Straddling candidacy and a senatorship

MAT-SU -- Senator Frank Murkowski recently visited the Valley and, in doing so, discussed his reasons for setting his senator position to the side and focusing his energy on a bid to become Alaska's next governor.

If Murkowski loses the governor's race, of course, he will return to Washington D.C. to serve out his term as Alaska's junior senator. But if he takes the race, he will be faced with the task of appointing a senator almost immediately to begin the 2002-2003 term in November.

Political pundits have taken Murkowski to task for not announcing who he plans to send in his stead -- and for not already making his announcement in order to give the replacement senator as much seniority as possible.

Of course, timing is a key issue. If Murkowski reveals his appointee too soon, he could sacrifice the votes of people who may not agree with his choice of a replacement. If he waits too long, however, the appointee will be just one face in the flood of new recruits heading to the nation's capital in November, and Alaskans will have to rely on the seniority of just one senator, Ted Stevens -- providing his reelection bid is successful.

But Murkowski said last week he's got no plans to announce a potential replacement.

"It's not an area we're going to address before the election," Murkowski said. "I haven't got a long list; I haven't got a short list."

Murkowski said he felt comfortable that Stevens and Rep. Don Young would sufficiently preserve Alaska's seniority in Washington D.C. He said of his prospective appointee only that he would "appoint someone who can hold the seat and can win the election in 2004."

Nevertheless, Murkowski said it was important to introduce a new Alaskan face to the nation's lawmakers -- especially because Alaska's senior senator and representative are, although few would like to recognize it, increasing in age.

"Ted and Don and I are all pretty much the same vintage," Murkowski said. "It's important to build seniority, too. If we were to lose it …"

Most Alaskans, including Murkowski, hesitate to put a voice to what may happen if Alaska did not receive the amount of federal dollars generally brought into the state.

More than $6.4 billion in federal funding came into Alaska in the 2001 fiscal year, about $10,000 per Alaskan. By contrast, California received nearly $189 billion in federal funding, about $5,500 per state resident.

Murkowski's campaign communications director, Dan Saddler, said those who request Murkowski to reveal a potential nomination are asking an unfair question -- Democrat opponent Fran

Ulmer is under no obligation to reveal who she may have in her cabinet if she is elected, and neither should Murkowski have to reveal who he would appoint as a senator -- or to any other position he would fill -- if elected governor.

In addition, Saddler said, those who claim it's unfair for Murkowski to appoint someone to fill his position are creating a double standard.

"Those who would ask Murkowski to step down from the Senate because it's not fair for one man to decide who should be appointed aren't considering that, if he were to step down, one man would still be making that decision -- Tony Knowles," Saddler said.