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Metcalfe to run for U.S. House seat

by Bill McAllister
Sunday, July 29, 2007

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska Democratic Party Chairman Jake Metcalfe has announced that he's a candidate for Alaska's sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat has been held by Republican Don Young since 1973

Late last night, on the verge of a flight to Washington, D.C., Metcalfe made his intentions known.

Metcalfe is focusing on Young's mounting legal troubles, including a federal investigation into the congressman's ties with VECO Corp., the oilfield services company at the center of a public corruption probe in Alaska.

Earlier this week, Metcalfe unveiled a new Democratic Party Web site, dropdon.com, that highlights Young's association with indicted and convicted players in Washington.

Metcalfe said he assumes Young will run for re-election, but he does not need to observe any presumption of innocence in the congressman's case.

"If it were just one incident, I think I could agree to that, but there are multiple incidences of him being involved in unethical or possibly criminal behavior, and he is under criminal investigation. So, it is not just one thing, it's a lot of things, and it has become an embarrassment to Alaska," Metcalfe said.

Former House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz, who is considering a congressional campaign in 2008, said he's not certain Young will run for re-election.

"I've said all along that I'm going to work with other candidates in the field, particularly with Mayor Begich, to try and field the best possible candidates. I think Mayor Begich and myself represent the two strongest candidates," Berkowitz said. "But, I've also felt all along that we cannot continue to conduct partisan politics the way it's been done in Washington, D.C., and it's very important to elect someone who can be a voice for all Alaskans, not just one political party or another."

Begich was out of town and his staff said he was unavailable for comment.

Young's campaign manager, Steve Dougherty, said they won't be commenting until Metcalfe is officially a candidate.

Metcalfe told Channel 2 News he plans to file his letter of intent tomorrow morning in Washington D.C.

The move will make Metcalfe the second Democrat to announce a campaign against Young. Last year's nominee, Diane Benson, is running again.

"Being an unexpected newcomer, I stirred it up and revealed that Don was vulnerable," Benson said. "Now that it's been made clear -- and I think Don has a done a lot of that to himself of late -- that more and more candidates are going to appear from every direction. On the other hand, I'm the one who's been out there."

With Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich also pondering his political options next year, Benson predicts things will get interesting.

"It'll be a spirited primary," Benson said.

Contact Bill McAllister at bmcallister@ktuu.com