Long time Juneau Democratic activist Joe Sonneman dead at 64

[Ken Burch]

http://juneauempire.com/stories/031009/obi_407479671.shtml

Joe fought the good fight for many years.

He defended the Permanent Fund against those who wanted to raid it for pointless roadbuilding projects and other pork.

Joe was the mayor Juneau should have had and the Senator ALASKA should have had.

If you want to honor Joe, contribute to those who are seeking a cure for ALS, the disease that killed him.

[Ken Burch]

1. Joe Sonneman was also a mainstay of the progressive "Ad Hoc" Democratic movement

of the early 1970's.

Ad Hoc Dems secured an overwhelming majority for George McGovern in the '72 Alaska precinct caucuses, at a time when the decrepit old party hacks were still pushing for Hubert Humphrey and Scoop "Senator From Boeing" Jackson. The regulars retaliated by deserting the party and campaigning hard for Nixon and the rest of the GOP ticket in the fall(making sure the Dems lost the Legislature while they were at it), but Ad Hoc Dems led the party to a landslide victory in the state legislative elections in '74, winning 30 out of 40 seats in the state House and ensuring that at least some of the North Slope oil money went to funding education and meeting human needs rather than just ending up on meaningless construction projects that only benefited Railbelt contractors

(Dems would have won the governorship again in '74, had it not been for the insistence of Bill Egan, a great governor in earlier years but clearly past it by then, on seeking his fourth term.)

[Blue_In_AK]

2. I wasn't familiar with this gentleman,

but it sounds like we've lost a good man.

[Ken Burch]

3. We have.

n/t.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Ken, did you see Dennis Harris's tribute

posted at Phil Munger's blog? Here's the link ... it's a good one.

http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/03/another-joe-for-juneau.html

[harpboy_ak]

6. Joe was an orignal

My thanks to Ken.

A graveside Jewish burial service for Dr. Joseph A. Sonneman, who died in Everett, Washington on March 8, will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, at Sitka National Cemetery. A full obituary was published in the Juneau Empire on March 10.

Juneauites who will be taking the ferry to Sitka on Thursday morning to attend the service are asked to contact Dennis Harris, who will be making arrangements for transportation from the ferry to the cemetery, at 586-2384.

Juneau friends of Joe will be holding a Celebration of Life potluck dinner at the Buoy Deck, upstairs in the Subport Coast Guard station at Whittier Street & Egan Drive in downtown Juneau, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25. Please feel free to bring photos, Joe souvenirs, and your Joe stories to tell.

For more information, please contact Dennis Harris at 586-2384.

Donations in Dr. Sonneman's memory may be made to the Joe Sonneman Prize In Photography Endowment c/o David Carpenter, Claremont Graduate University Advancement Office, 165 10th St., Claremont, CA 91711.

[joeyalaska]

5. My Friend Joe

I first met Joe in Juneau in 1971. He remained a remarkable friend and activist. He will be missed.