Fuglvog: I'm loyal to Lisa

Here's an open letter to the Alaska seafood industry from Arne Fuglvog, a former commercial fisherman and aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who's mounting a write-in bid for re-election. Fuglvog didn't send this to Deckboss; a reader did.

Oct. 28, 2010

Members of the fishing industry,

There are lots of rumours flying during election season, but one that I feel compelled to respond to, is whether I would take a job with Joe Miller or Scott McAdams, if either one is successful in winning the upcoming election.

I have been extremely honored to work for Lisa Murkowski for the past four years. She took a chance on me, when she did not know if I could do the job. She has been such a pleasure to work for and I have the utmost respect for her. Her tremendous support of the fishing industry, our fishing families and coastal communities is unquestionable. I have watched her assume the mantle of Ted Stevens in being the go-to Senator on Alaskan fishing issues.

I did not know Lisa Murkowski when I took the job in DC. I had a very good sense of who I thought she was, but during the four years of working for her, I have truly grown to respect and admire her. I would not work for any other Senator in Washington DC. It is such a personal job and you have to trust and believe in the person you are working for. You don't have to agree with everything that they do or believe in, but you must believe in their honesty, integrity and motives. There is not one question in my mind about Lisa Murkowski's honesty, integrity and willingness to do absolutely everything she can to help Alaska and her constituents.

So, to put this one to bed, I would ONLY work for Senator Lisa Murkowski in Washington DC. Period.

Regards,

Arne Fuglvog

UFA still likes Murkowski

United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's top commercial fishing trade group, has again endorsed the re-election bid of Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

UFA initially backed Murkowski prior to her primary loss to Joe Miller.

Lisa's back in

Having lost the Republican primary to a Tea Party challenger, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski today said she'll stand as a write-in candidate in the Nov. 2 general election.

McAdams goes fishing for U.S. Senate seat

All the hubbub over the still undecided Republican primary battle between Sen. Lisa Murkowski and challenger Joe Miller has overshadowed the winner among Democrats, Scott McAdams.

So who is Scott McAdams?

He's mayor of the City and Borough of Sitka. And not surprisingly for a coastal Alaskan, he's had a hand in commercial fishing.

From his website: "Scott spent his elementary years in Petersburg, and spent his young adult years working as a commercial fishing deckhand around the state. He credits these years as instilling an appreciation for hard work, as well as a deep admiration for Alaska's commercial fishing heritage."

Fishing industry put its money behind Murkowski

Deckboss believes it's safe to say Alaska's commercial fishing industry is feeling somewhat distressed over the strong possibility that U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has lost her job.

Less than 1,700 votes separates her and challenger Joe Miller as election officials prepare to count absentee ballots from Tuesday's Republican primary. That'll take some days.

Murkowski says she's not about to concede to the conservative Fairbanks lawyer, who rode Tea Party power to his surprising lead.

Murkowski has been in the Senate since 2002.

The fishing industry was firmly behind her re-election, based on my cursory review of campaign finance disclosures on file with the Federal Election Commission.

The list of donors is a who's who of the industry, with $500 checks coming from executives of such firms as American Seafoods, Icicle Seafoods, Trident Seafoods, Glacier Seafoods, Alaskan Leader Fisheries, Fishermen's Finest, Alyeska Seafoods, UniSea, Ocean Beauty Seafoods and Alaska General Seafoods.

I also saw some top Bering Sea crabbers on the donor list, and leaders of such trade organizations as the the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, the At-sea Processors Association and the Groundfish Forum.

Two of the state's top organizations representing commercial fishermen and ports, United Fishermen of Alaska and the Marine Conservation Alliance, endorsed Murkowski.

She's been regarded as an emerging leader on fisheries policy since Ted Stevens lost his Senate seat in 2008. One of Murkowski's aides is Arne Fuglvog, a former Petersburg commercial fisherman who last year was in the running to become the Obama administration's pick to head the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Now it appears both Murkowski and Fuglvog might have plenty of time for some fishing.

UFA likes Murkowski for six more years

United Fishermen of Alaska, the state's top commercial fishing organization, today endorsed the re-election bid of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Murkowski is facing what appears to be a tough challenge from Joe Miller of Fairbanks.

The two square off in the Aug. 24 Republican primary.