2002-08-14                     Senate Journal                      Page 3856
SB 370                                                                                            
Message dated July 5 and received July 8, stating:                                                  
                                                                                                    
Dear President Halford:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of art. II, sec. 15, of the Alaska Constitution, I                              
have vetoed the following bill:                                                                     
                                                                                                    
                   CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 370(STA) am H "An                                        
            Act establishing procedures relating to constitutional                                 
           conventions."                                                                            
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    

2002-08-14                     Senate Journal                      Page 3857
This bill would revise the election code to specify the timing of the                               
Lieutenant Governor's call for a constitutional convention, how                                     
delegates are elected, and the place of the convention. The bill delays                             
the call for the convention until after October 1 of the year following                             
the year in which the question of holding a convention is placed on the                             
ballot. The bill provides that election of delegates to the convention                              
shall be nonpartisan, and that one delegate shall be elected from each                              
house district and one from each senate district. The bill also provides                            
that the convention will be held at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks                             
campus.                                                                                             
                                                                                                    
I have considered comments from many Alaskans, including persons                                    
who were delegates to the original constitutional convention. I have                                
carefully considered this bill, and believe it contains certain provisions                          
that are positive, such as providing for nonpartisan election of                                    
delegates to the convention, including delegate candidates under                                    
coverage of the Alaska Public Offices Commission, and holding the                                   
convention in Fairbanks. Other provisions of the bill, however, are a                               
disservice to Alaskans by failing to provide adequate standards for the                             
call of a constitutional convention.                                                                
                                                                                                    
This legislation was introduced near the end of the session and rushed                              
through with minimal public notice and opportunity to comment. Most                                 
Alaskans, including long-time Alaskans who had personal                                             
involvement in the original convention, were not even aware the issue                               
was being considered. Legislation on this important issue should be                                 
subject to more careful consideration and should be closer in spirit to                             
the original call for the constitutional convention of 1955.                                        
                                                                                                    
Therefore, I have decided to veto this bill.                                                        
                                                                                                    
Sincerely,                                                                                          
/s/                                                                                                 
Tony Knowles                                                                                        
Governor