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Senate Democrats reject Palin's second choice for empty seat

by Rhonda McBride and Associated Press wire reports
Friday, April 10, 2009

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Democrats in the state Senate rejected Gov. Sarah Palin's second nomination for Juneau's vacant Senate seat on Friday.

The Senate majority announced they would not accept Palin's choice -- Joe Nelson -- for the seat, which was left open when former Sen. Kim Elton left to take a job in President Barack Obama's administration.

That means Juneau is still without a senator -- more than a month after Elton left to join the Department of the Interior.

In a letter to Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, majority leader Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, said Nelson did not achieve the necessary support to be seated. The letter requests that Palin appoint another person for consideration.

"I just don't really know this person," Elllis said. "They're an unknown political quantity, so I didn't feel like that was the right thing to do. But for the person to fill the seat it would be better if they had the support of the community."

Palin said she's disappointed, adding that she thought Nelson was a young, educated, qualified and dynamic candidate.

Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, said he's frustrated and disappointed in the outcome of the vote. Hoffman says Joe Nelson, who is an Alaska Native, is an up-and-coming leader.

Nelson is a college admissions director at the University of Alaska-Southeast and holds a law degree. He is also the husband of former Bethel Rep. Mary Nelson.

Hoffman said it's clear that politics are being played to the detriment of the people of Juneau.

Palin said she would restart the vetting process, and didn't rule out the Juneau Democrats' preferred candidate, Juneau Rep. Beth Kerttula, and the other three names on the list the local party sent her.

However, Palin said she wonders if the other three are interested in the job.

Palin had earlier selected legislative aide Tim Grussendorf for the job over Kerttula, and Democrats also rejected him.

She has until April 20 to select another name.

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