PALMDALE - You may not know all their names, but the grassroots volunteers are the behind-the-scenes stars behind every successful political campaign.
This year, a coalition of Valleywide Republican groups is seeking to publicly thank those volunteers by instituting the Republican of the Year awards ceremony.
"We are here to recognize the under-recognized, the jewels of the GOP, if you will," said Dean Henderson, who helped organize the event.
Henderson announced the nominees Tuesday at a Palmdale Republican Women's Federated club meeting at Cascades restaurant.
The Women's Federated club, the Antelope Valley Republican Assembly, the Antelope Valley Congress of Republicans, the 36th Assembly District Central Committee and the newly formed Antelope Valley division of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly joined together in planning the awards.
"Our nominees are but a small sampling of our Republican stars," said Henderson, adding that next month's awards ceremony will be a sort of volunteers' "Academy Awards."
Elected and appointed officials are not eligible for the awards, he said.
Mary Croxen, president of the Women's Federated club, said she was honored to be nominated for "Republican of the Year."
"We have so many volunteers who put forth so much effort showing what Republicans are about," said Croxen, who co-chaired the Palmdale Republican Headquarters for the fall election. "It felt like it was 16 hours a day, seven days a week."
Other nominees for Antelope Valley "Republican of the Year" are Johnny Zamrzla, Randy Hall and June Spencer.
"Lifetime Achievement" nominees are Rita Burleson, Pat Sileo, Pat Curtis and Kay Runner.
The "Party Enthusiast" award is divided into three age categories: "Prodigy" for the under 25-year-old crowd and "Pre-Eminence" and "Master" for the more experienced volunteers.
Nominees in the "Prodigy" category are Melea Bork, Elizabeth Zamudio, David Norris and Tammy Grey. In the "Pre-Eminence" category, nominees are Joe Donahue, Emily Dotter, Shirley Husar and Larry Hales. "Master" nominees are Mary Miller, Joan Smith, Helen Cleveland and Mildred Bailey.
An award for Republican "Role Model" will go to either Dixie Eliopulos, Randy Malcolm, Celeste Eckley or Isaac Barcelona. Nominees for an award for volunteers particularly active in voter registration are Linda Isaac, Richard Skidmore, Sheri Marquez and Fae Currado.
John Evans, Johnnie Woodhall, Lisa Moulton and Donna Beach are up for the "Precinct Walker" award. Joy File, Sandy Summers, Linda Grey and Chuck Shelton are the nominees for the "Phone Banker" prize.
The awards ceremony will be on May 17 at the Essex House Hotel and Convention Center in Lancaster. Shawn Steel, chairman of the California Republican Party, will be the speaker.