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Stevens' Buddy a Friend to Senators and Children Alike
It's tough being friends with someone under federal criminal investigation.
That's what Bob Persons says. The longtime friend of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) testified before a grand jury last fall about his involvement in the Veco-overseen renovations of Stevens' home, because he'd been the one to keep tabs on the job while Stevens was in Washington. News of Persons' testimony put him in local and national media stories about the Alaska corruption probe and soiled his good name, he told the Turnagain Times in an interview.
Persons has largely stayed quiet during the investigation, but he wanted to let his neighbors know he isn't a bad guy. In the interview with the Turnaround Times he revealed that he is the "Secret Santa" who has provided the needy children of Girdwood with presents each Christmas for the last 25 years.
He's also racked up $35,000 in legal fees recently.
“This is kind of embarrassing for me,” Persons said. “I’ve kept quiet for 25 years (as “Secret Santa”) and once I got caught up in the investigation, I wanted to stand up. I don’t want my reputation that I’ve built up over 25 years being sullied by an investigation. Things that are unproven, things that nobody knows."
When news broke that Persons testified and produced documents, I tried getting in touch with him at his Girdwood restaurant, The Double Musky Inn. I didn't have any luck.
Josh
Zachary
Secret Santa in a community with an average income of $$?$$?$$?$$?
August 21, 2007 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heh. I just picked up my copy of the Turnagain Times, and was about to check to see if McGann had picked up this angle.
In other Stevens news, conservative Republicans state Rep. Mike Kelly wrote a letter to the Fairbanks newspaper suggesting that Stevens and Don Young should step down for the good of the party, lest "we risk further slide toward the wretched agenda of the far left – some would say deservedly."
http://newsminer.com/2007/08/19/8469
August 21, 2007 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everyone has a "Secret Santa", not just the kids of Girdwood...seemly?
August 21, 2007 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
You ought to roll on over to the Double Musky to pose your questions.
Best time of the year in Girdwood to watch the ptarmigans scoot around. Too bad the Bird House burnt down, you could've stopped in on your way to or fro.
August 21, 2007 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Girdwood is a ski resort community. "Needy children," my parabolics.
August 21, 2007 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Secret Santa in a community with an average income of $$?$$?$$?$$?"
Secret inside sources (I know somebody who lives in Girdwood) reveal that Ski Resorts need actual employees to operate, not just rich skiers. Such employees may not all have year around jobs. Some of these employees could be considered poor people and some of them live in Girdwood. Throw in a few "ski bums" who sacrifice their earning potential to live near the ski resort and you have enough people to support a regular food bank in Girdwood. Don't know enough about this guy to judge him over all, but this "Secret Santa" thing sounds like an actual good deed, done for those actually in need.
August 21, 2007 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a saying even older than Ted goes:
Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.
Although I'm really torn. Until a few months ago, I didn't know Bob was mixed up with Ted & Co.
And the make *such* good grub.... *sigh*.
August 21, 2007 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was sobbing so hard at the story of poor poor Mr. Persons, friend to millionaire Senators and ski resort owners that I barely made it through your story. His partnership with the Senator in the racehorse was probably a secret as well as I am sure all the other good deeds he did overseeing the Vecodirected construction of the Girdwood Stevens remodel of their home. By the way. Since when does a restaurant owner have a Senator's power of attorney to oversee a remodel of a private home by an oilfield construction company? Another one of our secret santa's good deeds? When most Alaskans remodel their homes they do not lift the entire structure to add a ground floor that includes among other things a sauna and gameroom, oh you get the picture. Maybe its the restaurant/oilfield influence???
BigSu
August 22, 2007 2:58 AM | Reply | Permalink