Alaska Ear

Loeffler started as a state prosecutor. Her 20 years as an assistant with the feds began with the 1980s North Slope corruption cases and wound up with the current legislative corruption cases. She apparently likes putting fat-cat crooks in prison.

And life in the law is such that no one thought it anything but nice that former U.S. Attorney Bob Bundy, who currently represents Bill Allen, swore her in. Former U.S. Attorney Mike Spaan also made a nice speech.

Karen replaces that guy, whatzisname, from Outside who got sneaked into the job behind Ted Stevens' back.

SHORT TIMER? . . . It's gone viral in watering spots around town. Still more a question than certifiable fact: Is Magnum Staplegun out with Sarah? There's no sign of her on the book tour and friends say she may have to stake out a spot under that high-centered bus where Sarah tosses people who have served their purpose.

NEW BEGINNING? . . . About five minutes after the release of news that Larry Persily had indeed gotten Drue Pearce's old job, betting began on how long he will last as federal "gas line czar." The betting is not by enemies who think he'll get fired. It's by friends, who can't help but notice he has a short attention span and tends to eschew sinecures (isn't that a nice way to put it?).

Among other things, Larry has been a legislative aide, newspaper reporter, deputy commissioner, publisher, editorial page editor, spokesman for this and that, and, of course, consultant.

Ear has only one concern: Will he still be available for great quotes?

'TIS THE SEASON . . . Holiday politics is in full swing with end-of-year fundraisers blossoming all over town.

• Newly announced gubernatorial candidate Ralph Samuels is holding his "inaugural" fundraiser at the Corsair on Wednesday. (They probably just mean it's his first official money event, not the other "inaugural.") Anyhow, what interested Ear was the impressive list of establishment names lining up this early against a sitting Republican governor. Among them, Judy Brady, Cheryl Frasca, Gail Phillips, Marc Langland, Dave Marquez and John Shively.

• Ernie Hall is running for Matt Claman's Assembly seat. An earwig got an invitation to a Hall fundraiser featuring George Wuerch, Rick Mystrom and Dan Sullivan. Pardonez darlings, but Ear is confused. Didn't Ernie run for Lite Gov in 2002 with Fran Ulmer? As a Democrat? Maybe it was a different Ernie Hall? Ear doesn't think so. The Division of Elections lists the Ernest Hall these days as "non-partisan."

• Word is obviously out that Sen. Con Bunde is maybe planning not to run for re-election. The evidence? At last count, three Republicans had filed to run in the primary for his District P seat. On the Democratic side, Janet Reiser, an engineer and energy expert, has filed. She's on the Chugach Electric board. Her fundraiser is Dec. 21 at Kinley's.

A word to the wise, however. Never try to anticipate what Sen. Bunde will do.

EENY, MEENIE, MINIE . . . Diane Benson is reportedly going to announce her latest candidacy for public office at the Bartlett Democrats weekly luncheon Thursday. Her people are being coy about what office it will be this time.

Here's a suggestion: Why doesn't she run in a race where she might possibly get elected? Assembly? School board? It would be interesting to see her in office, with real responsibilities, figuring out how to actually get something done.

A REAL COVER-UP . . . Alaska writer Tom Brennan says he's learned a marketing lesson the hard way. Assuming you have a better memory than the Omniscient Orifice, you may recall an item about the cover of his latest book, a tongue-in-cheek novel about secession called "The Snowflake Rebellion." Think: naked lady on a tank.

Surprise, surprise. The heavily female book-buying audience finds the cover "radioactive," says Tom. He accepted this as truth when his son reported getting the evil eye from several women who noticed him reading the book on a plane while traveling in the Lower 48. "It's not what you think," he protested, or words to that effect.

Tom is planning a reprint with a different cover. So, that makes Ear's copy with the naked lady a collector's item, right?

MORE . . . There's been a lot of flap about a memoir by an Alaskan that's apparently selling well Outside -- sorry, the name escapes Ear. However, if you're looking for a real memoir by a real Alaskan, earwigs suggest "Growing Up in Alaska," by former Lite Gov. Jack Coghill. If Jack tells half of what he knows, zowie!

OUT AND ABOUT . . . Former Frontiersman columnist Barbara Hunt launched her book "Alaska's Heavy Light" at a party at the Colony (at the Colony?) Thursday. Mad Zoo readers might know her better as the "Mat Su Mouth." The novel is a medical mystery set in Palmer and Moose Creek.

• For earwigs who asked where they can see Ben Sturgulewski's Banff festival movie about skiing in Japan, it's scheduled to play late night at Bear Tooth on Friday the 18th. It's called "Signatures."

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Compiled by Sheila Toomey. Contact Sheila at ear@adn.com or leave a message at 257-4341. Find Ear online at www.adn.com/ear.