Ray Metcalfe for Senate

To be silent on corruption is to condone corruption.
Take the “Not in Our Party Challenge” today.

When the Democratic Party Leadership was embarrassed into reversing its decision to omit me from the Democratic Party website, Central Committee spokesperson Kay Brown said, “It wasn’t worth fighting over.” However the reason for which I was expelled is worth fighting over. Party Officials, who condone corruption by their silence, need to be sent packing.

When I was fighting an uphill battle to expose the corruption of Ben Stevens, Ted Stevens, Veco and others, I sought the help of Representative Ethan Berkowitz, Former Democratic Party Chairman Jake Metcalfe, and Spokesperson Kay Brown. I hand delivered to their desks the same documents I had sent to the U.S. Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section in Washington DC. I followed up with dozens of phone calls asking for help. Not one of those phone calls was returned.

The only one of the above mentioned three I ever spoke to was Kay Brown, when through vigilance and luck, she happened to answer her phone when I called. I ask for her vocal support and she refused. Had one single Democratic Party or Elected Leader been willing to offer their vocal support, my job would have been enormously easier.

The Democratic Party leaders who refused to help then are now attempting to wrap themselves in the flag of reform while ignoring the corruption in their own Party and ditching the messenger.

Attached are five documents that, when viewed in total, offer insight into how this “Good Old Boy” system of mutual palm-greasing works. Most of the attached files address corruption amongst Republicans. However, to omit all Democrats while telling the story of political corruption in Alaska would be to tell a lie by omission of facts.

One document is titled "Ben’s Bribes in a Nutshell" published June of 2006. It is the document that brought Ben Stevens and his father under scrutiny for laundering a few million dollars from the Federal Treasury through the Alaska Fish Marketing Board into the hands of a few wealthy seafood processors, who paid a tidy portion back into the pockets of Ben Stevens.

Another is titled "Bribery, 1981 to 2008, Part One." It blows out of the water ARCO's, and BP's arguments that they knew nothing of Veco's bribery in 2006 . That argument won’t sell to a jury that knows those same companies were knowingly making payments directly into accounts controlled by Tony Knowles in 1996, and getting favors in return. That’s what the document clearly demonstrates.

A third attachment titled "Base Housing to the National Archives" draws the connections between Ted Stevens, Ben Stevens, and Mark Begich, all doing political favors for John Rubini, a business partner they all share. Ted Stevens Ben Stevens and Mark Begich each used their offices, each doing their part to grease the wheals of deals that made millions for Rubini. Deals Rubini could not have consummated without the assistance both of them. Stevens and Begich have both since personally profited quite handsomely at the hand of John Rubini.

The fourth document titled "Parking Lease Appraisal" demonstrates how Mark Begich used a parking lot lease to launder city money into the pockets of a wealthy contributor.

The fifth document demonstrates how Mark Begich "gave" the parking garage above the sixth avenue bus depot to the same two friends he had been laundering city money to through the parking lease described above. Mark did it by giving effective control of the income earning capacity of the parking garage to Jerry Neeser and Mark Pfeffer, through a long term lease that gives them control of the parking for the next 22 years at half what they can re-rent it for to the general public.

The net value of Mark's gift to his friends calculates to about $40,000 per month over the next 22 years, or a little over ten million dollars in ill-gotten profits cleverly lifted from the pockets of Anchorage taxpayers over time.

If it acts like a kickback, smells like a bribe, or looks like money laundering, it probably is and it’s not OK to ignore it just because it is by a Democrat. Until both parties adopt a “Zero Tolerance for Corruption platform,” Alaska will continue to be plagued by corruption. Leaders who protect party members until the handcuffs appear are part of the problem.

Kay Brown claims the decision to expel me from the Democratic Party website was because of my denunciation of Tony Knowles. I challenge Kay Brown, Ethan Berkowitz, Jake Metcalfe, and every member of the Central Committee, to review the attached documents and, as Sarah Palin said in reference to Randy Ruedrich said, “Take a stand.”

Did Tony Knowles and party officials launder bribes from Veco, Arco, and BP or didn’t they? Is Mark Begich laundering city money through a bogus parking lot lease into the pockets of Mark Pfeffer or isn’t he? Do you think these matters should be reviewed by a Grand Jury or don’t you? Are you willing to bet your political future on one more head in the sand performance in response to the appearance of impropriety?

These are all yes or no questions and so far, the Democratic Party leadership has met them with silence and ignored them entirely with their endorsement of Mark Begich without calling on him to explain his partnership with John Rubini or his parking lot money laundering scheme.

Silence on corruption equals is acceptance of corruption. The Democratic Party’s vanguard didn’t have the courage to stand up to corruption before; and I’m betting they won’t have the courage today. Prove me wrong by joining with the rank-and-file Democrats, who do place their commitment to their principles above their commitment to any political party.

Join the “Not in Our Party Campaign” today.

Ray Metcalfe

Paid for by Ray Metcalfe For Ethics in Government, PO Box 233809, Anchorage Alaska, 99523
Ray Metcalfe is a Candidate for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Ted Stevens.


	To be silent on corruption is to condone corruption. Take the “Not in Our Party Challenge” today. When the Democratic Party Leadership was embarrassed into reversing its decision to omit me from the Democratic Party website, Central Committee spokesperson Kay Brown said, “It wasn’t worth fighting over.” However the reason for which I was expelled is worth fighting over. Party Officials, who condone corruption by their silence, need to be sent packing. When I was fighting an uphill battle to expose the corruption of Ben Stevens, Ted Stevens, Veco and others, I sought the help of Representative Ethan Berkowitz, Former Democratic Party Chairman Jake Metcalfe, and Spokesperson Kay Brown. I hand delivered to their desks the same documents I had sent to the U.S. Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section in Washington DC. I followed up with dozens of phone calls asking for help. Not one of those phone calls was returned. The only one of the above mentioned three I ever spoke to was Kay Brown, when through vigilance and luck, she happened to answer her phone when I called. I ask for her vocal support and she refused. Had one single Democratic Party or Elected Leader been willing to offer their vocal support, my job would have been enormously easier. The Democratic Party leaders who refused to help then are now attempting to wrap themselves in the flag of reform while ignoring the corruption in their own Party and ditching the messenger. Attached are five documents that, when viewed in total, offer insight into how this “Good Old Boy” system of mutual palm-greasing works. Most of the attached files address corruption amongst Republicans. However, to omit all Democrats while telling the story of political corruption in Alaska would be to tell a lie by omission of facts. One document is titled "Ben’s Bribes in a Nutshell" published June of 2006. It is the document that brought Ben Stevens and his father under scrutiny for laundering a few million dollars from the Federal Treasury through the Alaska Fish Marketing Board into the hands of a few wealthy seafood processors, who paid a tidy portion back into the pockets of Ben Stevens. Another is titled "Bribery, 1981 to 2008, Part One." It blows out of the water ARCO's, and BP's arguments that they knew nothing of Veco's bribery in 2006 . That argument won’t sell to a jury that knows those same companies were knowingly making payments directly into accounts controlled by Tony Knowles in 1996, and getting favors in return. That’s what the document clearly demonstrates. A third attachment titled "Base Housing to the National Archives" draws the connections between Ted Stevens, Ben Stevens, and Mark Begich, all doing political favors for John Rubini, a business partner they all share. Ted Stevens Ben Stevens and Mark Begich each used their offices, each doing their part to grease the wheals of deals that made millions for Rubini. Deals Rubini could not have consummated without the assistance both of them. Stevens and Begich have both since personally profited quite handsomely at the hand of John Rubini. The fourth document titled "Parking Lease Appraisal" demonstrates how Mark Begich used a parking lot lease to launder city money into the pockets of a wealthy contributor. The fifth document demonstrates how Mark Begich "gave" the parking garage above the sixth avenue bus depot to the same two friends he had been laundering city money to through the parking lease described above. Mark did it by giving effective control of the income earning capacity of the parking garage to Jerry Neeser and Mark Pfeffer, through a long term lease that gives them control of the parking for the next 22 years at half what they can re-rent it for to the general public. The net value of Mark's gift to his friends calculates to about $40,000 per month over the next 22 years, or a little over ten million dollars in ill-gotten profits cleverly lifted from the pockets of Anchorage taxpayers over time. If it acts like a kickback, smells like a bribe, or looks like money laundering, it probably is and it’s not OK to ignore it just because it is by a Democrat. Until both parties adopt a “Zero Tolerance for Corruption platform,” Alaska will continue to be plagued by corruption. Leaders who protect party members until the handcuffs appear are part of the problem. Kay Brown claims the decision to expel me from the Democratic Party website was because of my denunciation of Tony Knowles. I challenge Kay Brown, Ethan Berkowitz, Jake Metcalfe, and every member of the Central Committee, to review the attached documents and, as Sarah Palin said in reference to Randy Ruedrich said, “Take a stand.” Did Tony Knowles and party officials launder bribes from Veco, Arco, and BP or didn’t they? Is Mark Begich laundering city money through a bogus parking lot lease into the pockets of Mark Pfeffer or isn’t he? Do you think these matters should be reviewed by a Grand Jury or don’t you? Are you willing to bet your political future on one more head in the sand performance in response to the appearance of impropriety? These are all yes or no questions and so far, the Democratic Party leadership has met them with silence and ignored them entirely with their endorsement of Mark Begich without calling on him to explain his partnership with John Rubini or his parking lot money laundering scheme. Silence on corruption equals is acceptance of corruption. The Democratic Party’s vanguard didn’t have the courage to stand up to corruption before; and I’m betting they won’t have the courage today. Prove me wrong by joining with the rank-and-file Democrats, who do place their commitment to their principles above their commitment to any political party. Join the “Not in Our Party Campaign” today. Ray Metcalfe Paid for by Ray Metcalfe For Ethics in Government, PO Box 233809, Anchorage Alaska, 99523 Ray Metcalfe is a Candidate for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Ted Stevens.
		"There were clear bribery laws that were being broken here. I took it to the state troopers, I took it to the district attorney, I took it to David Marquez, who was the attorney general, I took it to APOC. I took it to every single agency the state of Alaska has that's responsible for enforcing the law. 100 percent of them, to the man, said no." Ray Metcalfe









©2008RayMetcalfe/Webmusher	Paid for by Ray Metcalfe For Ethics in Government, PO Box 233809, Anchorage Alaska, 99523	A Webmusher Design Website