Kohring resigns amid ‘cloud of doubt'

MAT-SU - Veco's alleged Mat-Su Valley man for hire has announced his resignation. (see video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTs499Dpurg)

State Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla, gave a standing-room-only crowd at the Wasilla Best Western Tuesday his 30-day notice.

While he's leaving office, Kohring maintained his innocence and did not admit guilt to charges he accepted money for his vote in the state House.

&#8220I have been charged by the federal government with serious crimes for which I am totally innocent,” Kohring said.

Kohring's decision stemmed from a grand jury indictment of the legislator on counts of bribery and extortion. The lawmaker said he will be gone by July 19.

Kohring spoke to a crowd of more than 200 people and heavy media coverage at the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce meeting. Although he's stepping down from office, Kohring said the act would not be the end of his political carrer.

&#8220I have decided to step down from office, win at court and then return to public life,” Kohring said.

Besides focusing his attention on proving his innocence, Kohring said he resigned to avoid to the appearence of guilt that could taint his office.

&#8220The media and the population in general does not know I'm innocent,” Kohring said. &#8220This has left a cloud of doubt over me and my votes.”

Items from Kohring's office were confiscated last year by the Federal Bureau of Investigaton in its probe into alleged corruption surrounding oil and gas deals under then-gov. Frank Murkowski.

The grand jury's indictment of Kohring alleges he &#8220did knowingly and willfully combine, conspire, confederate and agree together and with each other to obstruct, delay and affect in any way and degree commerce and the movement of any article and commodity in commerce by extortion.”

Kohring allegedly extorted a multinational oil field services company when he agreed to preform certain official acts in exchange for money he did not officially earn, according to his indictment. The indictment also says he conspired to performed official acts as a member of the Alaska Legislature &#8220for the purpose of enriching himself and his family members.”

With Kohring leaving office, Gov. Sarah Palin will choose his replacement. The governor does not have to wait until Kohring steps down to appoint a replacement, said Speaker of the House John Harris, R-District 12. However, she has 30 days after he leaves to find a new legislator.

Palin will pick from a selection of qualified voters from Wasilla provided by the Republican Party of Kohring's Wasilla district, said Randy Ruedrich, chairman of the Republican Party of Alaska.

&#8220Qualified requires a registered member of the outgoing legislator's party who has lived in district and been registered as a party member for one year prior to outgoing legislator's date of election,” Ruedrich said. State law would not allow Palin to pick a Democrat to replace Kohring.

Palin will be charged with choosing a replacement who can be ratified by majority of the House's remaining Republicans.

&#8220The process works,” Ruedrich said. &#8220It is pretty well time tested.”

Palin is not required to choose one of the replacements recomended by the Republican party, said Rex Shattuck, Republican Party member and aide to Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake.

The Republican Party has no legal recourse if Palin picks her own Republican replacement, Shattock said.

As to who could populate this short list of replacements, it is not yet known. Palin's pick will finish out Kohring's term, which expires in 2008.

Kohring was first elected to office in 1994. While the FBI was investigating him during last fall's election Kohring was re-elected in a a race against Wasilla's Katie Hurley.

Kohring was chair of the House Special Committee on Oil and Gas and oversaw the committee's review of Palin's Alaska Gas Inducement Act.

Kohring, 48, has lived in Alaska for the last 43 years.

Contact Russell Stigall at 352-2267 or russell.stigall@frontiersman.com.