Mayor of Somewhere Starts a New Job.
1 06 2009
Congratulations to Bob Weinstein who started his new job in the Southeast offices of Senator Mark Begich today!
Weinstein, the mayor of Ketchikan since 1997, will be based in Ketchikan working as the field representative for southern Southeast Alaska. Weinstein is currently the chair of the Southeast Alaska Power Agency. Weinstein moved to Ketchikan in 1974 where he was a teacher and superintendent with the Southeast Island School District. He has also served on the Ketchikan City Council.
Mudflatters know him as the first to speak up in a national forum about Sarah Palin’s dubious “Thanks, but no thanks to that Bridge to Nowhere” claims. He told it like it was waaaaaay back on September 1, 2008, just three days after Palin’s infamous speech.
When she was running for governor in 2006, Palin said she was insulted by the term “bridge to nowhere,” according to Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein, a Democrat, and Mike Elerding, a Republican who was Palin’s campaign coordinator in the southeast Alaska city.
“People are learning that she pandered to us by saying, I’m for this’ … and then when she found it was politically advantageous for her nationally, abruptly she starts using the very term that she said was insulting,” Weinstein said. [snip]
Palin’s cessation of work on the controversial project is what earned her hearts and flowers from fiscal conservatives across the nation.
The state, however, never gave back any of the money that was originally earmarked for the Gravina Island bridge, said Weinstein and Elerding.
In fact, the Palin administration has spent “tens of millions of dollars” in federal funds to start building a road on Gravina Island that is supposed to link up to the yet-to-be-built bridge, Weinstein said.
“She said ‘thanks but no thanks,’ but they kept the money,” said Elerding about her applause line.
For a fun flashback, you can read Open Left’s analysis of the post on Mudflats back in early September HERE. I was too busy at the time, and never even saw it until now.
So, a big congrats and a snappy salute to Bob Weinstein and also Chris Ashenbrenner who begin their new work for the Senator. Do good, and best of luck!
June 1st, 2009 at 2:39 PM
That was a treat reading the post from Open Left. Hard to believe there was a time, just 8 months ago, that many of us didn’t know anything about Sarah Palin, and revelations like this were such an eyeopener!
Mudflats was what opened my eyes, too, and I have checked in every day since…
June 1st, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Palin is such an idiot. It’s not a bridge to nowhere. It’s a bridge connection Ketchikan to it’s airport. It’s *basic infrastructure*.
I’m glad it’s getting built, Ketchikan needs that bridge. And SCREW Sarah Palin.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:03 PM
So , correct me if I’m looking at this wrong , but if Bob and Chris are working for U.S. Senator Begich , they are kinda working for the , dare I say , “feds”. The least is that they can give reports back to D.C. on what a fine job {hack-cough} sarah is doing.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:57 PM
It seems so much longer that it’s difficult to accept that Palin has only been on my radar for 9 months. It didn’t even take 9 days to totally have had too much of her.
It sounds like Sen Begich is doing a good job of establishing a network of effective people to work with his constituents. It’s good to know you have senators who remember whom they represent.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Bob Weinstein is a long time friend of my best friend, and I admire him tremendously! When I heard the news, I was almost as torn as when Kim Elton left our Juneau Senator’s post – it’s a very mixed emotion. I’m happy that he has this chance to move on to something new and very exciting (lucky Senator Begich!) but I know the progressive voices in Ketchikan will greatly miss him. Some of Bob’s best traits are a sharp wit, and a no-nonsense attitude. He’s not the kind of politician you would try to pull your fakey little SP tricks on – he would just call you a fakey little SP wannabe and why would you ever wannabe SP?
Go Bob – I’m sure that there will a mother of all send off parties in KTN! The combined power and intelligence of Begich, Weinstein and Knowles will become more and more of a formidable voice the good guys. Keep an eye on them… and after I’m done crying and wiping away the tears, I will too!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:00 PM
@ austintx
The Queen of Fluff isn’t going to get any good reviews from these guys!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Martha UYS–Bob gets to stay in Ktn and run the Southern SE from there (from the link above):
Bob Weinstein, the Mayor of Ketchikan since 1997, will be based in Ketchikan working as the field representative for southern Southeast Alaska. Chris Ashenbrenner, currently the Executive Director for Public Safety’s Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, will be based in Juneau working as the field representative for northern Southeast Alaska.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Sounds like things are coming along nicely with getting some competent people in office. It’s about time – best of luck to Bob.
I enjoyed the walk down memory lane – well, as much as one can enjoy reading about SP’s entry onto the national stage. And I do remember reading all that. I think when I stumbled on Mudflats thanks to a friend sending me the link, I was so fascinated and aghast that I spent time reading through all the posts. It still amazes me that McCain’s crew were so sloppy and inept. Well, maybe it really doesn’t.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Congratulations to Mr. Weinstein. Who is the mayor of Ketchikan now? Another progressive? IF so, we all win. In any case, it’s good to know that Sen. Begich has good help back home.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Thanks InJuneau – you totally busted me for not reading the whole post! I am so glad to hear that! I had just heard the announcement before heading off to CA where I am now. Woo hoo – that’s much better!! Go Bob, go Ketchikan!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Good news for “nowhere”, one hopes.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Oh, the cryptic answer to that clue is “Alaska”.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Hee hee – I just heard a report that there WAS a Good Riddance Party for Bob. Can’t say more since minions read here, but a good time was had by all!
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Frank Murkowski’s wife own the property that the Ketchikan bridge would connect with on Gravina Island..it is also interesting to see who owns the property that the proposed bridge across the Inlet to Mat-Su would land on…hmmm?