Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 22:37:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Rex Wockner Subject: NC8168: Urgent plea from Alaska Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 01:28:59 EDT From:AlaskaDan@aol.com Please distribute this release as widely as possible. The donation to our opponents of 1/2 million dollars from Outside Alaska has truly energized our campaign! Alaskans do not take revisions to our constitution lightly and the notion that Outside political and religious groups are trying to re-write our constitution will backfire on those trying to write discrimination and bigotry into our constitution. It also reveals that this election is closer than many "experts" would have you believe. WE WILL WIN IN NOVEMBER... Dan FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 5, 1998 Alaskans for Civil Rights / NO on 2 Contact: Crispian Smith or Allison Mendel (907) 561-3767 Measure 2's Opponents Demonstrate Significant Alaskan Support "NO on 2" Leading the Alaska/"Utah" Family Coalition 2 to 1 in Alaskan Fundraising Anchorage - One thousand three hundred fifty-one (1,351) individual Alaskans have contributed to the effort to defeat Ballot Measure 2, the attempt to change Alaska's constitution to insert unnecessary and redundant language limiting marriage. In its campaign disclosure report released today, Alaskans for Civil Rights / NO on 2 reported contributions totaling $108,184.11. Over 91% of the contributions and more than 94% of the contributors are Alaska citizens. The Alaska Family Coalition, Measure 2's proponents, reported over $550,000 from Outside sources, including $500,000 from the Mormon Church, based in Utah, and $50,000 from a Washington, D.C.-based Political Action Committee (Gary Bauer's "American Renewal, Inc."). Less than $40,000 of their funding has come from individuals. In contrast, Alaskans for Civil Rights/NO on 2 has received $35 from Outside organizations ($25 from the Philiadelphia Task Force and $10 from Pride Inc. of Macon, GA) while raising more than $97,000 from individual Alaskans. "Today's reports clearly demonstrate what's at stake in this election. Do we really want Alaska's constitution, our most precious document, to be rewritten by Outside religious and political groups? This amendment is unnecessary. Why do they care so much?" said Dan Carter, Treasurer of Alaskans for Civil Rights / NO on 2. "Alaskans for Civil Rights/NO on 2 is a state-wide, grassroots group of ordinary Alaskans. This Outside money is enough to monopolize the airwaves and prevent Alaskan voters from hearing both sides of the story. Alaska's constitution is a document by and for Alaskans, and decisions to change it should be made by us," said Willie Anderson, Alaskans for Civil Rights/NO on 2 Co-Chair. Persons interested in volunteering time or donating money to this grassroots effort to defend the basic rights of Alaskans may do so by calling the Alaskans for Civil Rights/NO on 2 office at (907) 561-3767 or by mailing a contribution to: Alaskans for Civil Rights/NO on 2 P.O. Box 240751 Anchorage, AK 99524-0751 Alaska election regulations require donors of more than $100 to include their occupation AND employer with their donation. As demonstrated by the Mormon Church's donation to our opponents, there is no limit to donations made regarding ballot measures. Additional information about the NO on 2 campaign or about making a credit card donation may be obtained by visiting our website located at www.no-on-two.org. - 30 -