Supporting an initiative seeking to restore public trust and eliminate the potential for corruption in government, the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly adopted a resolution Thursday during its regular meeting in favor of the Clean Elections initiative.

A similar resolution will be presented to the Kodiak City Council.

The resolution supports the efforts of Alaskans for Clean Elections, a group seeking to put the issue on the ballot next year.

A petition bearing 24,000 signatures statewide is needed to put Clean Elections, a method of funding candidates through state money rather than donations, on the ballot.

Funding for Clean Elections would come from the state’s general fund. Dick Ross, a leader in the local effort behind the Clean Elections reform, said one group’s estimate is that the state may spend $5 million per election every year.

A minimum percentage of signatures must come from at least 30 of the 40 House districts. For Kodiak, that percentage equates to 325 signatures.

As of Friday afternoon, Ross said about 225 people had signed the local petition.

Clean Elections is, according to information provided by Ross, “a practical, proven reform that puts voters in control of elections.”

Clean Elections reform would eliminate potential conflicts of interest, yet open the door for anyone to run in an election.

“The citizens can either hire these people … or they can let the special interests hire them,” Ross said.

As it is proposed, Clean Elections money would be eligible to candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, state senator or representative. Each must gather support in the form of signatures and $5 contributions, ranging from 200 signatures for representatives to 3,000 for governor.

Candidates for representative would be eligible for $16,000, senate candidates for $24,000, candidates for lieutenant governor $150,000, and candidates for governor $250,000 for primary elections.

For general elections, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor would qualify for $500,000, senator for $36,000 and representative for $24,000.

The resolution approved by the borough cited not only the indictments of former and current legislators, but the votes sold to special interests may have cost the state more than $1 billion annually in unrealized oil tax revenues, money critical to supporting the operations of local government.

According to the Alaskans for Clean Elections Web site, top VECO executives recently pleaded guilty to bribery, influence peddling and illegally funneling thousands of dollars to Alaska lawmakers.

Former state Reps. Pete Kott and Vic Kohring were convicted on multiple charges relating to the VECO bribery case. Former Rep. Bruce Weyrauch was also indicted and awaits trial.

Kott was convicted earlier this year and sentenced Friday to six years in prison on the charges.

Kohring has also been convicted, and will be sentenced in February.

“This is a civics issue,” Ross said. “Who would not be for this?”

Seven states adopted the Clean Elections initiative, as well as two cities.

“They like it, it’s gone over real well,” said Ross of the systems in place in those states.

The current governor of Arizona was a Clean Elections participant, Ross said.

While the cost may be high, Ross said the state could benefit from having the system in place. For example, the $1 billion lost by certain legislators’ actions could have paid the $5 million every other year for 200 years.

Ross encourages anyone who would like to sign the petition to contact him, 486-6428.

Mirror writer Misty Maynard can be reached via e-mail at mmaynard@kodiakdailymirror.com.