Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Assembly Report for April 15, 2008


TESCHE MADE IT OUT OF ALASKA: “My work there is done” said former Assemblyman Allan Tesche who was recently spotted on a beach Outside. Neither Tesche nor his wife Pamela would say exactly where they were ended up after he left the Anchorage Assembly last week, except that the air is warm there and house plants are grown outdoors.

Tesche was elected three times to represent the downtown district on the Anchorage Assembly and served since April 1999. He was elected vice chair for two years and at various times headed the Assembly’s Finance, and Public Safety, and Elections Committees.

He wrote countless pieces of legislation addressing issues as varied as design standards for Big Box Stores, a ban on smoking in restaurants and public places, several Charter revisions dealing with elections and municipal budgets, dog parks, resolution of the Simonian Little League controversy, economic development and neighborhood planning, including a new Downtown Comprehensive plan.

Tesche introduced many new words and phrases into the Assembly’s lexicon, including the terms “bloviate”, “trifurcate” and most recently, “butt dialing”. He once used Assembly member Debbie Ossiander’s last name as a noun to describe a “sticky, gaseous swamp of questions asked only to confuse other assembly members and to stop good legislation.” He branded Assembly conservatives as “Troglidites” and dismissed their colleagues as “furry little friends.” In turn, he was vilified by the Wuerch Administration as a “Communist” and named by Assembly chair Dan Coffey as the “meanest, nastiest, most rotten Assembly member ever.” He was a gut fighter for the left.

Although he loved to talk to reporters, Tesche denied was a “media hog” or that on slow days he simply made up stuff for the evening news. He poked fun at former mayors by holding press conferences in a “media center” put together in the Assembly office festooned with its own blue curtain, an oval Assembly seal and flags. In 2005 he teamed up with Aaron Selbig for a weekly radio show on KUDO 1080 where he scorched Assembly conservatives and argued incessantly with callers. You can still call 569-1080 during Aarons’s show if you have something to say.

Tesche did not leave quietly as his term ended. In February, 2008 Assembly Chair Dan Coffey carelessly “butt dialed” a cell phone recording to the Tesche home of a saucy conversation between Coffey and Assemblyman Bill Starr. On tape, the pair bantered about Coffey’s role as a “bag man” for political contributions and Starr’s own attempt to shake down the Chief of Police for union endorsement in his re election. The recording became the focus of an APOC investigation after which Starr was fined for unlawful fundraising. The recording was also mentioned in a vigorous write-in campaign by Eagle River resident Janet Brand who came within a handful of votes of actually unhorsing Starr in the April 1, 2008 election. Also disclosed in the recording, Coffey’s questionable fundraising activities impacted election bids by long term Assemblyman Dick Traini in the midtown district and by Sherri Jackson in West Anchorage. Both lost their elections and were replaced by progressives who stripped Coffey of his chairmanship and restored a more progressive role for the Assembly in local politics.

The Tesche Report was posted promptly after Assembly meetings to 1,600 readers from May 31, 2005 to this final edition. Leaving the Assembly is probably the only thing Tesche did during the past three years which endeared him to the remaining conservatives on the Anchorage Assembly.

9 Comments:

At 4:24 PM, Blogger ivanmoore said...

Allan, I was going to be the first to post and thank you for your efforts for this city... but the rather bitter Mr. Z got in first.

Well done... enjoy your rest and relaxation in the tropics. Pop and cold one... here's to a fine nine on the Assembly.

Thanks.

 
At 5:30 PM, Blogger MB said...

love the pic dad!

 
At 6:44 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

As a conservative I disagreed with Allan on some issues but always found him to be courteous, generous, witty, intelligent, and honest. I wish him well deserved rest, long health, and contentment. Happy trails, my friend. Ken

 
At 6:56 PM, Blogger Bill Gehler said...

I have known Allan since 1976. Even back then, as a city hall attorney, he was an advocate for the little guy, a voice for reason and common sense and never mean hearted. His wit and sharp observations and integrity have served us so well in the face of this most recent and worst Municipal Assembly in my 32 years of residency. I hope Allan has a well deserved rest. And I hope we see Allan again in some civic capacity. He's one of the good guys.

 
At 7:17 PM, Blogger Charles Wohlforth said...

I can't go cold turkey with no Tesche report! Can you at least fill us in on the dirt on G Street?

I met Allan during Fink's ATU wars when I was a newspaper reporter. He was one of the only people I ever met in Anchorage who would pour energy and professional skills into issues just for the love of the town and good public policy--issues that had next to nothing to do with him. And he came to it with an enormous sense of fun, only exceeded by an amazing intellect.

When I got elected to the Assembly, Allan was the guy I turned to when I needed the truth and the kind of political and legal analysis you can only get from a really smart, really committed pro. We tangled pretty sharply at least once, on the Hillside police issue, but hard feelings were gone by the end of the meeting. When it was time for me to leave the Assembly, I knew without thinking who I wanted to take the seat, and I called Allan and begged him to run.

When I quit, Allan played an elaborate practical joke on me, making my family believe he was going to deliver a pony to our 1/6th acre lot in Government Hill. This included dumping a bale of hay in our driveway. We freaked! (Instead he gave me a beautiful pair of binoculars, which I still use every day in the summer.)

I never saw anyone having more fun than Allan in his first year on the Assembly, kicking George Wuerch's rear end with the help of Traini and Tremaine, the three Ts. Politics and public service can be a gas if you don't take yourself too seriously and have the smarts to outmaneuver your adversary.

I was sorry to see the Assembly turn so far to the right and Allan spend so many years in the minority. I went through that myself. What Anchorage never really appreciated is how he kept the fight real and honest while losing vote after vote to the right wingers. Not easy to do, week after week at that table, late at night after the audience clears out. Allan never gives up, and he never gets outsmarted. Without his service, Anchorage would be a far poorer place.

Sorry you didn't get to serve with the new Assembly Allan. But I'm glad you're taking some time to enjoy life. The Assembly recedes in the rear view mirror faster than you can imagine.

Enjoy your pony. I've asked your neighbor to feed him till you get home. Don't worry about manure, it's good for flowers. (Hey, that wouldn't be a bad motto for former Assembly members!)

 
At 7:20 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Allan, you have done a great job and your service to the city will be missed. For some reason I believe I will still hear from you and see you fighting for the needs of Alaskans. Thanks again for making a difference.

Mark Begich

 
At 10:20 AM, Blogger Caroline said...

Well, Well. Looks like Allan is off in the tropics again. Working on his tan and getting ready to catch a big wave. Sure wish he was back here in Florida,though, working some more on my judicial campaign. But he needs to have some fun and r and r. I loved the last report and have admired Allan's leadership, intellignece and perseverence as an elected official. He is a great brother, too!

Enjoy.

Your 'lil sis.

 
At 1:42 PM, Blogger John Blaine said...

Butt for thee, life would have moved apace, nor changed a whit.

Now look! Yon 'sembly frets anew
with eager gambits thither!

May thy sweet voice inspire th' happy crew
though it come from far Tyree!

Happy Days, Allan!

 
At 10:22 AM, Blogger GaryinAlaska said...

Allan, your posts are always food for better conversation, and we hope, once you're rested, you continue to comment on Anchorage and Alaska; you are most valued and appreciated for your service to humanity.
Gary and Susan Miller

 

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