Anchorage Assembly postpones vote on ballot measure to change up local elections and term limits

The Anchorage Assembly this week postponed a vote on whether to add a significant elections overhaul package to the local ballot.

The measure, sponsored by the Assembly’s three most conservative members, would extend term limits for local offices to four years, move municipal elections to November and conduct them every other year, instead of annually.

The measure would require amending the municipal charter, and as such, requires two-thirds of the Assembly’s 12 members to support it, a high bar. If they did vote to approve it, that would put it before voters as a proposition on the April ballot.

South Anchorage member Randy Sulte, who wrote the ordinance, argues it will save the municipality money by running fewer elections and potentially boost turnout. Critics of the proposal, including Assembly Chair Christopher Constant, say it would bury local political candidates and issues beneath the more high-profile, expensive federal and state races.

Only two members of the public offered testimony on the ordinance when it came up late into Tuesday night’s regular Assembly meeting. Both praised narrow aspects of the proposal, but were against it overall.

Sulte asked members to push back a vote on the measure to early January in order “to allow more testimony from the public.” That request was supported by all but two Assembly members.

The next opportunity for members of the public to weigh in on the proposed ballot measure is Jan. 7 during the Assembly’s first regular meeting of the new year.