Fairbanks council unlikely to reverse veto of equal rights protections

FAIRBANKS - Officials of Alaska’s second-largest city are expected to consider overriding the mayor’s recent veto of a measure that gave equal rights protections to the LGBTQ community.

An action item for a vote is expected to appear on the agenda for the Fairbanks City Council at its meeting next Monday, but it is unlikely the council will be able to muster enough votes to override the veto, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.

Mayor Jim Matherly last week vetoed the ordinance that extended anti-discrimination protections for employment, housing and public accommodations. The measure also provided a means for people to challenge in court the practices they believe are discriminatory.

Matherly said he hopes to let residents decide by placing the issue on the ballot in October.

The council had approved the equal rights ordinance by a 4-2 vote just days before Matherly rejected it.

Five votes from the six-person council are required to override the veto. Councilmen David Pruhs and Jerry Cleworth voted against the measure. They said Monday that their views have not changed.

Cleworth objected to it because language was not included to direct people to seek recourse outside of courts before pursuing litigation against possible discriminatory practices.

“I agree with Matherly - I think it should go to the voters ultimately,” Cleworth said.