June 19, 2007

By John R. Moses/Frontiersman

WASILLA - Embattled state Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla, said Monday he will attend today's Wasilla Chamber of Commerce luncheon and announce whether or not he will step down from the Legislature. The lawmaker is among three legislators facing trial in October following an FBI corruption inquest in Juneau. Kohring is the subject of a recall drive organized by Wasilla City Councilman Mark Ewing and is under federal criminal indictment for suspicion of allegedly selling his vote on an oil pipeline issue.

Kohring last week underwent sinus surgery at an Anchorage hospital, and a slow recovery cast into doubt whether he'd be well enough to speak today. Kohring, voice scratchy but cracking jokes nonetheless, said Monday he'd give that talk even if they have to “wheel me in on a stretcher.”

“I have made a decision. I will not announce it until tomorrow,” Kohring said Monday.

Announcing his intentions before the meeting would take away from the public's interest in what he plans to say at the meeting and cut attendance, he said. “Not that I'm trying to make a media circus out of it.”

Kohring has maintained that even if he does announce that he will step down, he wants to stay long enough to address senior care legislation during a special session called for June 26 in Anchorage.

Kohring and the other defendants in the corruption cases, former Republican legislators Pete Kott and Bruce Weyhrauch, pleaded not guilty to selling votes to the Veco Corp. during consideration of Alaska's petroleum production tax rates late last year.

The chamber luncheon begins at noon in the Lake Lucille Best Western Inn restaurant.

The keynote speaker will be Todd Smith of the Department of Transportation, who will update chamber members about summer road construction projects.

“Vic Kohring will be giving a brief update,” the chamber Web site notes.

Program fees are $3 for chamber members and $5 for nonmembers and optional lunch is payable to the Best Western Lake Lucille Inn.

Visit the Frontiersman online at www.frontiersman.com following the luncheon for a full story about Kohring's announcement.

Contact John R. Moses at 352-2270 or e-mail john.moses@frontiersman.com.