This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 29, 2001.

By LISA WAHLA
Valley Press Staff Writer

LANCASTER - It wasn't all that long ago that June Spencer thought the Republican Central Committee was a GOP group from Central California.

Oh, what a difference a decade makes. Spencer has picked up enough political acumen to qualify her for the presidency of the Antelope Valley Republican Assembly.

Spencer was installed as AVRA's president last month, and this weekend she'll spend her 58th birthday in Los Angeles at the annual convention for the California Republican Assembly, under which AVRA operates.

For decades, Spencer was registered as nonpartisan and voted for individual candidates rather than for particular political parties. She was busy working and raising three kids and just hadn't gotten involved in politics.

But nine years ago, her son, Andy Visokey - now a Lancaster city councilman - launched his political career with a campaign for the Lancaster School District board. Visokey jumped in feet first, also serving as AVRA president in 1994 and 1995.

"I wanted to see my son and he was so busy I had to find a way see him," Spencer said, so she began attending functions. At one such event, an AVRA installation banquet at which Visokey gave a brief speech, Spencer was pleasantly surprised to see former AVRA President Doc Burch pray in public.

That left a good impression on Spencer, who attended several other AVRA meetings and then joined the club.

She said she agrees with the club's conservative bent, and hopes to spread its message to more of the Antelope Valley. Club representatives will be out among the people: Earlier this month, members participated in Quartz Hill's Almond Blossom Festival for the first time. AVRA also has a booth planned at the upcoming Poppy Festival in Lancaster.

"We want to keep the Antelope Valley Republican," she said. "Palmdale is already on the teeter-totter. We want to keep our values."

Spencer said she'd like to increase the club's membership, hovering in the mid-90s, to 100. Son Visokey is certain that is possible, and said he would like to see membership back up to 150, as it was half a dozen years ago.

Longtime Republican activist Mary Miller, who served as a sort of mentor to Spencer, believes Spencer is the right leader for AVRA.

"I think she'll be firm; she'll go according to protocol," said Miller, who shared a room with Spencer in Washington for George W. Bush's inauguration. "That's very important. She's fair to everyone and treats everyone alike. I'm really excited about her presidency."

Though Republican activities are taking up more of Spencer's time, she continues to devote numerous hours to a summer camp for abused and neglected children.

From November to Valentine's Day, she makes candy to raise funds for the camp, in Lake Hughes for local foster kids. Spencer works as placement coordinator, filling the 60 spots for 7- to-11-year-olds, and as "camp grandma" during the weeklong camp.

It adds up to a lot of work, but as the three-decade Lancaster resident puts it, "I'm either not going to do it, or I'll do it the best I can."