Alaska Recall effort under way

[Robbien]

Source: Frontiersman

WASILLA - Efforts to recall indicted Rep. Vic Kohring are under way in the Valley, headed by a Wasilla City Council member.

Mark Ewing, who occupies Seat F of the council, hopes to have a petition ready for submission to the Division of Elections early this week. If approved by the division, the petition would put a recall measure to vote. If recalled, Kohring would be replaced either by a vote of the people or by governor appointment, depending on how much time remained before the next scheduled election. An appointed person would have to be from Kohring's Republican Party, so Ewing would not be eligible for the seat.

Kohring, who represents the greater Wasilla area and chaired the House Committee on Oil and Gas until fellow legislators stripped him of the position following his arrest May 4, is charged with federal counts of extortion, bribery and conspiracy relating to alleged favors performed for Alaska-based oil services company VECO.



VECO executives have pleaded guilty to bribing Kohring and other officials. Kohring has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“They're pleading guilty and he's pleading innocent? How does that work?” Ewing said.



Read more: http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2007/05/13/news/news5.txt

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Wonder if Kohring will keep his Corrupt Bastards Club hat and teeshirt.

[Sagan]

1. That article is kind of messed up...

First of all, it doesn't say that he's a Republican (which is no surprise. the media usually tries to mask Repug politicos who commit crimes).

Secondly, it said he was chairman of that committee "until fellow legislators stripped him of the position his arrest May 4". Well, that wasn't this past May 4th, because I doubt he was a GOP rep in a committee chairmanship.

Overall, a very badly written article.

[windy252]

2. I tend to assume if the media doesn't name the party,

it's probably an R.

[Bandit]

3. They are referring to the Alaska State Legislature and not the Federal Congress

He was Chairman and he was asked to relinquish that Chair. He was also asked by the Governor to step down from his seat in the Legislature but has refused, hence the recall petition. This is going to get a lot kore involved as the two big wigs convicted in this are singing like canaries. They have told prosecutors that they not only bribed Alaska State Representatives but also Republican members of Congress and even gave large sums to the Bush* Administration. This could give the Abramoff Scandal a run for the money. It is pretty significant..