In light of the recent election results in Fairbanks, Palmer and Ketchikan, three Conservative strongholds, in which republicans lost both mayoral and assembly seats to Democrats, we, the Alaska Republican Party must reflect on what we are fighting for. Are we fighting for the values of grassroots Alaskans that need our help the most at the local level? I have heard complaints about Ranked Choice Voting, local elections not being on the first Tuesday of November, local elections being held in “off years”, and more. I want to remind everyone that these facts are not excuses, but rather parts of the game we play. Certainly, we can change the game in the future, but what we face now is how the game is set: a game with ranked choice voting, with local elections in off years, with local elections not on the first Tuesday of November, etc. We must learn the game well, organize well, and play to win.
Precinct leaders, district executive members, regional representatives, and all other party leadership must look at our local elections as the bread and butter of what we have set out to accomplish: republican majorities statewide at all levels. Being elected to these party positions is a means to start the brush fire that captures the grassroots voters and brings them to the polls to influence elections. State and national elections are undoubtedly important, but we need a bench of Republicans locally ready to run and serve in higher office when the calling arises.
If you are a member of any party elected seat (precinct, district, regional, etc.) I boldly ask you to prepare and plan for the next election cycle with your fellow district and regional members.
Without a proper plan, there can be no action and no victory. That’s why I am calling an emergency meeting of all Mat-Su and Region 2 district committees to convene and discuss what our plan is for a get-out-the-vote effort in our local election beginning October 20. We must now put our money where our mouths are and elect the people we want to represent us, and who are reflective of our values, at the most fundamental level of government. If you are a Mat-Su/Region 2 district committee member, please look for an email from me. Together we can, and do win. It is time to get to work.
Ryan Sheldon is the Region 2 Director of the Alaska Republican Party.
Here! Here!!
Conservatives are done with the RINO and NeoCons – no one is getting excited about the Tregs, the Dahlstroms, or the establishment politicos – we are done.
Could you have picked a worse picture for Alaska conservatives to relate to you – a tie, and a bow tie at that – that’s kringe AF.
Still waiting for an article, from this new MRAK group on Bernadette Wilson?!?!
Why do we like her – she doesn’t wear bow ties, isn’t a career politician, is a small business owner, and sees through all the bullsxxx of the Alaska MSM and the feckless Yundt republican types that have sided with the Democrats in Juneau.
That’s what’s really going on – we are FED UP WITH YOU – not them.
DW, above, makes a great point! Too many Alaskan politicians in are self-aggrandizing empty shirts, who think that just wearing a bow-tie and spouting conservative ‘talking points’ will send them to the top, with no more true conviction than a Yundt! No wonder there’s so little excitement on our side!
Right on, couldn’t have said it better!
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Contemptuously dismissing voters’ concerns, not a word about the corrupted voter-registration system, Republican officials who seem okay with it, starting with former Lieutenant Governor who was supposed to be in charge of it, or the Republican-Democrat love fest which passes for our legislature?
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Maybe the Alaska Republican Party should “reflect” a little more on what they say they’re fighting for, no?
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Bow tie’s kinda cute though.
Ahhh, “morrigan” always for the win with completely unhelpful comments and never offering any realistic solutions
I’d rather have someone who cares about how they look than some slob who won’t even bathe once a month. It is ignorant to criticize someone who is well dressed and not listen to the message. That kind of thinking, or rather the lack of it, usually is by people who have frog brains.
Bow tie = Tom Fink (a great conservative)
Just sayin.
How about we look at the governor’s race for 2026. There are so many Republicans who have filed for that race now it is hard to keep track of the number, no less their names. So far there is one Democrat, Tom Begich running. There will not be another one. I would not like to be in that race if I was a Republican unless I could heavily finance my own campaign because the donation dollars are going to be very thin for all of the Republicans. Whereas we all know that every union will give copious donations to Mr. Begich as will all of the other normal Democrat donors. There will also be big dollar donations flowing in from beyond Alaska’s borders for Mr. Begich. On top of that problem, if there is more than one Republican in the general election after what will effectively be a Republican Primary, Mr. Begich is pretty much guaranteed a win. Republicans need to give up on the “Full PFD” idea. It will not happen. The money is not there and come up with a better message. I thought that I would never say this, but I see broad based taxes in the near future for Alaskans.
So what is your preference? Broad based taxes and a (not full) Dividend? Or, like me, no new taxes (except for the old nominal school tax) and a small cash Dividend. I would also like to convert the Dividend benefit to a tax-exempt/tax-deferred individual contribution. Like you, I believe the full Dividend is a myth and a disservice to voters to campaign for it. The proposed POMV Constitutional Amendment at 4% is a good idea as well. That would reduce the funds the Legislature has access to from the PF by $850 million a year. That would basically end the Dividend but strengthen the growth of the Fund.
I think what Ryan is telling you guys is:
“Getoff the couch and from behind the keyboard. That’s why we’re losing elections, not because of RCV. If you need help figuring out RCV, just ask. Its not that hard.”
Seriously, the left organizes and gets the vote out and we sit around and call each other RINO because someone doesn’t pass your personal litmus test.
Remember when all of you guys were calling NB3 a RINO because of his last name? Yeah, didn’t think so… but it was a thing, and a significant thing.
I’m not a huge Bernadette fan. I’d actually like someone in there who knows how energy, resources, and the state works. She kinda seems to me like a Sarah Palin knock off, BUT…
If she is the choice (even if its a bad one), I’ll take her before I let a Dem in.
Get smart people, we aren’t voting for the best set of legs. We did that with SP and see how well that worked out.
Yea, don’t love BW either, but will vote for her as she probably has the best shot.
Seemed she was not as sharp as Berkowitz when they had the AM radio show.
She is a small biz owner w/ no Gov experience & will go to Juno to battle a wall of liberal lawyers like Berky.
Those pics of her in a truck wearing high heels just don’t do it for me.
If you are a career politician, I will vote against you.
The same old, same old! Is gone!
RINOS you are gone!
The Career politician is not trust worthy at all.
I hear you, but I’ve had enough of all the phony republicans who become democrats once they get off the plane in Juneau. Enough! I’ve changed my registration to Non-Affiliated.
No excuse for losing Palmer
If you guys believe these elections are not rigged, you need your head examined. Use your heads. Why would anyone use a machine to ‘tally’ votes that has any ability to HOOK TO THE FREEKING INTERNET!? How can precincts ‘tally’ more votes than registered voters?
Thanks Dahlstrom! (Not).
“Without a proper plan, there can be no action and no victory. That’s why I am calling an emergency meeting of all Mat-Su and Region 2 district committees to convene and discuss what our plan is for a get-out-the-vote effort in our local election beginning October 20.”
Ryan, there have been plenty of us that have been saying that we need to get out and do something; but, the chairs and those above them have not acknowledged our statements. While you are busy gallivanting around the country and working for a rep, and our GOP chair is busy adding accomplishments to her resume, we have been losing our seats to democrats. The peons have been making suggestions in the district mtg groups and have been ignored. Many of us are done with the top down approach. It is time for change and that change needs to come from us and not the top.