This is the Winter of Our Discontent

Welcome to the winter of our discontent. Just ask Jim Elkins.

The almost state senator from Ketchikan received a fatal dose of caucus discipline after he stepped too far from the party line. The response was swift, the punishment was extreme and the damage control was deplorable.

This ride began when Senator Robin Taylor - who retired with two decades of service and a famous reputation as a critic of the state bureaucracy - gave up his senate seat to become a state bureaucrat.

Local Republican officials then submitted a list of four potential replacements.

On October 14, Governor Frank Murkowski appointed Jim Elkins from Ketchikan. In the press release Murkowski called Elkins a long time friend who “knows the communities, knows the issues and won’t be timid when it comes to standing up for his district in the senate”.

Elkins immediately flew to Anchorage to meet with senate leadership. After a brief interview he was congratulated with a handshake and sent home with a senator starter kit, which included keys to his new office and staff to answer the phone.

Upon his return to Ketchikan, the soon to be sworn in state senator began working his new job. He immediately began communicating with his constituents. He conducted radio interviews and attended constituent meetings. He listened to voters concerns, including seniors who lost their longevity bonus earlier this year.

Sadly, it was standing up for his district and representing his constituent’s that got Jim Elkins fired. A quote criticizing the governor for eliminating the longevity bonus landed in the media and landed Elkins out of a senate appointment.

Witnessing these events over the last few weeks, I was struck by a feeling of deja vou. I recalled the first time my quotes raised eyebrows and those who immediately responded with tips on proper press protocol. Apparently on some issues, it’s not a good thing when your quotes cause their constituent’s to ask questions.

But Jim Elkins quotes drew a more devastating response.

Initially the Governor’s spokesman said the appointment was revoked because of inappropriate comments Elkins made about his contributions as a life-long Republican supporter. A review of the taped comments shows they were taken out of context.

Next, a statement was released citing concerns from constituents. That drew an immediate and strongly worded response from local Republicans officials. Writing to the governor they defended Elkins keeping the nomination and questioned the timing of the purported concerns. “Once again, after the decision on the 20th (September), citizens could have spoken to you about concerns. For them to wait until after you had made your decision was disingenuous on their part”.

Days later, the governor admitted during a press conference it was because Elkins wasn’t a team player. “When you are appointed, obviously you’re appointed because there is an assumption you are going to be a team player. And everybody’s entitled to their own opinion and their own vote. But I think the team player aspect”.

The most disappointing aspect of this whole ordeal is that the governor really needs an independent voice in the senate. Jim Elkins appeared to have potential. His dismissal is unfortunate because in my opinion the last thing this governor needs is another team player that takes the field with their eyes and ears closed.

The reason the governor had to eliminate the longevity bonus program is because the legislature failed to balance the budget. The reason the legislature failed to balance the budget is because there was no leadership on the issue in the state senate.

It certainly seems one way to make progress would be to promote legislators that challenge the status quo. Having a Republican senator, who isn’t afraid to question the noticeable absence of fairness and progress that have become synonymous with legislative leadership, would be progress in itself.

Instead, almost state senator Jim Elkins (R-Ketchikan) was fired for saying what he needed to say. And equally as dissapointing, fired for doing what his constituents needed him to do.