HER 15 MINUTES? ... So, in what alternative universe could former Wasilla Mayor Dianne Keller have imagined that one day America would know who she is and care what she thinks? A sort of word association interview with Keller is featured in the January issue of Esquire magazine. With a photo.
No doubt she was a fine mayor (her term ended in October), but a national magazine offering "wisdom" from Clint Eastwood, Eminem, Chuck Yeager, Bill Richardson, Alice Cooper, Paris Hilton, Larry Bird, Charlie Daniels, Brent Scowcroft, Jeb Bush, Bob Newhart -- and Dianne Keller? Esquire appears to have chosen one person from each state, and she's the choice from Alaska.
Keller's claim to fame according to Esquire: she succeeded Sarah Palin as Wasilla mayor.
LINE-UP ... Earwigs out on federal parole say Karen Loeffler and Tim Petumenos are the leading contenders to replace our nice but largely invisible U.S. Attorney Nelson Cohen, who was imported into the Alaska job from Pennsylvania over Ted Stevens' objections.
Karen has been acting in the job for months during a prolonged Cohen absence. Tim, as Earwigs will remember, was the special counsel for the state Personnel Board in the Troopergate affair.
Ear expects there are plenty of other candidates. It's a plum job for a lawyer. The appointment will be made by President Obama and has to be approved by the U.S. Senate.
WATCH OUT SARAH? ... Usually reliable Earmites, possibly still hung over from New Year's Eve, say Bob Poe is going to announce he's running for governor. Ear will state right up front that the Omniscient Orifice doesn't believe this. Mayor maybe. Everyone's running for mayor. But governor? It's generally a questionable choice when the first question people ask is, "Who's Bob Poe?"
ON THE MOVE ... Now former-Mayor Mark Begich will take several of his staff with him into the federal jungle. David Ramseur, chief of staff, is going to D.C. and is already jokingly inviting golf pals to visit and play the exclusive Congressional Country Club course.
Diane DiSanto, special assistant on Muni health and social service issues, is also going east with the new senator. Long-time aide Julie Hasquet will stay here, doing communications work at Begich's Anchorage office.
DO SEND A FONDUE ... Yes d'Ears, that Christmas card from former Alaska Attorney General John Havelock and Mona Havelock means they got married in early December. Mona is the former Mona Hendrickson, widow of John Hendrickson Sr., hunter and attorney, who died last year.
QUESTION ... Ear's favorite inquiry following the birth of Bristol's baby, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, was a call from a reporter in Easton, Pa., who wanted us to explain why the new baby was given Easton as a middle name.
Ear was tempted to offer a list of the more interesting mysteries surrounding why the Palins do stuff, but settled for the truth: "Don't know."
CROSSING THE LINE ... Bipartisan coalitions are not just for legislators. Long-time legislative staffer Darwin Peterson, who works in the office of Republican Sen. Bert Stedman of Sitka, and staffer Kristen Bressette, who works for Democratic Sen. Kim Elton of Juneau, got engaged right before Christmas. No date yet for the wedding.
DO SEND A TIE ... In his latest newsletter, state Sen. Kim Elton of Juneau points out that our new U.S. Sen. Mark Begich needs a tie to replace Uncle Ted's Incredible Hulk. According to Kim, "Mild-mannered Begich actually thinks of himself more in the Clark Kent/Superman mode but the Hulk did deliver for Alaska and Mark would look funny wearing a cape on the floor of the U.S. Senate during budget and ANWR debates."
Agreed. But what's the problem? Earwigs are hereby assigned to find Superman ties and send them to Mark.
ABOVE AND WAY BEYOND ... Someone, presumably Andrew Kerosky, was dancing for homeward bound traffic Friday night at the Shell gas station at 15th and Ingra. He's the guy who usually does it, but Ear was unwilling to get out of the car and into the minus 10 real world for a positive I.D.
A GIRDWOOD NEW YEAR'S ... Verbatim Alaska State Trooper report: "On 1/1/09, at approximately 0230 hours, a Trooper from Girdwood responded to a Taos St. address in Girdwood following a report from the home owners that a male dressed in only a T-shirt was sitting on their couch asleep. An investigation revealed Richard Sexton, age 33 of Anchorage, was intoxicated and had entered the residence thinking that he was somewhere else. He was unaware as to why he was clothed in only a T-Shirt. The homeowners came home, found Sexton and detained him, and then called the Troopers. Sexton was released to a sober adult."
Compiled by Sheila Toomey. E-mail ear@adn.com. Find Ear online at adn.com/ear.