03/18/1996 01:35 PM Senate CRA

                                                                               
                SB 256 SECOND CLASS CITY MAYOR                               
                                                                               
 TAPE 96-16 , SIDE A                                                           
                                                                               
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN TORGERSON  called the Senate Community & Regional Affairs           
 Committee meeting to order at 1:35 p.m.  The chairman brought up SB
 as the first order of business before the Senate Community &              
 Regional Affairs Committee.  The chairman called the sponsor's                
 representative to testify.                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 020                                                                    
                                                                               
 MARLA BERG, Aide to Senator Al Adams, prime sponsor of SB 256,                
 stated that under current law, the voters in second class cities              
 cannot elect the mayor.  Mayors of second class cities currently              
 must be elected by and from the council, and serve a one-year term,           
 unless a longer term is approved by ordinance.  SB 256 was                    
 introduced at the request of the City of Savoonga, and it would               
 amend the law so that second class cities would have the option of            
 passing an ordinance to allow election of the mayor by the voters             
 in the community, rather than by the council.  No changes are                 
 requested to the qualification for mayor or powers and duties of              
 the mayor.                                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 035                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked why they want to do this; was there a            
 personality conflict, or something?                                           
                                                                               
 MS. BERG responded the Mayor of Savoonga has been the mayor for               
 years, so she is not sure exactly what the problem is.                        
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN TORGERSON stated that Mr. Wongittilin has been mayor in              
 Savoonga for forty years, and he would just like to be elected by             
 the residents of the community, instead of just the members of the            
 council.                                                                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked if Mayor Wongittilin was supposed to             
 be at the hearing.                                                            
 MS. BERG replied she thought he was going to be present, but                  
 perhaps the airplanes did not get in this morning.                            
                                                                               
 Number 058                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY made a motion to discharge SB 256 from the Senate               
 Community & Regional Affairs Committee with individual                        
 recommendations.                                                              
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN TORGERSON, hearing no objection, stated SB 256 was                   
 discharged from committee.