Free Republic

GRUSSENDORF: Party plans to give slate of 3 new names to governor. JUNEAU -- The Alaska Senate Democrats on Wednesday rejected Gov. Sarah Palin's appointment of legislative aide Tim Grussendorf to the state Senate. The decision came during a two-hour closed-door meeting in the office of Senate Majority Leader Johnny Ellis, an Anchorage Democrat. Around 50 people -- legislators, lobbyists, and news media -- jammed into the Capitol hallway outside Ellis' office when word came out that a decision had been made. The Democrats were tense and tight-lipped as they left the office, referring all questions to Ellis -- who...

Gov. Sarah Palin today announced Tim Grussendorf, a legislative aide from Juneau, is her a choice to replace Kim Elton in the Alaska Senate. Grussendorf is chief of staff for Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel. Now he must be approved by a simple majority of the nine Senate Democrats currently seated. In picking Grussendorf, Palin is rejecting Rep. Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau, the only name recommended to the governor by southeast Democratic leaders after Elton resigned to take an Interior Department position with the Obama administration in Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, Palin invited other applicants to apply, saying she thought there...