On Nov. 4, 1986, voter turnout in Juneau’s various precincts was strong for the gubernatorial election, if a little slow. The Alaska Division of Elections predicted the state voter turnout would reach somewhere between 65 and 70 percent of the 290,808 registered voters.
Meanwhile, reactions to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly’s brush with the Open Meetings Act had spread statewide, with different communities across the state looking into the law to decide whether it should be altered. While Assembly members in Anchorage and Ketchikan believed the law must be “tightened up,” meaning adding regulations to prevent closed meetings, other Assembly members agreed with Juneau Mayor Ernie Polley that the law should be “looser.” A month earlier, Mayor Polley had written a letter to the Alaska Municipal League for support to clarify the act, whether by adding or taking away regulations.
On Monday, 300 people attended a hearing to oppose the reduced funding of the University of Alaska Southeast (then the University of Alaska-Juneau) under the reorganization of the statewide educational system. Sixty-five people testified against the change, which if successful, would strip and relocate many of the university’s programs. For example, studies in public administration and fisheries would have been moved out of Juneau, and vocational training would be reduced by eliminating the Juneau-Douglas Community College. Students, representatives, Native leaders and educators all attended the hearing.
“This Day in Juneau History” is compiled by Empire freelancer Tasha Elizarde, who sums up the day’s events — 30 years ago — by perusing Empire archives.
