A new citizen-sponsored initiative in Anchorage is seeking to repeal a recently passed anti-discrimination ordinance.
The referendum would ask Anchorage voters whether or not they support a repeal of AO-96, the city measure adding protections for sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s anti-discrimination laws.
Referendum materials show conservative talk-show host Bernadette Wilson as the measure’s main sponsor.
The potential ballot measure still needs to be reviewed by municipal attorneys to make sure it meets legal standards, according to Deputy Clerk Amanda Moser.
“From there the contact person gathers signatures, and the signatures are based on voter turn out in the previous mayoral regular election, and that’s 10 percent of voters,” Moser said by phone Tuesday. “So that’s 5,754 voters.”
Those signatures will need to be gathered by January 11th if the measure is to go before voters on the April 5th election.
The ordinance passed in September by a vote of 9-to-2 in the city’s Assembly. In a 2012 ballot measure, however, Anchorage voters opted to remove such provisions from the city’s code.
Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska.
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