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P E N I N S U L A
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 126
Question Do you think Alaska’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage should be repealed? n Yes; or n No. To place your vote and comment, visit our Web site at www. peninsulaclarion. com. Results and selected comments will be posted each Tuesday in the Clarion, and a new question will be asked. Suggested questions may be submitted online or e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com.
Mayor discusses budget, election By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre announced Tuesday that he plans to run for re-election. “I care very deeply about the Kenai Peninsula Borough,” Navarre said at the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce luncheon at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. “I’ve got a lot of experience and information I’ve accumulated overtime. I’m going to keep doing the job the way that I have been doing it.” He said during his last campaign
he refused to say he was going to cut taxes and government because every candidate says that and doesn’t follow through. Cost and budgets go up annually, he said, but while campaigning previously he said he was going to get spending from reserves “under control.” He said the borough achieved that goal with more than a $1.5 million surplus between revenues and expenditures. Sales tax revenue increase, additional unanticipated state funding and good budget management are three contributing factors to the surplus, he said.
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By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — The House Finance Committee voted Tuesday to remove language from an abortion funding bill that called for the state to provide expanded women’s health and family planning services. The language had been added to SB49 on the Senate floor last year and offered by Sen. Berta Gardner, D-Anchorage. The bill seeks to further define what constitutes a medically necessary abortion for the purposes of Medicaid payments. It went before the committee Tuesday with a companion House bill, HB173. The committee heard about 3 1/2 hours of testimony over two
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meetings but kept the bill for further consideration. Senate Majority Leader John Coghill, R-North Pole, the sponsor of SB49, said he objected to the amendment regarding the health program, calling it a mandate beyond services the state already provides. The committee voted 8-3 to adopt a version of the bill without the language. Voting against were Reps. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, David Guttenberg, D-Fairbanks, and Lindsey Holmes, R-Anchorage. The Alaska Supreme Court has held that the state must fund medically necessary abortions if it pays for other procedures deemed medically necessary for people in need. Coghill has See BILLS, page A-10
Democrats confirm Kito to House seat
Sunny side of the street
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion
Thom Nelson, of Kenai, walks along the Kenai Spur Highway with his groceries Tuesday in Kenai. Nelson said he was enjoying the beautiful day.
Index
Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion
Finance takes up abortion bills
Dunleavy: Let people decide proposed amendments
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Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre speaks to attendees at the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce joint luncheon on Tuesday in Soldotna.
See MAYOR, page A-10
In the news
JUNEAU — Sen. Mike Dunleavy said Tuesday that Alaskans should get the chance to cast their vote on proposed constitutional changes pertaining to issues like education and marriage. Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, is sponsoring a proposed amendment that would allow for public money to be used for private or religious schools, and he has urged his colleagues to advance the proposal to let the people have their say. He said he has faith in the people of Alaska and tends toward allowing them to vote on those issues. But he made clear that just because he supports giving voters their say doesn’t mean he supports striking the current constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, as proposed by Senate Minority Leader Hollis French. Proposed constitutional amendments require a twothirds vote in each the House and Senate before they can qualify for the ballot. Sens. Pete Kelly and Peter Micciche indicated that they were glad there was such a high bar. Kelly, R-Fairbanks, said he would not challenge his colleagues to advance a proposal just to let the people vote. Micciche, R-Soldotna, said he thought French’s proposal would struggle for support.
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JUNEAU (AP) — House Democrats have confirmed Sam Kito III as the newest member of the state Legislature. Gov. Sean Parnell last week chose Kito from among three candidates forwarded by the Tongass Democrats to fill the House seat vacated when Juneau Democrat Beth Kerttula resigned for a fellowship at Stanford University. Kerttula resigned Jan. 24. Under the law, the appointment must be confirmed by members in the same chamber and of the same political party as the person who previously held the seat. House Minority Leader Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, said Tuesday that it was a quick, unanimous decision among House Democrats to confirm Kito. He
said the vote happened Monday night in his office. Tuck said Rep. Harriet Drummond, D-Anchorage, is away tending to a “family medical situation.” While she is gone, he said the minority will ask that Kito be allowed to serve on her committees, House Education and House Community and Regional Affairs, until she gets back. He said the minority will ask that Kito stay on Community and Regional Affairs after she returns. Kito’s confirmation brings back to 10 the number of minority Democrats in the 40-member House. Four other Democrats caucus with the majority Republicans. Kito was expected to be sworn in on Wednesday, the Democrats said.
Trial set for Homer Pink harvest creates market glut sexual assault case ‘Even though the By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
A trial date has been set for two Homer brothers both charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year old boy with an object at a teenage drinking party in September 2012. Anthony Resetarits, 21, and Joseph Resetarits, 19, appeared at their court hearing telephonically before Superior Court Judge Carl Bauman at the Kenai Courthouse Monday. The two men pleaded not guilty at their arraignment last October. Judge Bauman asked the defense for an update on the confiscation of cell phone photos
from teens at the party for evidence to the alleged crime. Michael Moberly, Joseph Resetarits’ attorney, who attended the hearing telephonically, said Apple Inc. has seized a number of phones, although it is unclear how many and when the phones were reviewed. Due to user privacy reasons, Apple has to search the phone, which can take up to six months, he said. Alaska State Troopers had tried to search Joseph Resetarits’ phone, but he declined, Moberly said. Phillip Weidner, Anthony Resetarits’ attorney said telephonically, he was concerned See TRIAL, page A-10
JUNEAU (AP) — State officials say Alaska’s record pink salmon harvest in 2013 could create a market glut that will drive prices down for several years. The state Division of Economic Development sees a glut in supply after the 2013 harvest, bringing downward pressure on prices, KFSKradio reported. “The 2013 pink harvest was the largest on record,” said division director Joe Jacobson before the House Fisheries Committee this month. “It’s led to a glut of supply and it will probably, there will be downward pressure on prices because of it. And it’s really C
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catch was big, we’re not having any real problems moving through it.’
— Tom Sunderlund, Ocean Beauty Seafoods been a pretty tremendous impact.” Alaska fishing fleets caught 219 million pink salmon last year. That helped fill an estimated 4 million cases of tall
pink cans and left companies with almost 5 million cases in inventory. Wholesale prices for cases of tall pink salmon cans topped $100 in 2012 and 2013, more than double what they were a decade ago. “Even though the catch was big, we’re not having any real problems moving through it,” said Tom Sunderlund, vice president of marketing for Ocean Beauty Seafoods, a company that processes pinks in Alaska. Demand for Alaska salmon seems to keep growing, he said. “That isn’t to say we don’t See PINK, page A-10