According to local source Stevens was federally indicted in July on seven felony charges for allegedly not reporting more than a quarter of a million dollars in gifts from oil executives on Senate disclosure forms. It is said that the Senator is facing his toughest reelection campaign to date during his 40 years in office against popular Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich.
According to Stevens he is appreciative of the continued support from Alaskan fishing groups, which includes last week’s endorsements by the Alaska Seine Boat Owners, Alaska Crab Coalition, Alaska Whitefish Trawlers Association, Alaska Independent Tenderman’s Association, Southeast Alaska Seiners Association, Western Gulf of Alaska Fishermen, Fishing Vessel Owners Association, and Alaska Scallop Association.
Stevens explained that it’s a very difficult situation to deal with so the endorsements are absolutely important this year because they’re saying that they’re going to try to convince their people to continue to vote for me despite these assertions that have been made that are going to be heard in court in the next month. Robert Thorstenson, executive director of the nonprofit Southeast Alaska Seiners Association, told that Stevens has an “unparalleled” voting record when it comes to Alaska fisheries issues, citing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 that established the 200-mile fishing boundary off the coasts of the United States.
Julie Hasquet, press secretary for the Begich Campaign, added that the Anchorage mayor has been campaigning around the state and meeting with fishermen that are growing increasingly concerned with issues related to fisheries. She said that Begich is still formulating a comprehensive fisheries plan that he will unveil in the next couple of weeks.
