Alaska needs Begich in Washington, D.C.

Last week, Sen. Ted Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury, about a year after his Girdwood home was raided by the FBI. It was truly a sad day for Alaska and for American politics.

He had to relinquish his leadership positions in the Senate, and I now doubt the continued effectiveness of our six-term senator. How the mighty have fallen.

He addressed the legislative special session a few weeks ago and spoke of power; the power of energy and the need for a winning energy strategy. I wish to address an energy issue he touched upon during his comments to our lawmakers: oil and gas leases and revenue-sharing.

The democratic candidate for the United States Senate, Mark Begich, recently spoke in Fairbanks and said that presently federal law does not allow Alaska to share in the revenues from off-shore oil and gas leases in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. In stark contrast, the states along the Gulf of Mexico receive 37.5 percent of the revenues generated by their leases under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act passed in 2006. Had Alaska been included in that legislation, we could have received more than $900 million in revenue based on the figures from the February 2008 sale of oil and gas leases along Alaska's Outer Continental shelf.

Where was Stevens during this end-run around our fiscal coffers? That is not a winning strategy. Are we still subject to minor state status when it comes to energy legislation by the federal government? What was compromised by our current congressional delegation which caused us to miss out on nearly a billion dollars?

In this energy arena there is a need for a Paladin, a protector of our realm. We need a visionary and proven advocate who will further not only our oil and gas leases, but lead in energy development and promote alternative energy. We need someone who can best implement ideas for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and harness wind generated and solar power which can set us on a course of improved energy distribution. We need Begich.

I am supporting Begich in his candidacy as Alaska's U.S. senator. He has demonstrated stellar leadership as mayor of Anchorage. He is a proven, intelligent negotiator with the ability to not just reach across the aisle and party lines, but to offer solutions and solve problems in order to champion Alaska's standing.

We need Begich in Washington, D.C., now more than ever.

Conrad A. Villegas

Juneau