Press Room
News Stories
Controversial Coconut Road earmark affecting Alaskan politics
By CHARLIE WHITEHEAD
Naples Daily News (Florida)
November 2, 2008
A controversial $10 million Southwest Florida earmark has become a big campaign issue.
In Alaska.
The 2005 earmark that Alaska Congressman Don Young had inserted in the federal transportation bill has already spawned a Justice Department investigation. According to local reports, it also has the 75-year-old representative, for 35 years the state’s only Congressman, battling for his political life.
Young narrowly won the Republican primary, besting Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell by only a few hundred votes. He faces challenger Ethan Berkowitz, a Democratic former state representative, on the Tuesday ballot. Berkowitz leads in polls.
The $10 million was originally slated to study a possible Coconut Road interchange on Interstate 75 in Estero. It came on the heels of a fundraiser in Estero that drummed up $40,000 for Young’s re-election campaign. Part of that money came from part-time Naples resident Daniel Aronoff, who owns 6 square miles that would have gotten direct I-75 access from the new interchange.
The Political Action Committee Club for Growth is running a TV ad featuring the earmark.
“It’s sad about Don Young,” says the ad. “Don Young pushed a $10 million spending earmark that would have benefited a developer in Florida, and the developer raised $40,000 for Young.”
“After 35 years, just another Washington politician,” it says.
Alaskan voters were also treated to a mailing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this week. The postcard says, ‘Greetings from Sunny Florida’ with typical Florida beach scenery featuring umbrellas and beach chairs.
“Dear Don Young, Thanks for the $10 million earmark for our road! I know those pesky local officials opposed it, but we sure loved it! I trust you received the $40,000 we raised for your campaign right before the earmark appeared mysteriously. Don’t worry about the Department of Justice’s criminal investigation I read about — Alaska won’t notice!” the card reads.
The card is signed: “Sincerely, Your Favorite (Florida) Friend, Special Interest.”
|
|
