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Movement to oust Ruedrich

by Rebecca Palsha
Thursday, March 13, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Should he stay or should he go?

A plan to oust the Republican Party Chair Randy Ruedrich is a big topic at the Republican Party state convention which started Thursday night.

Ruedrich says he has no plans to resign, despite a push by a regional chairman from Fairbanks to get him out of office before his term is finished.

Thursday night, Ruedrich was looking very much in charge during the party's state convention.

Ruedrich was in his element, surrounded by long-time friends, party collogues at the convention.

But behind the scenes is a growing push to get him out of office.

Joe Miller, a regional chairman from Fairbanks is leading the effort.

"We want to tell the public you can embrace us and not feel dirty in the process," Miller said. "We're doing this so we can tell the public look we're behind the public and its motivation to clean up government. That's what this is all about and to make sure the public understands that the Republican Party is a party of ethics and not corruption."

Ruedrich himself violated the state's ethics act and paid a $12,000 civil penalty after he used his state office with the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to conduct Republican Party business.

Congressional candidate Gabrielle LeDoux said new leadership is needed at all levels.

"We need to think about cleaning up the Republican Party as a whole," LeDoux said. "We need to bring in a new wave of leaders on all levels."

So does he feel pressure to resign, especially with such open opposition?

Ruedrich says no-way.    

"I have no intension of resigning," Ruedrich said. "My intent is to serve out the term I was elected to unanimously by the people in Fairbanks. So I would be representing the party as the chair through the 2008 election when the term ends."

Ruedrich said he's looking to the future and expects it to be a good one.

"I plan to go on vacation," Ruedrich said. "Then I'll return to work the election. Our mission now is raise some candidates to make sure we don't give to any Democrats a free day in the sun."

But Ruedrich's day in the sun could be almost over if Miller gets two-thirds of the 400 delegates to kick him out.

Miller said a motion was made and accepted, which means the delegates will not vote on whether to allow Ruedrich to stay in office or not.

He said he's now weighting his options about what to do next.

A spokesperson for Gov. Palin said she favors a change in leadership.

Contact Rebecca Palsha at rpalsha@ktuu.com