Heat on for state races

PALMER — Local Democrats are turning up the heat on the District 13 state House race with two mailers taking to task incumbent Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer.

Both fliers, sent by the Committee to Elect David Cheezem, Gatto’s Democratic opponent, cite donations from embattled oil services company VECO and what the committee calls Gatto’s inaction on health care as reasons he should not be re-elected.

“Between 2002 and 2006, Carl Gatto received $10,700 in campaign contributions from VECO and its executives,” one flier says.

It goes on to say in 2006, Gatto voted in favor of a multi-billion dollar revenue giveaway to the oil and gas industry. The legislation would have benefited VECO, an oilfield services company.

VECO, which was bought by CH2M Hill in September 2007, has become synonymous with corruption in the Alaska Legislature after its former CEO, Bill Allen, became a central figure in a federal investigation into corrupt Alaska politics.

The most famous Valley legislator to be branded with VECO corruption is former Rep. Vic Kohring who is serving a three and a half year sentence in federal prison for accepting bribes from Allen.

On Wednesday, Gatto said the donations from VECO held no sway over his vote.

“The only thing that sways my vote is what benefits my community,” he said.

Furthermore, Gatto said proof he did nothing to assist VECO, because of campaign contributions, came when he told Allen he would not support Pete Kott in a political bid. Kott was found guilty of corruption and is serving time in federal prison.

“What he’s (Cheezem) not saying is the last donation I got was in 2005 and that’s when I told Bill Allen I would not support Pete Kott and that’s the last donation I got,” Gatto said.

He added Cheezem has received more than $10,000 from various unions in the state, showing Cheezem is already receiving money from special interests.

A check of the Alaska Public Offices Commission Web site confirms more than $10,000 of campaign donations from unions.

“I got money back in ‘05 and he’s bringing that up in 08?” Gatto said. “And he just took special interest money.”

For his part, Cheezem said he’s proud of his campaign contributions.

“It’s not about the sources of contributions,” Cheezem said. “It’s about what you do with it.”

The flier also accuses Gatto of not standing up to special interests, which Gatto said is untrue.

“I’ve already done what he accuses me of not doing,” Gatto said, referring to when he told Allen he would not support Kott, as Allen wanted him to.

But Cheezem said he doesn’t want the whole campaign to be about who gets what contributions, but about integrity.

He said he thinks Gatto should have publicly proclaimed that being swayed in voting by certain donations isn’t right.

Cheezem and local Democrats also attack Gatto over health care issues, saying he “doesn’t get it” in on a flier.

A statement from Gatto during a recent candidate forum runs across the top of the flier, and was an answer to a question about providing health care to everyone.

“My understanding from hospitals and reading the signs on the wall is that no one, no one can be refused health care,” the quote reads.

On Wednesday, Gatto clarified his comment by saying no one is dying in the street, and hospitals cannot deny a patient care regardless of their health insurance situation.

Cheezem’s health care plan would involve letting small businesses, like Fireside Books, the bookstore he owns in Palmer, bargain together for the lowest group rates.

Gatto said he also has a plan that would make clinics a triage area before granting patients some sort of coupon for health care elsewhere.

He didn’t go into details about the legislation.

As the days until Nov. 4 continue to dwindle, the race between Gatto and Cheezem appears to have become the hottest in the Valley. Local Democrats seem to be spending more time and money on that race than any other.

Voters will get their chance to decide who should represent District 13, along with other districts in the Valley, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.