FAIRBANKS — Outgoing Alaska Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich told Fairbanks Republicans at a weekly luncheon Friday to “go fishing” instead of returning to the party’s reconvened state convention in June.
The move could thwart an expected bid by a coalition of Tea Partiers and Ron Paul supporters to dramatically rewrite party rules in order to award the state’s 24 Republican delegates to Paul, a change Ruedrich said would undermine the Republican Presidential Preference Poll held earlier this year.
Ron Paul supporters and Tea Party members scored a sweeping victory against what they called “establishment Republicans” at the state convention in April. In a rowdy three-day meeting, which included the booing of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, dissatisfied state delegates elected new party leaders, including political newcomer Russ Millette to replace Ruedrich, who didn’t seek re-election.
Ruedrich said he believes the new leadership won’t necessarily spell doom for the party as long as the newcomers take their time to learn the ropes of campaigning and fundraising and stay focused on winning state elections and defeating Democrats.
But he said that’s not the plan that Tea Party and Ron Paul supporters have for the second part of the convention, which is scheduled for June 6.
Instead, Ruedrich believes they’ll attempt to rewrite party rules in hopes of snatching the presidential nomination for Ron Paul at the National Republican Convention in Tampa, Florida.
“The Ron Paul people have a defined plan. They want to send 24 delegates and 24 alternates to Tampa,” he said. “Alaska Republicans voted on March 6 to send eight Romney delegates, eight Santorum delegates, six Ron Paul delegates — not 24 — and three Gingrich delegates. The reconvene has a very narrow purpose and we don’t need to revisit something that we’ve done in a proper session. I view it as an inappropriate process.”
By telling delegates to stay home, there won’t be quorum and nothing could be passed.
“I would encourage all of you to make that day useful because I understand that many people are not planning to be there,” Ruedrich said. “I would encourage you to work on things that are family related or go fishing.”
In addition, there has been talk of rewriting rules so Millette will take over the reigns of the Alaska GOP immediately, instead of early in 2013. Ruedrich said that would be a poor choice for the future of the party because it would leave leadership scrambling to support candidates in the upcoming statewide elections, where all but one seat will be on the ballot.
The move has many state delegates up in arms over what they see as an intentional attempt to deny Paul a shot at the Republican presidential ticket. The Ron Paul national committee wrote a letter before the April convention accusing the Alaska Republican Party and Ruedrich of intentionally closing the doors on any non-Romney supporters.
Millette visited the Interior Republican’s luncheon last week and said it was necessary for the party to reconvene. He said there’s lots of party and platform work that was left unfinished when the convention abruptly ended in April.
Millette did not answer calls or emails for comment on Friday.
Despite the smoldering conflict between the outgoing and incoming leadership, Millette seemed to strike a conciliatory tone in his meeting with Fairbanks Republicans last week. He said he recognized the institutional knowledge and abilities of Ruedrich and was working to make sure the transition went smoothly.
Ruedrich said he believes the conflict will blow over and that the party will come together over the next few months.
“After the Moral Majority events of the 1980s, there were limited impacts within a matter of months,” he said. “Things heal. Look at the tremendous numbers Romney has today after the primary. He’s now competitive instead of being 15 points down 45 days ago. I want to see a Republican Party with one identified opposition, and that’s the Democrats.”
Contact Fairbanks Daily News-Miner staff writer Matt Buxton at 907-459-7544 or follow him on Twitter at @FDNMpolitics.
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laughable said on Saturday, May 26 at 8:51 AM
well may be because they are crooked as a dogs hind leg!
91941326Chillywillyak said on Saturday, May 26 at 9:33 AM
With the backing for Murkykowski I lost all respect for the republican party in this state , she was appointed by a govenor (DADDY) that was crooked and had no clue about the will of the people of Alaska I'm just sorry that when she get voted out she will get a retirement for voteing as a RINO.
91944226Cliff said on Saturday, May 26 at 9:37 AM
Alaska voters spoke on 6 March ... that vote of delegate distribution should be honored. The Ron Paul group represents Obama Chicago strong arm politics, not democracy!
91944376So Sad said on Saturday, May 26 at 9:54 AM
The goal of the Republican party is to defeat Democrats? What happened to representing the people of the state? What happened to being responsible for (and to)the people? This kind of behavior can, and most likely will, cause the demise of the Republican party. Sad...
91945456cooljulie said on Saturday, May 26 at 12:16 PM
Odd how this article lumps Tea Baggers and Ron Paul supporters together. NOT the case. Ron Paul is in no way aligned with the Tea Party, though they may have some overlapping ideas in common. Ron Paul is far smarter than their rhetoric.
91953763stormy1one said on Saturday, May 26 at 1:49 PM
We Republicans made our choice in the Presidential Poll. The delegates should remain split between the 4 candidates per the rules in place at that time!!! The new "leader" should take over in the NEW year, NOT now. I am so sick of the bickering in this party. Changing the rules now is just plain WRONG! and BTW, I am a Republican, but I am Pro-Choice. (but only in the first trimester should it be legal)
91958445Anonymous said on Saturday, May 26 at 3:28 PM
support RON PAUL if you have even the slightest care in the world about the truth because he is the ONLY politician tht hasnt bald face lied to us!
91963086Anonymous said on Saturday, May 26 at 4:22 PM
give me a break about how Richous the Republicans are they are thieves - latest is Parnell...problem is a federal protologist I mean probe is coming... rebubs can buy ointment cheap and rub it on the hole that hurts the most...I say Alaska go Independent!
91965086patriot said on Saturday, May 26 at 7:40 PM
Ron Paul is the only candidate who makes any sense. Ron Paul or none at all 2012.
91974686Gunny G said on Saturday, May 26 at 8:09 PM
The only people more crooked that the Republicans in Alaska is the Democrat party that tried to foist a San Fran lawyer on us!
91975874fish&fly said on Saturday, May 26 at 9:50 PM
I can only hope that this is the beginning of the end of the 2 party system. I have usually voted republican but I have never voted for Lisa.
91979386Alaska Patriot Vet said on Saturday, May 26 at 10:05 PM
Party poly-ticks as usual ... only now the shoe is on the other foot. The lame-stream old time Republic-RATS need to move over and let freedom ring: GO RON PAUL.
91980046Anonymous said on Saturday, May 26 at 11:10 PM
well the State of Alaska Public Notice can have light - 2011 - when Parnell had the Attorney General refuse to give intel for a criminal trial, THEN he has the AG give immunity to 4 attorneys with the SOA As the Corruptions Turn in Alaska - new soap opera
91981536Sherri said on Monday, May 28 at 7:02 AM
Amazing article....I guess the Invisible man as well as the disapearring US Constitution is not so invisible after all. Do you really think everyone believes all the facts that are supposedly truthisms that are written in these propaganda driven report articles? Progress is being made when those who operate above the law due due to abscene amounts of money, power and influence are now crying foul?
92059495Billy said on Monday, May 28 at 1:42 PM
Let the parties break from the inside and, maybe once they're broken they can redefine party doctorines and learn how to work together.
92078436Anonymous said on Monday, May 28 at 6:46 PM
they keep bellowing in their bourbon we will have to spring for a case of Depends - all that maturity...
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