WASHINGTON — There's a new prize decorating Alaska congressman Don Young's office in Washington, D.C., awarded to him by his most recently vanquished Democratic challenger, Steve Lindbeck.
It's a framed, crisp $100 bill, Ben Franklin casting his worried, stern gaze, pasted at the top of a certificate. "Congratulations to a guy who's still on his game after 43 years!" the paper says, with Lindbeck's signature scrawled below.
Young's office is famous for its trophies — the giant bear hide at the entrance, heads of a variety of unlucky animals throughout the office, a massive totem pole that once belonged to the late Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).
The newest came from Lindbeck after Young won his 23rd election to be Alaska's sole representative to the U.S. House. Young won just more than 50 percent of the vote, Lindbeck just more than 36 percent.
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Young, not a shy competitor, bet Lindbeck $100 that he would win the election, "while shaking hands after one of the early debates," Lindbeck said in an email.
Lindbeck said he sent the framed prize and note just before Thanksgiving, and Young called him when he got it. Young "let me know he was going to remove the bill and put in a copy, and I told him that's what I would do, too," Lindbeck wrote.
Young was pleased with his prize and effusive in his praise for Lindbeck's willingness to pay up, calling him a "class act." His spokesman, Matt Shuckerow, said Young planned to donate $100 to the American Lung Association, a charity supported by Lindbeck.
"In the end I guess I got off easy compared to some of the other trophies on his walls!" Lindbeck said in the email.