Choice trio tagged to take over Kohring's House seat

July 15, 2007

By Will Elliott/Frontiersman

WASILLA - A former Wasilla City Council member, retired school superintendent and state Senate staffer make up the short list of nominations District 14 Republicans are recommending to replace outgoing state Rep. Vic Kohring.

Colleen Sullivan-Leonard, Darrell Hargraves and Wes Keller were named Friday by District 14 Republicans as their nominations to fill the seat. Kohring announced his resignation last month to focus on fighting criminal charges of alleged extortion and bribery. He maintains his innocence and faces a trial in October. The party's picks have been forwarded to Gov. Sarah Palin, who is not obligated to choose from the local group's short list when she appoints a replacement. Whomever is selected must be approved by a majority vote of House Republicans at a special session this fall or next year.

A modest crowd gathered Friday at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex, where seven hopefuls gave short speeches and answered questions.

Sullivan-Leonard is a former Wasilla City Council member and serves on the governor's staff. Hargraves is a retired school superintendent and a communications and management consultant. Keller is the chief of staff for Eagle River Sen. Fred Dyson.

District 14 Republicans chair Steve Colligan described Friday's event as a mock press conference, intended to introduce candidates to the public and to test their public speaking skills.

Also interviewed by the selection committee were Pat Marley, a Wasilla business owner, Dan Kelly, who serves on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly, Wasilla City Council member Steve Menard and Greg Koskela, also a member of the Wasilla City Council and Wasilla Planning commission. Koskela was a member of the selection committee until he decided to enter his name.

Representatives from the party's Young Republicans asked prepared questions to each of the candidates. The first concerned plans to bring fiscal stability to the state, while others asked candidates to define their ethics and outline their plans for school funding. Colligan called the extemporaneous answers an important part of the process.

&#8220There's no structure, no subject, other than their ability to communicate and present what they feel is important about themselves, about the state and about the community. It's their three minutes,” he said.

Those three minutes were used by Sullivan-Leonard and Keller to present autobiographical information.

Sullivan-Leonard promised a commonsense approach to government and said she prides herself on taking an independent view. That would bring new ideas and new energy to the seat Kohring has held for years, she said.

Keller highlighted his experience in Juneau as a legislative chief of staff.

&#8220There's a lot of pressure in Juneau to do business as usual,” he said. &#8220I have seen the dragon.”

Hargraves also offered a résumé, but focused primarily on the reasons why Kohring's seat and those of other indicted Republican legislators had been vactated in the first place. Hargraves pleaded for a return of integrity to the party.

The three gave similar answers to the Young Republicans questions, though each emphasized different aspects of the official Republican platform.

For the state's fiscal stability, Sullivan-Leonard suggests exporting Alaska resources to Asia and other markets, while Hargraves recommends the state establish a rainy day fund and cut departmental budgets. Keller acknowledges the challenges facing fiscal planners and warns against pinning hopes on a pipeline, which he said would not provide revenue for 10 years or more. Keller also vowed not to support an income tax.

In response to the question of how they would provide for education, Sullivan-Leonard pointed to the need for advance planning.

&#8220We need to forward fund education,” she said.

Hargraves is confident cutting school budgets can happen while still keeping pace with the Mat-Su Valley's accelerating growth.

&#8220There are some cuts and some things that can be reduced,” he said. &#8220We will ask them to be frugal and request only what they really need.”

Keller claimed that more oversight, not more funding, is needed for schools.

All three said their ethics are derived from morals instilled by culture and family. Hargraves does not support ethics laws for legislators.

&#8220I judge myself and others long before they get to the point of breaking a law,” he said.

Contact Will Elliott at 352-2252 or will.elliott@frontiersman.com.