Haines social worker and Alaska gubernatorial candidate J.R. Myers will appear on the ballot this November, the first time an Alaska Constitution Party member has appeared on the ballot, said Alaska Division of Elections director Gail Fenumiai.
Myers, 51, and Fairbanks resident Maria Rensel, his running mate for lieutenant governor, collected more than 4,250 signatures each by Aug. 19 to qualify to appear on the general election ballot. Each had to collect at least 3,017 signatures.
Myers traveled statewide to collect signatures, and put the petition on his website so supporters could print it out and help.
“We would often go to the post offices or the libraries (to collect signatures). Public areas where there is heavy foot traffic. The libraries were particularly good, because it seems like people are more civic-minded there,” Myers said. “I think we did about as well as we could have expected.”
In 2010, Myers founded the Alaska Constitution Party, a splinter group of the Alaska Independence Party. It is part of the National Constitution Party.
According to the party’s website, its goal is “to restore American jurisprudence to its Biblical foundations and to limit the federal government to its Constitutional boundaries.”
When Myers filed his letter of intent to run for governor one year ago, the Alaska Constitution Party had 113 members. That number has nearly doubled.
According to the Alaska Division of Elections website, of the 506,680 Alaska residents registered to vote, 203 are registered with the Alaska Constitution Party.
If Myers secures at least 3 percent of the vote in November, the Alaska Constitution Party will become a recognized party in the state, meaning candidates won’t have to petition to appear on the ballot in future years.
Garnering at least 3 percent also ensures the party will appear on the presidential ballot in 2016. “It helps our national party and our cause nationally,” Myers said.
Myers is vying for governor against incumbent Republican Sean Parnell, Libertarian Carolyn Clift and independent Bill Walker.
“I think we are going to get the 3 percent,” Myers said.
Myers has been traveling around the state for various forums and media appearances, and planned to attend a governor forum in Soldotna Wednesday. He attended a forum last month at an Anchorage church.
Myers was asked his opinion on many statewide issues on the petitioning and campaign trail, including how he feels about Proposition 2, which would legalize and commercialize the production, sale and consumption of marijuana in Alaska.
Myers said he opposes Prop 2. “I am advocating for the expansion of decriminalization rather than legalization, because I don’t want the government involved in the situation.”
He also opposes Proposition 3, which proposes to increase the state’s minimum wage. Myers said while he supports businesses providing a living wage, he doesn’t support government mandate. The proposition is “bad economic policy,” he added.
Myers supports moving the capital from Juneau and eliminating the primary election process. Instead of publicly-funded primary elections, Myers said he would like to see privately-funded political conventions where each party elects their candidate to appear on the ballot.