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Micciche out ahead of Capital move issue

Ever since statehood, a movement to relocate the capital out of Juneau comes up regularly. It happened first in 1960, just one year after Alaska entered the Union. That failed by about 5,000 votes.

Alaskans did vote to move the capital in 1974 by a margin of 11,000 votes, and in 1976 selected Willow as its new home. Designs were even drawn up. However in 1978 citizens passed a ballot measure that required the full cost of the move to be disclosed beforehand, and on the same ballot rejected nearly a billion dollars to build it.

In 1982, the move to Willow was put to rest when residents voted again by about 11,000 votes to reject the move, then at a cost of $2.8 billion.

Since then, other initiatives to relocate have failed consistently.

Now, a group from Anchorage has introduced a statewide ballot initiative to move the capital to Anchorage, and seek to sidestep the law that requires voter approval to spend any money to move the capital, if relocation is approved.

For his part, Kenai-Soldotna Sen. Peter Micciche says he’s all for it.

“Oh, well, you guys always believe we should move out of Juneau, which would be great. I support that," he said.

He made the comments at a town hall meeting just days before the initiative was filed. He shared his latest polling on moving the capital out of Juneau either full time or part time.

“So yes, all of the time: 47 percent yes; part of the time, 37 percent. Only 14 percent think we should leave it in Juneau. So if I get a vote on that I would like to stay home with my family as well. Or closer to home,” he said.

As reported by APRN Monday morning, the Division of Elections has until April 8th to review the initiative application.

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