2006 Alaska Republican Party State Convention

The Alaska Republican Party held its State Convention in Fairbanks on April 6th, 7th, and 8th.


226 delegates from 35 House Districts attended the convention. Here, the delegates listen to Senator Stevens speak at Saturday's luncheon.
Lily of the Valley Church Choir was fantastic. They sang the delegates patriotic songs with such spiritual enthusiasm that everyone in the room was proud to be an American.

Saturday, at the breakfast meeting, Sarah Palin, Johne Binkley, and Merica Hlatcu faced off answering questions from the delegates. The Sarah Palin said it was too early to commit to supporting the winner of the Republican Primary, while Binkley and Hlatcu said they will support whomever the voters select in the Republican Primary in August.

On other issues, the candidates agreed that marriage benefits should be limited to the married union of one man and one woman and they would assert State Sovereignty.

Johne Binkley told delegates Governor Murkowski had started the process of negotiating a gasline and the development of our natural resource base and we now need a governor who can be "steady at the wheel" like Binkley.

Rick Halford and Mike Prax take notes at the Resources Committee. Several resolutions passed at the convention including a resolution to support development of the Pebble Mine.

Sen. Ralph Seekins and Rep. John Coghill were among legislators that came to the convention. Here they visit with Byron Haley about fishing issues.

Bonnie Williams takes notes during the speech by U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. Bonnie, Rhonda Boyles and Mike Dalton, along with volunteers galore, helped bring the Fairbanks convention together. Chairman Randy Ruedrich said this convention brought more money into the party than the last three conventions combined. Good job to our Fairbanks Republican Women who took charge of the convention.

Lt. Governor candidate & former Senator Sean Parnell, wife, Sandy, and Charisse Millette, Chief of Staff for Rep. Vic Kohring, attend the luncheon with Senator Stevens as guest speaker.

Speaking of Senator Stevens, here he poses for a picture with Fairbanks' official hostess, Ruby Riddle. Ruby was a delegate from District 10.

Republican Matriarchs Mike Dalton and Pauline Martens chime in at the Communcations Committee meeting. They agreed that Republicans need to do a better job of letting people know what Republicans stand for. Most people judge Republicans by what they hear from the press and the Democrat Party.

Former State Senator Mike Miller, District 11 Chair Todd Larkin, Vice Chair Mike Prax, and delegate Gerri Benshoof share a light moment with Rep. John Coghill of District 11.

Rhonda Boyles was elected State Vice-Chair and said she would be working to prepare a state convention manual and to gain support to hire an executive director for the statewide organization.

District 11 Chair Todd Larkin discusses national defense issues with Chris Nelson who works for the Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Former State Representative and current District 10 Chariman, Nick Stepovich, visits with former State Senator, Former Anchorage Mayor, and former Gubernatorial candidate Tom Fink.

Rep. Jay Ramras visits with Ruby Riddle, a delegate from District 10 from which Rep. Ramras was elected.

Cal Skogstad and Cam Carlson listen intently to Senator Stevens' speech.

Keynote speaker for the Friday night banquet was Michael Zak. Here, he autographs a copy of his book for Lt. Governor Loren Leman.

Lt. Governor Leman autographed a copy of the Alaska State Constitution for Michael Zak. Michael Zak is Executive Director of the Lincoln Reagan Freedom Foundation. Before writing Back to Basics for the Republican Party, Michael was a Foreign Service Officer and financial analyst in Chicago and New York.(http://www.lincolnreaganfoundation.org).

"Michael Zak's presentations to Republican organizations around the country often get standing ovations. Among the topics on which he has spoken are The True Heritage of our Grand Old Party, Abraham Lincoln, Republican, Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy, and Frederick Douglass, Republican. "

You can contact Michael at Grand_Old_Partisan@hotmail.com

Michael and Lt. Governor Leman had time to talk about how the Republican Party is misrepresentated by the press. Michael's recent book, Back to Basics for the Republican Party, gives the history of the Republican Party and helps people better understand what we stand for. Michael said he researched the history for fourteen months. then took only four months to write the book.

Former Representative Jeannette James appears to be giving her opinion to Mary Binkley, who came to the Saturday breakfast to hear her son, Johne Binkley, during to debate of Republican gubernatorial candidates.

District 11 Chair Todd Larkin and District 11 Vice-Chair Mike Prax share an exchange of opinions with the District 11 delegates on resolutions presented to the full convention.

Rep. Mark Neuman sits at his district table with National Committeewoman June Burkhart and her husband, delegate Roy Burkhart.

District 11 delegates Lyman Benshoof, Jeannette James, and Royce Chapman listen to the debate about resolutions brought to the floor from committees.

Senator Ted Stevens and gubernatorial candidate Johne Binkley watch as the Lily of the Valley Church Choir sings "Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America". The choir received a standing ovation.

Don Smith and Glen Clarey catch up on party news. Don is running for the State House seat Democrat Representative Berta Gardner now holds. There are rumors Darwin Peterson will also be running on the Republican ticket for this seat. Don was in the legislature years ago and Darwin is a legislative aide for Senator Gary Wilken.

Nick Stepovich of District 10 and Spike Jorgerson of District 6 compare notes.

Lt. Governor Loren Leman and ARP Chairman Randy Ruedrich watch the Lt. Governor candidates, Troy Maulden and Sean Parnell debate the issues.

Gubernatorial candidate Johne Binkley visits with Mike Welch a delegate from District 11.

Delegates from Southeast enjoy the conversation at the Communications Committee meeting. From the left: Chris Wyatt and Paulette Simpson are from Juneau and Kyle Johanson is from Ketchikan.

Sarah Palin addressing the convention Saturday morning to a standing room only group on attendants at the gubernatorial debate.

Roger Burggraf delegate from District 8 watches Sarah Plain field questions from the delegates.

Delegate Sue Hull and Mike Prax found out they agreed on early childhood development and the role of parents in their children's education.

The Resources Committee was by far the most popular where discussions surrounded the petroleum production tax and the natural gasline route.

The Lathrop ROTC Color Guard officially opened the convention with the raising of the flags.

Delegates from District 8 Sue Hull, Beth Seekins, Joe and Kathleen Miller, and Chris Duke listen to the Light Gov candidates.

District 11 delegate Mike Miller and District 12 delegate have been steady soldiers in our battle to protect the unborn children. Mike is a former candidate for Lt. Governor and Governor and is a local businessman in North Pole (Santa Claus House). Debbie is heads up the Alaska Chapter of Eagle Forum and is a strong voice for life. She recently traveled to Juneau to testify for SB 20 the Laci Peterson Bill sponsored by Senator Fred Dyson and HJR 32 which would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to more strictly define marriage and the benefits that go with marriage. The resolution is sponsored by Representative Coghill.

Charisse Millett and Vice Chair Rhonda Boyles pose for a great picture. For more information about the resolutions passed at the state convention go to the Alaska Republican Party's website at:

http://www.alaskarepublicans.com/

Brandon Matklen listens intently as Lt. Governor candidates field questions from the delegates.

Jonathan Lack is the new assistant secretary for the Alaska Republican Party.

Former Representative Bud Fate (District 7) and wife Mary Jane Fate came to the luncheon to listen to Senator Stevens' speech to the delegates.

Ward Sattler was a delegate from District 6. He will be running against former Representative Carl Morgan in the August Primary for the District 6 House Seat.

Sarah Palin supporter, Todd Larkin, has a friendly dialogue with Johne Binkley.

Chairman Randy Ruedrich introduces Doug Isaacson from District 11 who gave the invocation at the luncheon prior to Senator Steven's speech to the delegates.

Here Doug Isaacson is taking notes of Steven's speech.