Ben Stevens
politician
member of the State Senate of Alaska
Ben Stevens, American former state legislator. President board directors Drug Abuse Resistance Education Alaska; board directors Special Olympics Alaska; Member of Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Rotary.
Career
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. 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.
He was the Majority Leader for the 2003-2004 term, and the President for the 2005-2006 term.
In July 2004, Stevens responded to a critical e-mail from a constituent with the comment, “Your 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. “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
Stevens has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with an ongoing, though he has not been charged with any crime. His office has been visited twice by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents who seized evidence including documents relating to an alleged payment scheme involving fisheries legislation.
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.
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. 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.
Adak Fisheries paid Stevens $295,000 between 2000 and 2004.
In September 2007, Stevens called into an Anchorage talk radio show to proclaim his innocence. He said he “didn”t do anything illegal” and that he worked in the state”s best interest as a senator
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 because he was under a federal investigation for his ties to the oil field services company VECO Corporation. Stevens also hadn”t attended a national committee meeting in more than two years.
