Representative Holmes Joins Republican Majority Caucus in Juneau

Session gavels in Tuesday with one less Democrat in the state House

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By Bill McAllister
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Story Created: Jan 14, 2013 at 5:55 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Apr 29, 2013 at 10:03 AM AKDT

JUNEAU - When the 28th Legislature gavels in Tuesday, there will be one more House Republican than was elected in November.

Representative Lindsey Holmes’ political conversion is the talk of the Capitol.

West Anchorage Representative Lindsey Holmes is now an ex-Democrat.

She not only joined the Republican-led majority, which several Bush Democrats have done, but she formally changed her party affiliation – believed to be the first time that has happened with a sitting legislator in Alaska since the 1990s.

Holmes said it was while preparing for the legislative session in recent weeks that she came to the realization that her interest in economic development issues would bear more fruit in the House Republican caucus.

“As I was thinking through the upcoming session and I was thinking through the issues, and I was thinking through how I fit in and where I most aligned on the issues that I thought were most important, which revolve around economic development, I thought the best alignment was not just with the majority caucus but was within elements of the Republican party,” Holmes said.

She said changing parties was her own idea and not part of any deal with the Republican leadership.

And while the conversion cost Democrats one seat on the House Finance Committee, which the Republican caucus gave to her, Speaker Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) said that was a separate decision.

Chenault said Holmes’ only commitments are to uphold his procedural rulings and to vote for the majority-crafted state budget on the House floor. “At the end of the day, you know, and through the process, you can make any change that is possible, that you can get through, at the end of the day you’ll vote for the budget.”

“I want to be clear: I have not changed on the issues,” Holmes said. “And I want to be very reassuring. I have not changed on the issues. I have not become a different person than I was when I went door to door in the fall.”

Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau) downplayed Holmes’ defection. “You know, Lindsey, Representative Holmes, has made her own decision. And our caucus is hitting the ground running on Tuesday. We’ve got four new members with great energy; we’ve got six returning legislators with a lot of experience and commitment to this state.”

It’s a new session, and a new chapter for Lindsey Holmes.

Holmes says if she runs for re-election in 2014, it will be as a Republican.
 

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lmaolluna said on Wednesday, Jan 16 at 1:55 PM

TedtheBear said today at 3:15 PM Well Iluna If you don't see that, you are still living in some basement and having your mom cater you some apple pie............................................................................................ LMAO, WOW is that the best you can do to try to insult me??, hey a..hole your the reason we(america) needs a war within it self, to get rid of libTURDs/demonCRAPs like you, scumbags like you will do whatever to push your libTURD agenda,even calling yourself a republican.. go ahead a..hole try harder next time to "insult" me because it will do you no good chump..

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lluna said on Wednesday, Jan 16 at 1:54 PM

TedtheBear said today at 3:15 PM Well Iluna If you don't see that, you are still living in some basement and having your mom cater you some apple pie............................................................................................ LMAO, WOW is that the best you can do to try to insult me??, hey a==hole your the reason we(america) needs a war within it self, to get rid of libTURDs/demonCRAPs like you, scumbags like you will do whatever to push your libTURD agenda,even calling yourself a republican.. go ahead a==hole try harder next time to "insult" me because it will do you no good chump..

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TedtheBear said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 4:15 PM

Well Iluna, I wanted some balance in Juneau. I don't want it totally dominated by the Republicans because they will do stupid things that all political parties do in any state where there are little or no opposition I thought Lindsey Holmes would help hold the lines on some of the worst aspects but now she will be joining in on it. There got to be a check and balance here. While I support most of the Republican agenda, I do not support all of it. I read that in the state of Hawaii, there is no Republican power in their state government or even city. Its all Democrats and running amok since they don't have to answer to anyone. I don't want the same happening in Alaska with Republicans running amok. Politicians running amok is a bad thing for the general public regardless of what party is running amok. If you don't see that, Iluna, you are still living in some basement and having your mom cater you some apple pie.

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lluna said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 1:09 PM

TedtheBear said today at 7:56 AM Although I am a fake Republican, I voted for her as a Democrat for my own reasons, well because i really am a demoCRAP. Thus I am not please with her switch. I wanted wanted a Republican to represent me, I would have voted for her opponent. I guess I won't be voting for her again. Too flaky, eh?..................................................................................................wow really??, your crying because she switched, hey moron you both have something in common, your both R.I.N.O's... don't worry chump she will talk republican but vote demonbat all the time like you and the rest of the r.i.n.o's.

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TedtheBear said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 8:56 AM

Although I am a Republican, I voted for her as a Democrat for my own reasons. Thus I am not please with her switch. I wanted wanted a Republican to represent me, I would have voted for her opponent. I guess I won't be voting for her again. Too flaky, eh?

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Al said on Monday, Jan 14 at 7:36 PM

Flake!

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