House race heats up

VECO money fuels dispute between candidates

September 24, 2006

By Michael Rovito/Frontiersman

A political flyer campaign by independent candidate Myrl Thompson has ignited a firestorm between Thompson and his House District 15 opponent, incumbent Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake.

The flyer reveals a list of $6,286.58 worth of donations in 2004 and 2005 from the same VECO executives, including CEO Bill Allen, who are at the center of an ongoing FBI investigation into the relationship between VECO and some state legislators.

Thompson said he posted the numbers because of what he calls Neuman's track record of accepting donations from big oil and other special interest groups that he said sway Neuman's votes. Thompson also maintains that Neuman previously had spoken out against the practice of accepting such donations, but seems to have changed his thinking after taking legislative office.

&#8220I knew Mark before he became a legislator,” Thompson said. &#8220He used to talk about how bad big money is.”

Neuman disputed that claim, calling Thompson's flyer reactionary, and explaining the need to accept money from corporations and other private individuals.

&#8220I can't afford to run a campaign on my own,” said Neuman, who says he got elected on a $1,500 budget two years ago. &#8220I'm a family guy.”

Neuman said VECO executives have not given him any money for this election, which may stem from their displeasure over some of his recent votes dealing with the oil industry.

&#8220If Myrl's trying to say that VECO's trying to buy my vote, I think that is a good indication they're not,” Neuman said.

Disclosure records about campaign contributions filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission confirm the numbers in Thompson's flyer. In 2004, during the last election cycle when Neuman was first elected, he received $3,286.58 from VECO executives. The most recent VECO contributions to Neuman are from November 2005, which, for filing purposes, is considered part of the current election cycle. Those total $3,000.

Neuman's name is also set to appear in a radio and newspaper ad designed by former Republican legislator Ray Metcalfe from Anchorage. Metcalfe said the campaign is meant to shed light on those who have accepted money from VECO or VECO's associates in the past, or helped controversial Sen. Ben Stevens push VECO's agenda through the Legislature.

Stevens, whose legislative offices were the subject last month of an FBI raid related to the VECO investigation, has accepted nearly a quarter-million dollars in consulting fees from VECO in recent years. Neither he nor the company has been willing to say what Stevens did for the money.

&#8220I made the list to expose those who have been selling the state down the river in order to get elected,” Metcalfe said. He said he added Neuman to the list because of Neuman's vote for the VECO-endorsed oil tax recently passed by the Legislature and contributions he has accepted from VECO.

Neuman responded to Metcalfe's accusation by saying he did vote for the tax, but against Gov. Frank Murkowski's original tax plan, which had strong VECO backing. That should prove, Neuman said, that he is not bought by the oil field services company.

&#8220I will put my morals and ethics against anyone out there,” Neuman said. &#8220I'm getting kind of tired of these false accusations. It kind of disgusts me when people don't talk want to talk about issues but want to sling mud.”

Back in District 15, which covers a vast region including Houston, Big Lake, Willow and much of rural Susitna Valley, Thompson's flyers may serve to keep alive a rivalry between the two politicians.

&#8220There's a little bit of history that goes back,” Neuman said, adding that Thompson never has called him to discuss matters after being invited to do so. &#8220He just needs to tell the whole story.”

Thompson responded by calling Neuman a liar, adding that he doesn't have much respect for the one-term incumbent, who he said was taken over by the Republican Party machine.

&#8220He has never said anything to me about talking,” Thompson said.

Thompson, who has been a frequent contributor to the Frontiersman while he spent time in Juneau as an independent citizen observing the Legislature, said another reason Neuman may not like him is that Thompson knows what he does and writes about it.

In a past opinion column, Thompson mentioned the Alaska Physicians and Surgeons Political Action Committee's donation of $2,000 to four House Republicans, including Neuman, before a vote on a medical liability bill. Thompson said he is suspicious of Neuman's motives, because the bill failed the first time it came up, but passed the second time around, when campaign contributions were involved.

But Neuman stands firm on his claim that he is not swayed by any of the money from special interest groups, again citing the expense of running a campaign for office.

&#8220I have to accept campaign contributions from around the state,” he said. &#8220There's people who want to give folks like me money for business.”

And while his opponent and other political players have included him in what appears to be a crusade against those associated with VECO, Neuman said he is wondering where the issues are. &#8220People who want to throw trash do it because they have no issues or ideas,” Neuman said. &#8220People should demand more than mud.”

It appears Neuman may have some backers, after some 47 of Thompson's flyers had been pulled down across the Valley by Saturday.

&#8220They rip them down fairly fast, but I keep putting them back up,” Thompson said.

Both men will continue campaigning in advance of the Nov. 7 election.

Contact Michael Rovito at

352-2252 or michael.rovito@ frontiersman.com.