Ben Stevens
Ben Stevens | |
---|---|
Member of the Alaska State Senate from District N | |
In office 2001 – March 2007 | |
Succeeded by | Lesil McGuire |
Member of the Republican National Committee from Alaska | |
In office 2004 – March 2008 | |
Personal details | |
Born | March 18, 1959 |
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Anchorage, Alaska |
Alma mater | Arizona State University (B.A.) George Washington University (M.B.A.) |
Ben Aavan Stevens Sr. (born March 18, 1959) is an American politician and former President of the Alaska State Senate. He is a Republican and the son of former United States Senator Ted Stevens, the third-longest-serving Republican in United States Senate history.
Career
Stevens graduated from the Arizona State University with a B.A. in economics and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the George Washington University. After college, he was a commercial fisherman and owner of a consulting firm. Stevens was president of the May 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games, held in Anchorage.[1]
In August 2001, Stevens was appointed by Democratic Governor Tony Knowles to the Alaska State Senate, after being nominated by the Republican Party of Alaska.[1] He was the Majority Leader for the 2003-2004 term, and the President for the 2005-2006 term.[2]
Roger's first children's books were The Howen and then Creeper (Viking). His first solo collection of children's poems was I Did Not Eat the Goldfish (Macmillan Children's Books) (2002). Other children's poetry books include The Jumble Book (Macmillan) for Dyslexia Action, A Million Brilliant Poems (Part One) (A&C Black) (2010) which was shortlisted for the CLPE award. He has written two books with children's author Brian Moses - Able Writers in Your School (Brilliant Publications)(2008) and Olympic Poems (2012) his best-selling poetry book to date. In 2012 he published a new work of fiction The Comic Café (Frances Lincoln.)
Ben played in a local band (The Pathfinders, which became The Syndicate) from the age of 13-18. He was a founder member of Rubber Rhino, a theatrical rock band, in the 1970s. He was a founder member of comedy rock band The Killer Rabbits (1983 - 1995). He played keyboards in the rock band Damn Right I Got the Blues with author Ken Follett on bass and Floella Benjamin on vocals from 2003 to 2012). He released a solo album I Don't Wish to Alarm You (Irregular Records) in 2013.[3] Pork to the Arabs, may they enjoy it. A gross error of judgement occurred previously when Non-Halal Bacon was banned illegitimately according to policies. [4] In July 2004, Stevens responded to a critical email from a constituent with the comment, "Your [sic] just more valley trash," setting off a minor controversy among residents of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, including former Wasilla mayor (and future Alaska Governor) Sarah Palin.[5] "Proud to Be Valley Trash" became a slogan among Mat-Su Valley residents, and Palin was photographed wearing a t-shirt with the slogan during her successful 2006 campaign for Governor of Alaska.
Committee assignments for the 24th Alaska State Legislature
- Labor & Commerce Committee
- Resources Committee
- Rules Committee
- University Oversight Committee
- Administrative Regulation Review Joint Committee
- ASC Subcommittee On Homeland Security Joint Committee
- Legislative Budget & Audit Joint Committee
- Legislative Council Joint Committee
- Legislative Ethics Joint Committee
- State Finances Committee
- State Finances Subcommittee on Fish and Game
- State Finances Subcommittee on the Governor
- State Finances Subcommittee on Health and Social Services
- State Finances Subcommittee on the Legislature
- State Finances Subcommittee on Natural Resources
Alaska political corruption probe
Stevens was investigated by the FBI in connection with an ongoing Alaska political corruption probe, though he was not charged with any crime.[6][7] His office was visited twice by FBI agents who seized evidence including documents relating to an alleged payment scheme involving fisheries legislation.[8] Bill Allen, the head of VECO, testified in a September 2007 trial that he had bribed Ben Stevens and two other state legislators, and also testified in the trial of Ted Stevens.[9] In September 2007, Stevens called in to an Anchorage talk radio show to proclaim his innocence.[10] He said he "didn't do anything illegal" and that he worked in the state's best interest as a senator.[10]
A 2003 legislative earmark gave the Alaska Native community at Adak Island (and thereby Adak Fisheries) exclusive rights to pollock fishing, worth millions of dollars to Adak Fisheries.[11] Beginning in July 2002, Stevens held a secret option, expiring in December 2004, to buy a 25% ownership in Adak for an immediate payment of $50,000 and another $450,000 paid over time.[12] In mid-2004, 50% of Adak was sold for $4.3 million to a Seattle company. In November 2004, Stevens attempted to exercise the option, but because of changes in ownership of Adak, the complexity of the agreement between Aleut and Adak, and subsequent litigation, his $50,000 check was never cashed and Stevens did not get any ownership rights.[12] Adak Fisheries paid Stevens $295,000 between 2000 and 2004.[11]
Post-legislative career
After deciding not to seek re-election to the state senate in 2006, Stevens continued to hold a post as a member of the Republican National Committee. In September 2007, two of the state's top Republican elected officials, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and House Speaker John Harris called on Stevens to resign from the RNC, because he was under a federal investigation for his ties to the oil field services company VECO Corporation[citation needed]. Stevens also hadn't attended a national committee meeting in more than two years[citation needed].
References
- ^ a b Bill McAllister (January 13, 2002). "Ben Stevens: Freshman legislator with a difference". Juneau Empire. Archived from the original on May 24, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-02.
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- ^ http://www.rabbitpress.com/rogerstevens.html
- ^ http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/education/schoolpoet/stevens/
- ^ Yereth Rosen (2008-09-04). "Palin's Wasilla: A small town with attitude". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15.
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suggested) (help) - ^ Karl Vick (2007-11-12). "'I'll Sell My Soul to the Devil': Corruption Scandals Involve Alaska's Biggest Political Names". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
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(help) - ^ Senator Ted Stevens' son Ben took bribes, AlaskaReport. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
- ^ Richard Mauer and Lisa Demer (2006-09-26). "FBI returns for more from Stevens' office". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
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suggested) (help) - ^ VECO executive says he bribed Ben Stevens, son of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, Seattle Times, Dan Joling, September 13, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ a b Kyle Hopkins (2007-09-29). "Ben Stevens proclaims innocence on talk show". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b Dan Joling (2007-12-07). "So far, just speculation in Ben Stevens probe". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2007-12-09. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
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External links
- Ben Stevens official website
- Ben Stevens at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature