The Alaskan Independence Party is holding its statewide convention on Saturday, April 23 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AIP Chairman Bob Bird will conduct the proceedings along with keynote addresses from Dr. Forrest Nabors, Professor of History at UAA and Ric Davidge, Vietnam veteran and advisor for the Reagan and Hickel administrations.
Bird spoke to KSRM on Saturday’s events:
“We’ll have people from all over the state and we will be discussing resolutions, party platforms and making endorsements for the major offices or we will determine how we will make endorsements in the event there are no AIP members that make it to the general election.”
Gubernatorial candidate Rep. Christopher Kurka will speak in person. Gov. Mike Dunleavy sent a personalized e-video, as has candidate and current Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce. Additionally, candidate for U.S. Senate Kelly Tshibaka sent a personal e-video for the delegates and candidate for Alaska State House Tyler Ivanoff of Shishmaref will speak through FaceTime.
Bird explains that the Alaskan Independence Party is not a secession party:
“It is a party whose foundation means that we believe we were deprived at statehood of the four options, which the United Nations treaty of the United States Federal Government signed onto was deserving of all non-self-governing territories in the world. The U.S. obeyed the obligations to the Philippines and Guam and Puerto Rico as did France and the Netherlands and the British, and their colonies all over the world, but Alaska and Hawaii, who were identified as non-self-governing territories in 1945 were only given two options. That was to become a state or remain a territory. We believe that the legislature should claim their right of Alaskans to have the same options and rights that Puerto Ricans, Filipinos, and Guamanians have enjoyed for the last 75 years.”
Additionally, Bird adds:
“People can register right at the door and pay the $100 convention fee. A large part, of which, goes to the caterer. We will welcome them if they re-register and pay their fee and if they just want to observe, they can pay $25 and get speaking privileges, but no voting privileges.”
Bird writes that the AIP is institutionally in favor of a constitutional convention, a full statutory payment of the PFD, pro-gun, pro-family, and pro-life.
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