POLL FINDS BACKING FOR MARRIAGE, MARIJUANA MEASURES

JUNEAU - More than 60 percent of people surveyed in a new poll say
they would vote for a constitutional amendment aimed at banning gay
marriage in Alaska. Nearly 60 percent said they would vote to legalize
marijuana for limited medical uses.

The independent Alaska Poll, conducted by Dittman Research of
Anchorage, surveyed 544 likely voters between Oct. 20 and Saturday. It
has a sampling error of about 4 percent, pollster Dave Dittman said
Tuesday.

The marriage amendment drew the strongest response, with 61 percent in
favor. Thirty-four percent said they would oppose the amendment, which
defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The Legislature put the measure on the ballot after a Superior Court
judge ruled against a similar law passed in 1997. Judge Peter
Michalski found that the choice of a life partner was a fundamental
right and ordered the state to show a compelling reason for regulating
it.

Supporters of the amendment have mounted a high-profile television and
newspaper advertising campaign, bankrolled largely by a $500,000
contribution from the Utah-based Mormon Church and $11,000 from the
Alaska chapter of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men's
organization.

"Obviously they were the bulk of what we received and allowed us to
reach a much larger audience," said Kristina Johannes, a spokeswoman
for the Alaska Family Coalition. Johannes said the group's main
concern is low turnout, given the troubles surrounding Republican
gubernatorial candidate John Lindauer.

Opponents of the amendment, who call it unnecessary and divisive, say
their limited funds prevented them from airing their own commercials
until last Saturday.

"It's the power of misinformative advertising and lots of it," said
Allison Mendel, campaign manager for Alaskans for Civil Rights-No on
2.

A measure that would make English the state's official language drew
support from 58 percent of those surveyed.

A constitutional amendment that would strip the governor of much of
his power to redraw legislative districts was favored by 56 percent of
those surveyed. Twenty-two percent said they would oppose the measure,
while 22 percent said they were unsure.

The amendment voted onto the ballot by the Republican-led Legislature
would let the governor appoint two members of the reapportionment
board. The speaker of the House, the Senate president and the chief
justice of the Alaska Supreme Court would each appoint one member. The
constitution currently allows the governor to appoint all five members
of the board.

If Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles is re-elected, he would oversee the
next round of redistricting. Republicans took control of both houses
of the Legislature after the last round, which was overseen by former
Gov. Wally Hickel, a Republican.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady