(Juneau) - Senator Gene Therriault has introduced Senate Bill 128 to clarify that new boroughs are not to be created by agency personnel of state government.

Senator Therriault, R-North Pole, sees a constitutional conflict in recent action by the Local Boundary Commission and the Department of Community and Economic Development to draft a petition that would surround the community of Valdez with a new borough.

"The residents in the Valdez area feel they have been totally disenfranchised, and rightfully so. Such petitions should originate with maximum local involvement. The LBC and agency have made a wrong move here and we must correct the course a bit," Therriault said.

"The Alaska Constitution states, 'All government is to originate with the people and is founded upon their will only.' I interpret that to include borough governments. The role of the Local Boundary Commission is to review proposed changes, not to create boroughs. If we are to have a government by the people, those proposed changes should emanate from the local level up, not from the top of the government pyramid down," Therriault said.

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