Recall effort under way

May 13, 2007

By Will Elliott

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Efforts to recall indicted Rep. Vic Kohring are under way in the Valley, headed by a Wasilla City Council member.

Mark Ewing, who occupies Seat F of the council, hopes to have a petition ready for submission to the Division of Elections early this week. If approved by the division, the petition would put a recall measure to vote. If recalled, Kohring would be replaced either by a vote of the people or by governor appointment, depending on how much time remained before the next scheduled election.

An appointed person would have to be from Kohring's Republican Party, so Ewing would not be eligible for the seat.

Kohring, who represents the greater Wasilla area and chaired the House Committee on Oil and Gas until fellow legislators stripped him of the position following his arrest May 4, is charged with federal counts of extortion, bribery and conspiracy relating to alleged favors performed for Alaska-based oil services company VECO.

VECO executives have pleaded guilty to bribing Kohring and other officials. Kohring has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

&#8220They're pleading guilty and he's pleading innocent? How does that work?” Ewing said.

According to Ewing, a recall vote is necessary because Kohring has said he will not resign from office. Gov. Sarah Palin, who lives in Kohring's home district, has said she thinks he should step down.

Kohring's term is scheduled to end in January 2009.

&#8220He's lost the trust of the voters,” Ewing said. &#8220I don't think he can be an effective leader. My hopes were that he'd step aside as asked. It's the honorable thing to do. But I don't know if honor plays a big factor with this man. If he doesn't understand the governor's request, then maybe he'll respond to the voters.”

Ewing wasn't sure of the timeline for a recall effort, or whether a measure to recall Kohring would appear by itself, or on a regularly scheduled ballot. Because the relevant officials at the Division of Elections have been unavailable this week, Ewing said, there have been some delays getting things moving.

The division was unable to speculate Friday on what a recall election might cost. According to Ewing, the length of time Kohring would remain in office otherwise demands a recall.

&#8220There would be costs associated with printing the petitions and such, but it's important. For him not to step aside brings shame and disgrace to members of the Valley,” Ewing said. &#8220It's no wonder they call us Valley Trash.”

Ethics bills were recently approved in both the House and Senate. The final version remains to be worked out.

Ewing said he questions the effectiveness of the proposed legislation, but ultimately supports it.

&#8220An ethics bill is only as strong as the person. But at this point, anything would be better than nothing,” he said.

Contact Will Elliott at 352-2250 or will.elliott@frontiersman.com.