich and Knowles as mayors were as pro-development as any Repugs. But, heck, I voted for them anyway. At least I knew they weren't gonna try to pass frivoulous anti gay laws in the muni, like Wuerch tried.

But, it seems the local electorate is only as liberal as it seems profitable.

I do agree that it seems more liberal today than in years past.

[Blue_In_AK]

10. No, I remember those guys...

I was here, too, but I just feel like Anchorage is coming around a bit. Maybe I'm a cockeyed optimist, but I really feel like the atmosphere has changed around here since those dark days. I guess a lot depends on who ends up being the Democratic candidate, but I think (hope) Sullivan's days are over. Him and Coffey both -- gag. :puke:

[Blue_In_AK]

7. A very nice reminder, Ken...

I never had the pleasure of knowing Rep. Begich since I didn't move up here until 1975, but he must have been a remarkable man. I'm so happy about Mark's victory.

[Ken Burch]

8. I didn't get here until even later than that, but I've known the Begich family since '84

I worked on his mom's Congressional race that year.