All most of us can do is help honor those who passed away in Monday's terrible Western Alaska plane crash, which one journalist described as the way too many Alaskans die, and offer our thoughts to the families of those who passed away and those who are struggling for recovery.

In honor of the two victims I knew, Ted Stevens and Dana Tindall, I can offer you a few stories - one of some significant legislative intrigue I don't think has ever been written about. Dana knew that story. She had a very honorable role in it.

My deepest sympathies go to the families of Senator Stevens, Dana and Corey Tindall, Bill Phillips, and Terry Smith. And my hopes for recovery are shared with those who have survived: Willy Phillips, Sean and Kevin O'Keefe and Jim Morhard.

Friday Radio: Former Staffers Max Gruenberg and Dave Dittman Honor Sen. Stevens With Their Personal Stories.

Before I share a few memories about Dana, here are a few words about Senator Stevens. On Friday, at 3 p.m., Rep. Max Gruenberg and David Dittman, a Democrat and Republican respectively, will talk about their work for Senator Stevens in his Senate Office. A lot of great Alaskans worked in Senator Stevens' Office, and have recounted only the most favorable stories about working for him. I plan on listening at KUDO radio in Anchorage, 1080 AM. You can also tune in on line. Sen. Stevens served Alaska through his hard work for four decades. He's earned the honors that are coming his way, including today's unanimous U.S. Senate resolution honoring him.

Dana Tindall: A Story To Share Involving A Bright GCI Executive With Beaming Integrity

GCI photo

Dana Tindall

I first met Dana shortly after being elected, in 2003. She was one of the brightest people I've ever met. And she had a starring role in a legislative story I've never seen printed before - about a sort-of victory we both felt good about after the session ended. Here goes.

Through hard work, Dana rose in the ranks at GCI. She was a Senior Vice President at the time of Monday's tragedy, and earned that job because she was smart, dedicated and honest. She had the respect of many, and certainly earned my respect.

During my first year in the Legislature - which I expected to involve debates about things like the budget, oil and gas policy, abortion, education - I learned a new term - "phone wars." Dating back to before I was elected, there was an annual battle between ACS and GCI. Bill Allen back then donated money to candidates who he felt would support ACS - for reasons I still don't really know, other than that he was a close associate of then-ACS President, Chuck Robinson. And despite the turf both sides staked out, the battle was waged by lots of honorable people. None brighter or more honest than Dana.

To oversimplify things, ACS owned most of the phone lines around the state - and before wireless communications exploded a few years later, that was important. GCI wanted access to those lines to serve communities around the state and provide competition to ACS. ACS felt GCI shouldn't have unfettered access since it paid to build the lines. At the time, it was felt GCI would provide competition and lower prices for consumers if given access. But ACS's case - that GCI shouldn't benefit from the fruits of the substantial ACS investment - carried weight too.

There. Case oversimplified. Enter Dana.

Lobbyists and policy folks from each company flooded the legislative hallways. I studied as hard as I could and learned that some of these folks overstated their cases, and some didn't. Dana didn't. She made her case well, intelligently, without hyperbole, and conceded the weaker points behind her company's arguments. In politics, people like that stand out.