Letters to the Editor March 18, 1997

Voice of the Times
PO Box 100040
Anchorage, AK 99510

Dear Editor:

In your half-page of March 14, you printed the comments of Mr. Herb Berkowitz, an Anchorage attorney who opposes the idea of electing Alaska’s attorney general. A few observations:

Mr. Berkowitz refers to the state’s “founding fathers” (this is a misused phrase -- these guys only whipped out a temporary constitution). But they had the benefit of 150 years of American experience behind them, he says. Too bad they chose not to avail themselves of this wisdom, in this provision of the constitution, as in so many others. Rather, the rush was on to gain statehood at all costs, and “we’ll fix it later!” was the byword.

It is way past time to fix this glaring deficiency. When Alaska’s constitution was written, only three states allowed their governors to appoint their attorneys general, while 42 states elected their A.G.s. The remaining three used some other method, such as legislative election or supreme court appointment. Never mind the mistakes that were made in the past; why would Alaskans hesitate to change their constitution to provide a better--and more widely accepted--system?

A state constitution is to be the voice of the people, stating the terms of their contract with government. A new generation is not compelled to be held hostage to past archaic concepts.

To those who argue that we already have the better system, as Mr. Berkowitz argues, I say let’s get the debate out into the broad public arena where it can best be decided. Let’s not nip it in the bud, even before it comes up for a hearing in the Legislature. Instead, let’s pass Senator Lyda Green’s resolution and put the question on the ballot, where a full, statewide debate will take place in every hamlet. And, if the people of Alaska agree, then we will have fixed something that is, indeed, not working in the best interests of today’s generation.

Rep. Terry Martin
Anchorage District 14