Ted Stevens files for reelection in Alaska: Two strong opponents include a wealthy GOP Capitalist and a Moderate Republican on Democrat line

by Eric Dondero

The Anchorage Daily News is reporting that embattled US Senator Ted Stevens has officially filed for re-election.

U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in Senate history, filed for re-election today.

The 84-year-old Stevens, who also is under a federal investigation, filed his paperwork at the state elections office in Anchorage.

Stevens is the most powerful elected official in Alaska state history.

He was appointed to the Senate in 1968, won election two years later in a special election and has been re-elected six times.

Federal authorities are investigating the senator's ties to a corrupt oil services contractor who helped remodel Stevens' official residence in Girdwood. Stevens hasn't been charged and said he paid all bills presented to him.

Stevens has two potentially strong challengers, one on the Republican side, and the other on the Democrat line.

David Cuddy (photo right) is a former state legislator who ran against Stevens in the primary in 1996. He is part of a famed Alaska Banking family, and spent over $1 million on the race against Stevens in that race. According the ADN: "Cuddy said his message of small government and personal responsibility would resonate."

Meanwhile, Ray Metcalfe (photo left), Founder of the Alaska Moderate Republican Party has been running against Stevens for months. Ironically, Metcalfe has chosen to run on the Democrat line instead of the GOP primary. He is running as a "Joe Lieberman Independent Democrat" of sorts.

Metcalfe has been a gadfly in Alaska politics on the infamous VECO - big oil money funneled to legislators - scandal for years. With FBI raids and files being charged against many of these legislators, Metcalfe has been largely vindicated.

What's of most interest to libertarians, is Metcalfe's ties to the State Libertarian Party. He's a frequent guest speaker at Libertarian Party of Alaska functions and even attendee at local LPA Anchorage weekly meetings. Metcalf is a bit of a "bar fly"; A regular at downtown Anchorage pubs. He's a close friend and ally of longtime Libertarian Party of Alaska stalwart and former State LP Chairman Scott Kohlhaas.

There's the interesting possibility if Cuddy fails to beat Stevens in the primary, of a defection of libertarian and reform-minded GOPers to Metcalfe. Perhaps the State Libertarian Party may also list Metcalfe on their ballot line, or at least endorse their longtime friend.

If that were the case, we could see the makings of the Nation's first "Libertarian-Republican-Democrat" in the US Senate.


EDITOR'S COMMENT & DISCLOSURE: I am an aquaintance of Ray Metcalfe. During our late 2006 Libertarian Party effort to overturn the Anchorage smoking ban in which I served as a petitioner/coordinator, Ray and I met on many occasions at downtown Anchorage pubs and political events including the Sarah Palin for Governor Victory Party. We also attended a Christmas party with my old friend Scott Kohlhaas at an Anchorage home. Ray is first class! He's a very likeably guy, and he's right on the money on the vast majority of issues of importance to libertarians; gun control, taxes, Marijuana reform, ending the Military draft ect... Sometimes there are Democrats worthy of support. They are few and far between. Tim Penny of Minnesota comes to mind. In this instance, with Stevens under a cloud of scandal, unless Cuddy pulls it out in the primary, this may be one time that all Alaska libertarians may have to end up voting 'D'. Heresy, I know. But it could be a justified vote if the Libertarian Party of Alaska endorses Metcalfe, and certainly if they place him on their ballot line.