by Meg White
Yesterday's election was historic in many ways. The shock and joy here in Chicago over our own Sen. Barack Obama becoming the first black president in the history of the United States was tangible in the streets. But there were local races that made history right alongside Obama. For example, Anita Alvarez hit a double-whammy in Chicagoland as the very first Hispanic and first woman to be elected Cook County State's Attorney. Little ripples of historic change just like Alvarez's followed the Obama win all over the country.
Much of this allows for a huge grin and a sigh of, "Only in America." But there is a dark side to history-making as well, and it rears its head this morning in Alaska. That state is likely to be the first to return a convicted felon to the U.S. Senate.
Though Sen. Ted Stevens hasn't yet been confirmed as the winner of the Alaska Senate race, as of today, CNN has Stevens up over Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich by more than 3,000 votes with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
Stevens, who was convicted on all seven counts of failing to report improper gifts, has appealed the decision reached last week, and is not expected to be sentenced until after the appeal is settled.
But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has stated that Stevens will not serve in the Senate as a convicted felon. He said Stevens will face an ethics investigation and eventual expulsion from the Senate. There's no law disallowing senatorial service by a convicted felon, but with a two-thirds majority, the Senate can vote to remove Stevens from office.
What is to come is somewhat difficult to tell, mostly because Alaskans keep changing the rules. Each state has the power to determine its own rules of succession. The only thing that is clear is that Alaska requires a special election to be held between 60 and 90 days after a vacancy arises.
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