Vic Kohring

Vic Kohring
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
January 21, 2003 – July 19, 2007
Preceded byLisa Murkowski
Succeeded byWes Keller
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 26th district
In office
January 17, 1995 – January 21, 2003
Preceded byPatrick J. Carney
Succeeded byEthan Berkowitz
Personal details
Born(1958-08-02)August 2, 1958
Waukegan, Illinois, U.S.
DiedSeptember 6, 2022(2022-09-06) (aged 64)
North of Palmer, Alaska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTatiana
ChildrenAnna
ResidenceWasilla, Alaska
Alma materAlaska Pacific University (1987)

Victor H. Kohring (August 2, 1958 – September 6, 2022) was an American politician who was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives.

Elections

Kohring was elected as a Republican to seven consecutive two-year terms beginning in 1994. Kohring represented Wasilla in District 26 and then District 14, after redistricting due to the 2000 United States census. He resigned on July 19, 2007, during a widespread Alaska political corruption probe.

In 2013, Kohring ran for a seat on the Wasilla City Council. He was defeated by a 2–to-1 margin on October 1, 2013.[1]

In 2014 Kohring was the Alaskan Independence Party candidate for the United States Senate from Alaska. He withdrew from the race in September 2014 and endorsed Republican challenger Dan Sullivan.[2][3]

Corruption

Kohring was indicted on federal bribery and extortion charges on May 4, 2007. He, along with former state legislators, Republicans Pete Kott and Bruce Weyhrauch, were accused of soliciting and accepting bribes from VECO Corporation, an oil field services company. Their capital and district offices had been among 20 searched by FBI agents on August 31, 2006.[4] Kohring resigned his seat on June 20, 2007.[5]

On November 1, 2007, a federal jury found Kohring guilty in three out of four criminal charges and acquitted on the fourth, a charge of extortion. In May 2008, he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.[6][7][8] Kohring asked outgoing President George W. Bush for a pardon that was not granted.[9]

The conviction was vacated, and in 2011, Kohring agreed to plead guilty in exchange for being sentenced to time served and conditions on his release.[10] Kohring was released on June 11, 2009.[11]

Death

On September 6, 2022, driving alone in a minivan, Kohring crossed the center line of the Glenn Highway near the Fishhook exit, north of Palmer and was killed when he collided head-on with a semi-trailer truck. He was 64 years old. The truck driver was not injured.[12]

References

  1. ^ 'AK Beat: Vic Kohring loses bid for Wasilla City Council seat', Alaska Dispatch, 1 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  2. ^ "August 19, 2014 Primary Candidate List". State of Alaska Division of Elections. Archived from the original on June 30, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  3. ^ "Independence party candidate exits US Senate race". Newsminer.com. Associated Press. September 3, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  4. ^ "FBI searches offices of Alaska lawmakers Associated Press, September 1, 2006". NBC News. Associated Press. January 9, 2006. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
  5. ^ 'Alaska Republican Victor Kohring resigns under pressure of indictments, Alaska Report, 20 June 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  6. ^ "Corruption investigation who's who". Anchorage Daily News. November 16, 2008. Archived from the original on January 20, 2009.
  7. ^ administration (May 8, 2008). "Vic Kohring sentenced to prison". alaskapublic.org.
  8. ^ "Prosecutors Outline Kott, Kohring Plea Agreements". alaskapublic.org. Associated Press. October 19, 2011.
  9. ^ "Kohring says he asked Bush for pardon". Anchorage Daily News. Associated Press. February 10, 2009.[dead link‍]
  10. ^ Prosecutors Outline Kott, Kohring Plea Agreements Associated Press/Alaska Public Radio Network 10/19/11
  11. ^ Richard Mauer. "Kohring had a rude transition from freedom to prison". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on 2009-07-22. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
  12. ^ Former Wasilla lawmaker killed in collision on Glenn Highway, Anchorage Daily News, Zaz Hollander, September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
Alaska House of Representatives
Preceded by
Patrick J. Carney
 Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 26th district
January 17, 1995 – January 21, 2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 14th district
January 21, 2003 – July 19, 2007 		Succeeded by