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Dozens of West Anchorage constituents gathered Thursday night to discuss the possibility of recalling Representative Lindsey Holmes, more than two weeks after she changed political parties from Democrat to Republican.
Rep. Holmes served three terms in the Alaska Legislature as a Democrat and she beat a Republican challenger in November's General Election. But two months after the vote, Holmes stunned many people in District 19 and switched to the G.O.P.
"There's a whole lot of people that feel betrayed by Lindsey because what she did," former state lawmaker Harry Crawford said. "She said that those party designations are just labels. What she doesn't understand is it's honesty and integrity. That's what you live, it's not just a label."
Crawford isn't the only one that feels betrayed. On Thursday, 50 voters held a meeting at the Spenard Recreation Center to try to form a committee that's sole purpose is to recall Holmes' from her position.
Crawford said the committee remains in the beginning stages of learning the recall process, but he has no doubt in his mind the group will go through with it.
"She ran as a Democrat, she ran on a number of Democratic values and she has abandoned those and aligned herself with the far right now," Crawford said.
Holmes has stayed in Juneau since the start of the 28th legislative session and issued a statement Friday evening:
"I understand the anger, and they have every right to pursue this effort. In the meantime, I believe over the coming months my constituents will see by my actions that I am working hard for all the same things I discussed with them at their doors. One of the great things about our democracy is that we have a process like this to hold our elected leaders accountable. I will work to prove them wrong - by continuing to do what's best for West Anchorage and House District 19, not a political party."
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