Local Parties Plan for Elections Under New Boundaries

Jay Barrett/KMXT

With the federal government’s approval yesterday of Alaska legislative districts, local Democratic Party leaders are planning a meeting for Monday to elect new officers in a house district that now includes much of Prince William Sound.

Liz Fleming is the current party chair:

— (Parties 1 37 sec "Well, we’ve been directed … all standing for election.")

Fleming had previously been chair of District 21 Democrats in Anchorage before moving to Kodiak. Up there, all the house districts worked closely, but here in rural Alaska, she’s finding it’s a little different:

— (Parties 2 37 sec "In Anchorage the party … get-togethers we’d have.")

At Monday’s meeting, Fleming says former Kodiak Republican Party Chair Bob Brodie will give a presentation on the reapportionment process and what it means for Kodiak:

— (Parties 3 27 sec "Bob has graciously agreed … come that’s interested.")

According to Gail Brandt, the chair of the Kodiak Republicans, the local party has already taken care of its officer selections:

— (Parties 4 14 sec "Well, we did have a preference … so we’ve already done that.")

Brandt says the local party is reaching out to the new communities that are now in the same district as Kodiak.

She says she’s planning on calling a meeting of the local Republican faithful, but has not announced a date yet:

— (Parties 5 21 sec "You know, hopefully get Alan … go over that with everybody.")

Brandt says the perceived schism seen in Republican Party politics elsewhere is not an issue in Kodiak:

— (Parties 6 34 sec "Well, there’s definitely at the top … anybody but Obama.")

Brandt says she will be starting a voter registration drive over the summer, but plans it to be a non-partisan effort.

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