Don’t change horses midstream.

President Lincoln, back in 1864, felt it “not best to swap horses while crossing the river”
when it came to his nomination for a second term as President.

He never suggested himself the epitome of greatness, but his efforts and notable management of the nation and command of the Union troops were skillsets that kept the North stable enough to ultimately win the Civil War.

Lincoln’s phrase is apropos today, as Alaskan Republicans face a looming shadow of Independent and Democratic candidate challengers, polemic political blogs and social media content undermining our goals, and a new electoral Non-Partisan Top-Four Primary and Ranked Choice Voting process that is both confusing and concerning.

Now, more than ever, our state’s GOP must prepare for 2022’s campaign battles with leadership intact and momentum unfettered.

It is no easy task to keep all of our “wings” flying in the same direction.

Ann Brown is the Alaska Republican Party’s Chairwoman.

Ann is not only getting the job done for our diverse membership, but she is also bringing together a formidable team of supporters and fundraising assets.

Admittedly, the first time Ann was a candidate for the Alaska Republican Party (ARP) chairmanship, I supported Tuckerman Babcock, who I knew for decades. Tuckerman later transitioned into Governor Dunleavy’s Cabinet, and Pastor Glenn Clary took over the ARP as Ann rose to Vice-Chair. During this time I observed her work ethic and organizational skills and realized Ann has both aptitude and intellect to help grow and protect our Party.

When Glenn moved to Virginia to help his mentor, Dr. Prevo, at Liberty University, Ann became the Party’s state chair.

And ever since, I remain impressed and pleased at her success.

One of Ann’s most notable accomplishments has been to create a stable donor base to fund state GOP operations and get-out-to-vote (GOTV) efforts. She’s made sure supporters and campaign volunteers are trained to use GOTV tools while increasing the GOP’s state email recipient lists. She helped establish and increase digital fundraising while targeting a concerted effort to increase social media followers and engagement online. Ann helped establish the template for the election day operations hub, and most recently ramped up recruitment and training of poll watchers.

When I last spoke with Ann and asked her about her vision for 2022 and beyond, she expressed the goal being to make sure fellow Republicans have a shared sense of purpose and esprit de corps to carry out the Party’s two main purposes:

1. 1. Generating consistent fundraising streams for GOP messaging and voter communications.
   2. Ensuring Republican majorities are secured in federal, state, and local Alaskan elections.

At the end of last year, retired Alaska Lt. Governor and General Craig Campbell, Anchorage District Chairman Mike Robbins, and our new state Finance Chairman Jason Warfield forged a fundraising game plan to recruit a group of  GOP supporters committed to consistently donate to help cover GOP administrative costs. Ann championed the idea. These donors are in addition to the Freedom Club roster of monthly supporters. Our Party’s finances are stable now, and our bank account continues to build. Ann deserves credit for this, under her watch.

The list is long of Ann’s service above self and accomplishments to our cause, with no income or expectation of compensation.

Chairwoman Ann Brown puts the Alaska Republican Party and its members first, with courtesy, professionalism, and an intent to generate solidarity when it comes to the underlying reason we have a Republican organization in the first place: To elect Republicans!

I encourage GOP members planning to participate in the April 2022 Alaska GOP State Convention in Fairbanks to connect with Ann and get to know her. Consider her record of success.

This is not the time to change leadership as we cross the river.

Alaska’s GOP is moving in the right direction thanks to Ann Brown.