Group gathers to look for political alternatives

WASILLA -- What's the strategy and science behind the Republican-led state government? How is it possible the party was able to secure leadership of two of the state's three branches in the last election? Do non-Republicans have a future in Alaska or Valley politics?

A group called Valley Progressive Voters gathered Saturday at the Wasilla American Legion for a day-long conference to answer these and other questions and analyze voting information about the 2002 statewide election process. Speakers at the conference included political analyst Tom Begich, Alaska Democrat Party chair Scott Sterling and and Alaska Conservation Foundation program director Kevin Harun. While many who made up the group hailed from the Alaska Democrat Party, independent and undeclared voters who characterized themselves as progressives were on hand as well.

Begich described historical voting trends across Alaska, once a strong Democratic state. When Alaska was accepted into the Union in 1959, it was paired with Hawaii, a traditionally Republican state, to keep seats in Congress on an even keel. Subsequent waves of people have had a marked effect on Alaska's politics, Begich said, and a new change may be on the horizon. Until the mid-70s, Begich said, settlement in Alaska came primarily from the prairie states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, for example. Those settlers, he explained, brought with them a prairie political view largely based on the Democratic land parties of that area.

"Many of those people settled right here," Begich said, and it was from these settlers that area politicians such as Jalmar Kerttula and Ron Larson got their start.

The next trend, Begich said, was an influx of settlers from the west coast. That wave brought a slightly different blend of political views and, among other things, led to a 26-year-old House speaker. More recently, new Alaska residents have hailed from the southern states, Begich said, and more conservative Alaska and Valley politics have been the result. As settlers move in and put down their roots, he said, political ideas seem to change.

"A lot of the rural, settled 'D's, in the second generation, tend to become very independent and not liking of government," Begich said.

Other trends have affected Alaska politics as well. The Southeast, a traditionally Democratic area, has had a marked decline in numbers, meaning fewer voters. But that may soon change, Begich said, explaining that in one Southeast area, half the population is under the age of 21.

"These are places where, if we have a good message, we can secure voters," Begich said. He estimated by 2006 the natural progression of people moving in, settling and becoming involved in their communities, in addition to the increasing age in some Bush communities, would cause a shift in Alaska politics back toward the progressive, or Democratic, side.

But it won't change without a little hard work. Part of the battle, Begich said, is developing a message that resonates beyond the high number of women voters -- about 57 percent of the Alaska Democrat Party is made up of women voters, compared to about 44 percent women in the Alaska Republican Party.

"We tend to focus on issues that pertain to women," Begich said. "But we can't win if we do that."

Begich suggested Valley progressive voters get together to come up with ideas they see as important that are reflected in the community.

Keeping politics local, he said, was one way to make local residents interested in politics and in being involved in the democratic process.

It may take more than a good message for Alaska Democrats to regain their footing in the state, however. Harun, who has been active in Alaska Conservation Voters most recently, said replacing Republican incumbents with progressive or Democratic candidates takes focus, a good message and a lot of organization. Harun, along with ACV, has helped support nine of the 11 Anchorage assembly members, along with focusing their efforts on gaining and retaining statewide seats now held by candidates such as Gretchen Guess, D-Anchorage, and Ethan Berkowitz, D-Anchorage.

"We didn't do this in one election cycle," Harun said, adding that it wasn't in one election cycle that the driving party in the state switched from the Democrat party to the Republican Party, either. According to Begich's information, the switch was made during a four-year period, but many of the demographic changes that brought it about were already in the works. Harun added that, in the Valley, progressive-minded people should, instead of entering a candidate in every race and hoping they all win, join together and concentrate on getting one candidate elected.

"The Valley is an important place because we have to hold that line," Harun said.

Harun, too, emphasized the importance of developing a strong and unifying message that would resonate with people in the area.

"Play to your base," Harun encouraged. "You need to figure out your base."

While Valley progressive voters work together to develop a base, similar work is going on in Anchorage. The week prior to Saturday's conference, a similar convention was held in Anchorage with an outside speaker on hand to help plan and develop a strategy for increasing the number of Democrats or progressive seats held in the state. Both were first-time conferences, but conference planners say they're hoping to see work continue during the coming weeks.

Joan Hope, who helped organize the event, said conference attendees will likely get together over the coming weeks to develop a mission statement and vision for the Valley.

"We need to sit down and take a look at where we want to go and how we're going to get there," Hope said.