Politicians and economy top newsmakers in 2009: projects advance for natural gas pipeline and mega mine.

• Author: Bohi, Heidi
• Position: YEAR IN REVIEW

BEGICH JOINS SENATE, STEVENS CONVICTION VACATED

"Forty years. It's hard to believe that so much time could pass so quickly, but it has. And I want everyone listening to know that I treasure every moment I've spent here representing Alaska and Alaskans, the land and the people that I love."

On Nov. 20, 2008, former Sen. Ted Stevens delivered these words as part of his last speech to the Senate after losing the election Nov. 4, 2008, to Democrat Mark Begich by 3,724 votes, making him the first U.S. senator from Alaska to be defeated in a general election, the longest-serving U.S. senator ever to lose a re-election bid, and the longest-serving Republican senator in the United States.

Barely a week before the elections, Stevens was found guilty on seven counts of failing to properly report gifts, a felony related to renovations to his home and alleged gifts from VECO Corp. claimed to be worth more then $250,000. Citing prosecutorial misconduct during the trial, the U.S. Attorney General decided to drop all charges against Stevens in April--an action that vacated his conviction. There was no new trial in the case.

Alaska Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich issued a partisan call for Begich to resign so a special election could be held, saying the only reason Begich won was because "a few thousand Alaskans thought that Senator Stevens was guilty of seven felonies," and had it not been for the misconduct, Stevens' Senate seat would not have been in jeopardy. The call for a resignation and special election was a public relations stunt that lasted one news cycle, Julie Hasquet, Begich's press secretary says. "Nothing came of it because it was a ridiculous proposition."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Some say Stevens' departure was a travesty. Some say it was just time. What everyone agrees on is that Stevens helped make the state what it is today and his congressional tenure will go down as one of the most significant events in Alaska's history.

"Senator Stevens had served Alaska well for many years, but in the last few years before the election he had become more and more out of touch with Alaskans and their needs," Hasquet says. "We heard over and over in the campaign, that people didn't feel represented anymore. They were tired of the good-old-boys network, meetings behind closed doors, and politics as usual in Washington."

Opinions aside, what it does mean is that for the first time since 1980, Alaskans have a Democrat representing them at a time when the president and congressional leadership are Democrats and in the majority. Alaskans now have representation in both parties.

"My motto has always been 'to hell with politics, just do what's right for Alaska.' And I've tried every day to live up to those words." This was one of many quotes that "Uncle Ted" was known for and indicative of a style of leadership that even his wife says was often less than diplomatic. As Begich prepares to complete his first year on Capitol Hill, while he may have a little more tact when it comes to delivery, like his predecessor, he is known for keeping his eye on the prize when it comes to representing Alaskans. In his first year, his accomplishments ranged from supporting the Economic Recovery Act, resulting in more than $1.2 billion dollars worth of investments in Alaska, to helping Alaska's military men, women and veterans as a member of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committees, securing funding for the missile defense program at Fort Greely, and joining with other moderate, independent-minded senators to hold the line on federal spending.

"Senator Begich is a fierce advocate for Alaska and isn't shy about standing up for the state, even if it means bucking long-held traditions in the Senate," Hasquet says. "He doesn't believe you have to do the business the same old way--you can bring a new approach--and it's working."

GOVERNOR RESIGNS

Gov. Sarah Palin to Sarah Balin' all in the course of a year. How many state governors sweep worldwide headlines just because they quit their job? As far as we know, there's only one.

It's hard to remember a time when Palin wasn't one of America's favorite...