Comment.  Of all the bad news flowing from Washington D.C. these days, today's appointment of Alaskan Larry Persily (NGP Photo) as the Obama Administration's new Alaska Gas Pipeline Federal Coordinator is a shot of good news.  We hope that the infusion of smart, trustworthy Alaskan appointees like Mr. Persily and other recent Department of Interior appointees will provide wise insight to Washington's insiders who, until now, seem intent on destroying Alaska's and America's economy as noted in yesterday's editorial.  -dh  

ADN by Sean Cockerham.  Former state House Majority Leader Ralph Samuels (NGP Photo) announced Tuesday he's running for governor next year. That sets up a Republican primary fight among Samuels, Gov. Sean Parnell and Anchorage attorney Bill Walker over Alaska's relationship with the oil industry.  Samuels was a big critic of the 2007 increase in taxes on oil companies pushed by then-Gov. Sarah Palin. Parnell supported it as Palin's lieutenant governor and still does.  On Tuesday, Samuels described the vote to increase oil taxes as a "feeding frenzy."  "As governor I'll work [...]