Stevens conviction depressing for Alaska

WASILLA — When news broke Monday that U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens was found guilty on all seven counts in his federal corruption trial, the mood among local politicians was somber.

“He’s been a senator since I was probably in second grade, so it’s obvious that’s a big jolt,” said Bill Stoltze, an incumbent Republican representing Butte and Chugiak who faces challenger Beverly Serrano in November’s election.

Stevens, 84, has been a fixture in Alaska politics since statehood and has been in the Senate for 40 years. He was convicted Monday of all seven counts he faced regarding gifts prosecutors said he accepted from oil field services company VECO but did not report on federal disclosure forms.

During his turn on the witness stand, Stevens said he never knew he wasn’t being billed for the gifts, which included work done expanding his Girdwood home. Stevens is not required to resign from the Senate or drop out of his race for re-election.

The seven-term senator released a statement shortly after 2:30 p.m. Monday proclaiming his innocence and vowing to fight on in his bid to retain his U.S. Senate seat. Stevens also cited numerous instances of what he deemed “prosecutorial misconduct” in the month-long trial.

“I will fight this unjust verdict with every ounce of energy I have,” Stevens says in the statement. “I remain a candidate for the United States Senate. I will come home on Wednesday and ask for your vote.”

His Democratic opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, also released a statement Monday afternoon regarding the verdict, but did not mentioning Stevens by name,

“This past year has been a difficult time for Alaskans, but our people are strong and resilient and I believe that we will be able to move forward together to address the critical challenges that face Alaska,” Begich says in his statement.

From the campaign trail, where she is seeking election to the U.S. vice presidency, Gov. Sarah Palin also issued a written reaction to Stevens’ conviction.

“The verdict shines a light on the corrupting influence of the big oil service company that was allowed to control too much of our state,” she says. “It was part of the culture of corruption I was elected to fight. And that fight must always move forward regardless of party or seniority or even past service. I’m confident Sen. Stevens will do what’s right for the people of Alaska.”

State Rep. Mark Neuman, who represents Houston, Talkeetna and points in between and is facing a challenge from Democrat Lew Dischner in November, was, much like Stoltze, saddened by the news of Stevens’ conviction.

“I guess I feel disappointment. Sen. Stevens has done so much for the state of Alaska, just so much for the state of Alaska and, I don’t know, I’m just in kind-of disbelief,” Neuman said.

Neither Stoltze nor Neuman had heard the news before a reporter called about 2 p.m. Monday.

Kevin Brown, head of the Mat-Su Democrats, said he was also saddened by the news.

“To be honest. it’s just another sad day,” Brown said. “I think that for a long time now Alaskans have really been embarrassed by this whole experience and it’s just one more embarrassing moment for the people of Alaska.”

Asked if Stevens’ conviction will have any reverberations locally, Brown said he thought it would.

“I think that it’s going to have some impact on the local races, definitely,” he said. “It’s another black eye for the Republican Party.”

Neuman, for one, begged to differ.

“Political party has nothing to do with who I am and the decisions I make,” Neuman said. “This is Ted Stevens’ race, not Mark Neuman’s race.”

Stoltze said that, far from being a black eye for the party, he didn’t think party affiliation had anything to do with Stevens’ trial or his work in the Senate.

“This is not about party. Ted Stevens has been a central figure in our state. … I don’t view it as a party issue,” Stoltze said. “And that’s because I don’t think Ted Stevens was by any means a partisan politician in how he did things for Alaska and never has been.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com.