Press Release: Defend Our Constitution Announces Statewide Coalition Opposing 2022 Constitutional Convention Question

Bipartisan Coalition Features More Than 150 Alaskans from Diverse Geographic and Political Backgrounds
For Immediate Release
April 7, 2022 (ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – Today, Defend Our Constitution – a group formed to oppose the November 2022 constitutional convention ballot question – announced a growing, bipartisan coalition featuring more than 150 Alaskans from diverse political and geographic backgrounds.
“This growing coalition represents Alaskans from all walks of life. We are your neighbors, small business owners, advocates, and leaders from across the political and geographic spectrum,” said the Defend Our Constitution Co-Chairs. “Our coalition looked past our policy and political differences to come together around a single issue–– the belief that a Constitutional Convention is not the answer to Alaska’s many challenges. In the months ahead, we look forward to engaging Alaskans to make the very serious case as to why a Constitutional Convention is unnecessary, expensive, and dangerous to our state, our people, our business community, and to future generations. We are proud of the overwhelming response and engagement we’ve received from Alaskans who understand the inherent risk, instability, and unintended consequences created by opening Alaska’s Constitution to fundamental rewrite. Alaskans have rejected the call for a Constitutional Convention at each opportunity, and we strongly encourage Alaskans to do so again. Simply put, the risk of Constitutional Convention outweighs the reward.”
Defend Our Constitution Coalition Members include:
Alex Baker
Alex Jorgensen
Alyce Hanley
Barbara Hood
Ben Kellie
Beth Kerttula
Bill Corbus
Bill Gordon
Bob Loeffler
Bob Waldrop
Brenda Knapp
Brian Rogers
Bronson Frye
Bruce Botelho
Bruce Campbell
Bryce Edgmon
Bud Carpeneti
Calvin Schrage
Cathy Giessel
Charles Ward
Chuck Gray
Cindy Spanyers
Clark Milne
Cliff Groh
Dave Hunsaker
David Gottstein
David Landry
Dawn Bundick
Debra Reed
Dennis Egan
Dennis J Knebel Jr
Dick Mylius
Donna Goldsmith
Donna Phillips
Doug Isaacson
Dr. Mary Wegner
Edric Carrillo
Elfrida H Nord
Elyse Guttenberg
Fran Ulmer
Gail Schubert
Gene Therriault
Gene White
Geron Bruce
Gordon Harrison
Harry Crawford
Ian Laing
Ira Perman
Jackson Blackwell
Jake Metcalfe
Jan Carolyn Hardy
Jane Angvik
Jane Erickson
Jason Custer
Jeff Cook
Jeff Gnass
Jennifer Johnston
Jenny-Marie Stryker
Jerry Nankervis
Jesse Kiehl
Jim Ayers
Jim Clark
Jim Colver
Jim Lottsfeldt
Joe Geldhof
Joe Paskvan
Joe Usibelli Sr
Joelle Hall
Joey Merrick
John Coghill
John Shively
John Walsh
John-Henry Heckendorn
Jonathon Taylor
JP Tangen
Karen Clautice
Karen Crane
Karen Perdue
Kate Lamal
Kate Troll
Katherine Jernstrom
Ken Koelsch
Kevin McCoy
Larry Cotter
Larry Persily
Laurie Herman
Leslie Ridle
Liam Carnahan
Libby Bakalar
Linda Behnken
Linda Kruger
Lisa Parker
Loren Jones
Luke Hopkins
Margaret Pohjola
Mark Hamilton
Mark Richards
Marna Sanford
Marsha Burns
Martin Pigg
Mary and Dick Bishop
Mary Geddes
Mary Watson
Matt Peterson
Matthew Moser
Matthew Shuckerow
Meg Simonian
Megan Geraghty Drake
Miguel Rohrbacher
Mike Heatwole
Mike Hostina
Mike Satre
Mike Szymanski
Nadine Lefebvre
Nancy DeCherney
Nicky Eiseman
Niesje Steinkruger
Nora Morse
Pat Redmond
Patrick Fitzgerald
Paul Dillon
Peg Tileston
Peggy Schumaker
Penny Gage
Reber Stein
Reid Magdanz
Rich Curtner
Richard Caulfield
Rick Schikora
Robin Smith
Rose O’Hara-Jolley
Ryan Andrew
Ryan Schryver
Sally Smith
Sandra Thompson Wallace
Scott Kendall
Shirley Liss
Steve Lindbeck
Susan Reilly
Suzanne LaFrance
Tom Boutin
Tom Bundtzen
Tom Lamal
Veri di Suvero
Victor Fischer
Wayne Howell
Wayne Jensen
Willie Anderson
Win Gruening
Zack Fields
Defend Our Constitution is a coalition of Alaskans united in opposition to the November 2022 general election question: “Shall there be a constitutional convention.” The group was formed in December 2021 as a ballot measure group opposing the ballot question. Campaign Co-Chairs include: Cathy Giessel of Anchorage, John Coghill of Fairbanks, Bruce Botelho of Juneau, Rep. Bryce Edgmon of Dillingham, Gail Schubert of the Bering Straits region, Joelle Hall of Anchorage, Bill Corbus of Juneau, and Luke Hopkins of Fairbanks.
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