With "George W. Bush for President" sheriff style pins on nearly every lapel in sight at the meeting Feb. 20 at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, there was no mystery about whom the 33 republicans supported for President. Instead, they got down to the nuts-and-bolts of local party politics, and elected new officers and delegates to the state convention, to be held in Soldotna the weekend of May 20-22.

Elected were Eileen Becker, chairman, Marilyn Hendren, vice-chairman, Leah Handley, secretary, and Maynard Gross, treasurer. Fourteen delegates and four alternates were selected to attend the state convention. Becker replaces retiring District 35 Chairman Marge Brittain.

Brittain who recently changed her last name from Morrow was honored in January by the Republican Party of Alaska as an Outstanding Team Leader, and recognized by the national party at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting. State chairman Randy Ruedrich noted her service all the way back to helping organize a state convention in 1986 at Denali National Park.

"She gets the job done," he said in an e-mail recommending her for the honor. "A helluva volunteer."

District 35 has about 2,500 registered republicans, said Becker. Stan Welles, who helped organize the convention, said with District 35 extending from Kachemak Bay over to Seward, "To have meetings, it makes getting people together very difficult at times."

Brittain made an effort to hold district meetings halfway over to Seward or Cooper Landing, he said.

"It really didn't matter where you held a meeting," Welles said. "You really knock down participation. I'm sure the democrats have the same problem."

The District 35 Democratic Party holds its convention March 20 at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna. Democratic Vice-Chairman Amy Bollenbach said the local democrats chose Soldotna to make the convention more accessible to all district party members.

Becker said the local Republican Party convention focused on choosing officers and state delegates. Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, and Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, attended the convention. Both legislators have filed letters of intent to run for re-election, according to the Alaska Public Offices Commission. No other republicans have filed to challenge the incumbents, and Becker said there was no discussion of other candidates.

"It takes a real commitment to throw your hat in the ring," Becker said.

There had been rumors that some republicans would try to get support for Mike Heimbuch, an independent running for District 35 representative, but Becker said there was no discussion of support for Heimbuch. As chairman, she said she cannot officially support any candidate for the Republican Party nomination until after the primary election.

Becker said there was no discussion of national issues, such as gay and lesbian marriage.

"Nobody I'm aware of gives that any credence," said Welles. "At our level, it's kind of a no-brainer. Nobody is considering it as a serious issue."

Alaska voters in 1998 approved an amendment to the Alaska Constitution banning gay and lesbian marriage, establishing that "to be valid or recognized in this state, a marriage may exist only between one man and one woman."

Becker said discussion instead was about state or local issues, such as the Kachemak Bay fast ferry, natural gas, coal bed methane and shallow-gas drilling. A resolution on the No Child Left Behind act was raised, but died for lack of action, she said.

There was also discussion of the Percent of Market Value proposed changes to the Alaska Permanent Fund, a state income tax and other state budget and revenue issues.

"More relevant were the pocketbook-related issues," Welles said.

A Diamond Ridge resident, Becker has lived 30 years in Homer, moving up here from Santa Barbara, Calif. She's a partner with her husband Dave Becker in Peninsula Communications Inc., which owns the K-BAY, K-WAVE, KPEN and KGTL radio stations. They used to own the old Heady Hotel on Pioneer Avenue, now the Heritage Hotel.

Becker first became active in politics when she organized a recall 18 years ago of Kenai Peninsula Borough Assemblyman Tom Brown.

"One of the things I cut my teeth on," she said. "I realized a person could make a difference."

Becker criticized apathy among voters. Two of her uncles died in World War II, and she has a son in the military who might be deployed to Iraq.

"These people deserve our backing," she said of service members. "One way we can back them is to exercise our right to vote."

Party activism "runs like a sine curve," Welles said. "Nobody's involved for two years, and then everybody's involved."

Seaton has been good about soliciting her help, Becker said.

"You can't stay on top of every little thing," she said. "He's there, but can't be everywhere. Everything I've approached him with, he's been real open."

Becker was asked if she would want to someday run for state house.

"I wouldn't want that job. No way," she said.

As party chairman, Becker said she would like to raise more money. The local republicans have been selling the Bush sheriff pins as one of their fund-raisers. She said she would like to see a Young Republicans club started, too.

"I will be as active and viable and productive as people will help me be," Becker said.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.