I have recently covered Republican corruption in Alaska, focusing first on the VECO scandal [1] that seems to involve a big chunk of the Republican Party in Alaska, then on Don Young [2], the corrupt Republican Congressman from Alaska. Don Young may be one of the most endangered Republicans in Congress today, dogged by the FBI, a Republican Primary...and Diane Benson: (video and much of the below info compiled from her website [3])
Diane Benson is very strong on important and progressive issues such as ending the Iraq War, veteran's benefits, developing and conserving the environment and extending quality health care and insurance to all. She is also a staunch supporter of the SCHIP program and of legislation to control the pharmaceutical industry. She would be a kick ass addition to the Democratic Congress and does not represent business as usual.
Diane Benson is one tough woman from a working class background. A member of the Tlingit Nation, Diane grew up in Southeastern Alaska in foster homes and boarding school as well as logging camps with her father and in Sitka with her grandparents. She began volunteer work with senior citizens at Ketchikan Hospital at the age of 12, and although often homeless (she refused to rely on charity), worked a variety of social service oriented jobs with the underprivileged and the elderly until she took a position with the Fairbanks Native Association. At the age of 18 she was the youngest person to ever serve on the FNA Executive Board, and was invited by then U.S. Senator Mike Gravel to work in Washington D.C. Thereafter, she acquired a job as one of the first women tractor-trailer truck drivers on the Alaska pipeline in 1975.
Diane paid for two years of college by driving trucks in the early 80's as Alaska's first female union concrete-mixer driver. She was a proud member of Local 959 - Teamster Union.
The birth of her son in 1979 was her driving force to improve her life. She not only survived, she became stronger. She did volunteer research work for the Berger Commission, was Public Relations Director for UTA, and 1986-1988 was a Para-legal for Alaska Legal Services. Through the 1990's Diane ran Northern Stars Talent Agency doggedly promoting Alaska's talent in feature films and commercials nationally and internationally. Because Diane understood first hand the trauma of violence, she found herself often invited to speak on justice for victims of crime, breaking the silence, and finding hope and dignity in survival. In the spring of 2007 she completed co-production on a video, "Healing Child Sexual Abuse."
Diane is the mother of one son who served in the Iraq war until he was severely wounded, losing both his legs from a roadside bomb. The time she spent watching her son's recovery and visiting with other injured veterans played a large part in her decision to run for Congressional office, and which has shaped many of her ideas surrounding the Iraq war, terrorism, homeland security, and Veterans' benefits.
Diane has been endorsed by Senators Max Cleland and Mike Gravel, Governor Bill Richardson and the National Women's Political Caucus.
For my fellow New Yorkers, I am on the host committee of a fundraiser for Diane tomorrow evening [4], March 18th, in Manhattan (click on above link for more info). On March 20th you can hear Diane and her opponents at a forum on fisheries sponsored by ComFish at the Kodiak High School Auditorium (go here for more info [5]). I suspect Diane will shine in this forum...being the only candidate who has actually BEEN a commercial fisherman. And if you want to help elect Diane to Congress, you can donate at my Alaska Act Blue site [6]. If you really want to shake up Congress, sending a tough, working class woman and mother of a disabled Iraq War Veteran is the way to do it.
[7] | 
[8] | 
[9] | 
[10] | 
[11] | 
[12]