GOP shows faith, confidence at picnic
Younger generation getting more involved

KINGMAN — Based on the showing in the Hualapai Mountains Sunday, in Mohave County it’s the Republican Party that’s the party of youth.

Dozens of people under 30-years-old were at the annual Republican Picnic. While many weren’t close to voting age — they were tagging along with parents that wanted to meet or support candidates for local, county and state offices — many were there to get involved in the political process.

Some, like 17-year-old Tom Hein of Bullhead City, were getting a first-hand look at the electoral process.

“I think I’d like to get more involved in politics in the future,” Hein said.

Which suits party leadership just fine. Mohave County Republican Central Committee Chairman Buster Johnson said getting more young people involved is the key to Republicans staying dominant in the county.

“That’s the biggest difference at the picnic this year, the number of young people getting involved in the process,” Johnson said. “They’re excited about (John) McCain.”

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has Gene Gregor of Kingman looking forward to the November general election, hoping McCain leads a Republican “clean sweep” of all elected positions. But his wife Lynn doesn’t think that too likely.

“I believe the Republicans will make gains in Congress but we won’t win back the Congress this election. In two years, absolutely,” she said.

At the local and state level, Republicans were pleased to see at least one candidate for each office, unlike their Democratic counterparts that have no candidates for most of the elected positions at the county level — one is running for judge and another for supervisor in the Kingman district — and just one each running for state House and Senate.

“That’s the way it’s supposed to be,” said Lynn Gregor. “That’s why we moved here.”

Republicans remain the dominant force in Mohave County, with almost 41,000 registered Republicans according to the last count by the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. Undeclared and independent voters follow with almost 30,000 registrations and then Democrats at 26,000.

“Only having Republican candidates leaves the possibility of dissention in the party, but the people of Mohave County are of like mind and share the Republican priorities,” Johnson said. “It’s great to have so many that want to get involved in local elections and carry on those ideals.”

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.