KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Something fishy in Seward?

Something fishy in Seward?

by Sean Doogan
Monday, March 31, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Alaska SeaLife Center holds a three-day fishing tournament in order to raise money for research each year. Each year, Congressman Don Young attends.

This year happens to fall in an election cycle, though, and some believe a "Save the Date" flier the Seward center is circulating may cross the line into political advocacy by mentioning a Young fundraiser that will immediately follow the tournament.

The SeaLife Center has become home to both scientists and wild marine animals over the years. Both have directly benefited from receipt of hundreds of thousands of federally earmarked dollars.

Alaska's congressional delegation has been responsible for much of that funding.

Congressman Young will be the first to admit he supports the SeaLife Center, but as a 501-3C nonprofit organization, the research facility is prohibited from returning the favor.

However, a recent reminder was mailed out from the Alaska SeaLife Center's invited donors to the annual fishing tournament fundraiser along with a campaign event for Congressman Don Young.

The invitation has left state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux "flabbergasted."

LeDoux is running against Young in the Republican primary for Alaska's lone congressional seat.

She claims that inclusion of the Young fundraising event for his political action committee, the Midnight Sun PAC, is a clear legal violation.

"I'm pretty sure that those sorts of organizations are not supposed to engage in political fundraising and that's what it looks like this is," said LeDoux, R-Kodiak.

The fundraiser specifically mentions a train ride from Anchorage to Seward for the event.

Officials from the SeaLife Center deny any wrongdoing.

"The only reason we mention it is so that (people) know that is a transportation option for the way back up to Anchorage," SeaLife Center Development Manager Amy Haddow said.    

The Federal Elections Commission governs the actions of candidates and political action committees. Officials with the office say they can't confirm whether they are investigating the SeaLife flier and any ties to the Young campaign.

The Internal Revenue Service handles nonprofit regulations and would not comment on whether the flier is legal, either.

Congressman Young's campaign office would not comment for this story, nor would the Midnight Sun PAC.

However, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who also is running for Young's seat, did have something to say about the mailer.

"If it walks and quacks like a duck it probably is a duck, but I think there needs to be a hard line between our offices and the campaigns," Parnell said.

SeaLife officials say they vetted the flier's language through Linda Harrigan, a volunteer with the nonprofit.

Harrigan is also the chief fundraising officer for the Midnight Sun PAC, whose event is specifically referenced on the flier.

She had no comment on the flier or whether it crossed the line into advocacy.

Contact Sean Doogan at sdoogan@ktuu.com