OOC:
Wow......This is finally it. All of the states, done.
When I posted the first 535 back in April, I had the idea that each state would be handled by an native of that state. That didn't really happen. So I decided to take these on myself, just hoping to get 25 done. I never thought that I would get to 50.
Anyways, I need to thank two people in particular: Tim Thomason and KahukuMan10. Tim has been an invaluable resource, especially as I researched Illinois, and KMan not only injected a great amount of energy into the project, but also took care of California, a massive undertaking that I would have spent a vast majority of my time on. Their work is excellent. Gentlemen, I want to thank you both sincerely. I'd probably still be trying to figure out Texas if not for you both.
A special mention should go out to xxmagex for handling Kentucky.
Alright, final state-Alaska. The three main 535 writers each contributed to this article-KMan took Bruce, Tim designed Cantina, and I wrote the opener and Woodside. This article is set as of Election Day, so it's Tuesday, November 11th.
Thanks all for reading-I hope that you've enjoyed the articles.
And now: Alaska!
IC:
Post #50 of 50.
It's Election Day, finally!
Alright, before we finish off with Alaska, we have a lot of people to thank. The writers of the reports, In order of the states that we did them in:
Matthew Evans, Indiana;
Sarah Caldwell, Oregon;
Abner Vorhees, South Carolina;
John Graham, Maine;
David Lewis, Maryland;
Lee Wallace, Montana;
Richard Blue, Arizona;
Tim O'Sullivan, Massachusetts;
Parker LaRouche, California;
Kelly Na'lani, Hawaii;
Mark O'Donnell, New York;
Frank Grimes, New Hampshire;
Steve Noland, Florida;
Harry Gardner, Pennsylvania;
Carol Washington and Roger Greene, Illinois;
Lena Kiel, Washington State;
Katie Witt, North Carolina;
Ashley Moore, Nevada;
Tom Baldwin, Rhode Island;
Chuck Axe, New Mexico;
Nina Malone, Connecticut;
Bobby Lee Bowling, Oklahoma;
Will Kaeding, Virginia;
Courtney Sherman, Colorado;
Frank Giaccone, New Jersey;
Rich Cheney, Wyoming;
Jeffrey Brooks, Minnesota;
J.D. Damon, Kentucky;
Ernest Rogers, Iowa;
Reno Lutui, Utah;
David Robbins, Michigan;
Phil Grady, Idaho;
Frank Kellogg, North Dakota;
Jennifer Turner, Alabama;
Mel Drucker, Georgia;
Dave Dernazza, Louisiana;
Bill Lawrence, Nebraska;
Chris Procter, Kansas;
Cassie Ooten, Arkansas and West Virginia;
Jeff Callum, Tennessee;
and Ross Lott, Mississippi.
A special thanks has to go out to Vice President Wendell Tripplehorn and Congressman Matthew Skinner for agreeing to cover their respective states, South Dakota and Vermont. Also an additional heads-up to our staffers, Lucy Horn and Tim Kauffman for covering their home states of Missouri and Delaware, and to me as well, for covering Ohio. Also a sincerest Thank You to every member of the Texas Congressional Delegation who submitted answers for the Texas segment. Innumerable other writers contributed to the reports, and we'd like to thank them as well.
So, we're finally to the last state in the Union, and the farthest north, the Last Frontier, Alaska. The wildness is covered by Sean Berquist, a key reporter for the
Juneau Empire, who I'm also going to thank.
There's literally only hours left, so I'm going to get started right away.
Sean Bruce, Democrat.
Residence: Anchorage
Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Armed Services, Energy and Natural Resources (Ranking Democrat)
Wait, what? An Alaskan Democrat? Not too uncommon actually. As Alaska was originally supposed to be a democratic stronghold when it entered the union, ah well. Mr Bruce has a very impressive record in the Senate, he's held true to the fiscal policies of the New-Deal democrats as he's been in this seat since the late 1969. He's shifted around different committees, and was the Majority Whip from 1982-1990 before deciding he wanted to focus on local issues. He was a captain in the US Navy during the later years of WW2 and the Korean War, and has become a decorated war hero for the people of Alaska. First elected in 1968, many suspected he'd hold the seat till he died. But his quest for an unprecedented 8th term, was stalled, and likely killed by Ms. Sorah Wheeler. Wheeler, the Alaskan House Speaker, is a mainstream republican, and its a little odd that she is winning this race considering how popular Bruce is. He still has 55/40 approval/disapproval ratings, but Ms. Wheeler seems poised to take over the seat
Robert Cantina
Elected: 2006 (special election; 2nd term)
Residence: North Pole
Cantina was appointed Senator after Senator Franklin Stephen Gaines sudden retirement in 2006. He won a full term in 2008 with minimal opposition. The ideological opposite of Gaines, Cantina ran on the idea that Gaines' social security reform was wrong for the nation and would work to repeal it. His efforts to repeal the bipartisan Gaines-Turner Bill failed, and Cantina has instead followed lock-step behind Senate Majority Leader Robert Royce, hoping to gain leadership positions in the near-future. Cantina was one of the more vocal opponents of the Santos administration, a fact that barred him from working with the White House at any point since 2006. However, as a former teacher, he was one of the few Republicans to support the Santos education plan in 2007.
At-Large Congressman:Franklin Woodside:
Independent Democrat.
Residence: Anchorage; Elected: 1994.
Committee Assignments: Armed Services; Veteran's Affairs; Energy and Commerce.
Franklin Woodside should be Vice President right now, but he's not. It's a crying shame, but what are you going to do?
Woodside is an excellent Congressman, and maintains his "man of the people" act better than anyone. As he still owns his bookstore in Anchorage, and works there when he's not in Washington, Woodside takes the time to get to know his constituent's, and will speak with anyone who comes in the store.
Woodside, though he has never graduated from college, is a well-educated man, and a enormous reader. He's especially knowledgeable about military history, ranging from the Roman Empire to the Revolutionary War. Woodside is also a devotee of 'alternate history,' in which certain events happen differently, and so history is changed. He's contributed to several alternate history articles as well, including one where the United States does not buy Alaska (This became a problem when Woodside was accused of being part of the Alaskan Independence Party, a charge he vehemently denied). Woodside had a bit of a problem when he acquired both a US Cavalry saber and a Revolutionary War flintlock rifle, and displayed them in his Washington office, which caused both the Capitol and DC Police to freak out a bit, but the issue was smoothed over fairly quickly.
Woodside has claimed allegiance to the Democratic Party, but he's never been what you could call a party man. He's a major supporter of the military, and has argued against defense cuts, stating "Fiscal responsibilities are nice, but the defense budget should never be the first target. Are there problems with the budget? Probably, but there are other, more sensible cuts that can be made first." Woodside was one of the more prominent voices arguing for President Bartlet to respond with force against the Palestinians after the CODEL bombings in Gaza (Woodside himself is one of the more notable travelers in Congress, as he's participated in several dozen Congressionally sponsored trips throughout the globe). While he certainly can't be cast as an "environmental advocate," Woodside does hold some moderating positions on the environment-He's argued that global warming is a real problem, and needs to be stopped, and has also argued (quietly) against drilling in ANWR. He's never opposed the oil companies in an outright fashion though-That would be political suicide in Alaska.
Woodside is socially conservative-He's against gay marriage, and abortion in most cases, while he supports the rights of gun owners to a major degree. However, he's also argued for reforms in education (Likely his wife's influence) and health care as well.
However, he's made his main mark in military policy. Woodside has continually argued for stronger support for military forces, and stronger methods of veteran's support groups. Strangely, he's joined with New York Congressman Mark Richardson in sponsoring a bill for the reinstatement of the draft, saying that "The military changed me for the better, made me the man I am today. Every young man should serve time in the military, and it would make our country a better place."
Like I said earlier, Woodside should be Vice President right now, or at least have had a chance to be on the ballot. His Independent run with Nicholas Alexander was quite inspiring, and Woodside is still reported to be furious that Alexander quit. He would have made an excellent Vice President, and those tax "problems" I think were really a load of BS, part of the scandal obsession within our political media's culture-Everybody wants to be the next Woodward or Bernstein. Anyways, Woodside will win reelection easily, even though he's already announced that he will caucus with the Democrats.
Well, that's all of the states. Now get out there and vote!
). They started in the late 90s I think, are sporadic through the early hundreds, but hit there stride in the 110s. Go for a look.