Group takes aim at legislator

Ties to developer draw criticism, organized opposition

October 22, 2006

By Michael Rovito/Frontiersman

WASILLA - A new political group formed last week is taking a special interest in seeing to it that along with a push for ethical government Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla, does not win another term in office.

Citizens for Ethical Government and Against Vic Kohring, formed by longtime Valley resident and political activist Michael Janecek, will take Kohring to task for his political activities, many of which Janecek said he disagrees with.

&#8220I've always had reasons to make sure Vic doesn't get represented,” Janecek said.

The group, which Janecek said recently registered with the Alaska Public Offices Commission, is taking exception to Kohring's work with Fairbanks developer Marc Marlow.

That work, according to Kohring, involves arranging meetings, doing research and helping with work on some of Marlow's projects.

In a phone interview Saturday, Janecek called Kohring's actions consistent with that of a lobbyist and expressed his anger over the six-term Republican's ability to continue voting in the Legislature while working on projects for Marlow.

&#8220That's what my liberal, progressive opponents want to try and convince the voting public,” Kohring said in response to allegations of lobbyist style work for Marlow. &#8220I don't take this personally, of course.”

Kohring maintains his work for the developer is a second job consisting of business services. He is paid monthly, adding that he works hard for his money, and said it is not a consulting job, as some have alleged.

The Janecek group is also calling on Kohring to give back $6,000 in contributions from VECO executives who are under investigation by the FBI for their relationships with some legislators, a call levied on many Republican candidates this election season.

Kohring maintains, however, that there is nothing unethical about accepting donations from some of the oil field services company executives.

&#8220They were legally acquired contributions,” he said.

While Janecek refused to go into detail about his group's strategy during Saturday's interview, in an e-mail to the Frontiersman he cites direct mail and radio outlets as possible means of disseminating information against Kohring. In the two-week lead-up to November's elections, Janecek said, efforts by the citizen action group would be steadily amped up.

&#8220We're actively in the business of fund raising,” he said, adding that anyone who wants to know where the group is getting its money from can look it up on the APOC Web site, www.state.ak.us/apoc.

The actions of Kohring and others legislators in the Republican Party, both locally and nationally, have caused the former executive director of the Alaska Council of School Administrators, Darroll Hargraves, who bills himself as a staunch Republican, to support Kohring's Democratic opponent, Katie Hurley.

&#8220I think there are some entanglements with our current representative that simply have to be cleared up,” Hargraves said. &#8220I'm a Republican that's just getting tired and completely aggravated with the things that are happening and the Republicans nationally and locally are getting into.”

Kohring, who said he does not know Hargraves, said he has no response to the Valley resident's switch in votes, adding that he would like to talk to Hargraves to discuss just what is bothering him. Despite allegations of corruption among Republicans nationally and at the state level, Kohring said he

is trying to run a positive

campaign.

&#8220I'm listening to my constituents,” he said.

Aligning his comments with others who say the Republican Party is becoming corrupt, Hargraves also cited Kohring's donations from VECO executives and what he called consulting fees he has received while in office.

Hargraves said it makes sense that someone would want to form a group like Janecek's after watching Kohring's actions as a legislator.

&#8220I don't think he's pure as the wind-driven snow,” Hargraves said.

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