Anchorage -- Ensuring a statewide balance in the process of redrawing Alaska's election districts, Senate President Drue Pearce named Bert Sharp, from Fairbanks, and House Speaker Brian Porter named Michael Lessmeier, from Juneau, to the five-member redistricting board. Last week, Governor Tony Knowles appointed two members from Anchorage to the board. The Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court will appoint the remaining member. All panel members must be appointed by September 1.

"Election district lines are redrawn every ten years following the census. To ensure fairness in the redistricting process, the board must include a person from each of Alaska's four judicial districts and one at-large seat," said Porter. "In addition to geographical balance, the members must possess broad exposure to the communities and residents throughout the state."

Bert Sharp, 66, is the immediate past President of Pioneers of Alaska. "Bert's nearly 30 year involvement with the Pioneers reflects his commitment to Alaska's senior residents - the fastest growing population segment of Alaska," said Pearce. "He has attended annual conventions for the Pioneers for the past 25 years which are held each year in a different Alaskan community."

After Sharp graduated from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks in 1956 with a degree in business administration and personnel management, he worked for the Golden Valley Electric Cooperative for 30 years before retiring in 1986. He served with distinction in the legislature for ten years representing Fairbanks in both the House and Senate from 1988-98.

Michael Lessmeier, 45, is a partner in the Juneau law firm of Lessmeier & Winters. He specializes in complex, civil litigation and has worked extensively in the Southeast communities of Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Petersburg. He also lived and practiced in Fairbanks for 15 years. In addition to his certification as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1991, Lessmeier has been active in the Alaska Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education program and has represented clients on issues before the Alaska legislature.

After the panel is seated, it will choose one of its members to chair the board. Within 30 days after the new census numbers are announced early next year, the board must adopt one or more redistricting plans. They will then hold public hearings on these proposals and announce a final plan within the next 60 days. The plan is subject to approval by the Department of Justice.

Attachments:

• Governor's press release announcing his two choices:
  Knowles Names Two to Redistricting Board., 08-23-00
• Alaska's reapportionment statute