Recently, the Peninsula Clarion showed their true colors by bashing the Alliance of Concerned Taxpayers (ACT). For the Clarion to claim that ACT is doing something negative or undemocratic shows their collective lack of understanding basic civics and/or of the facts related to this legal action.

When ACT filed their complaint, Dec. 28, it had nothing to do with election results. It is all about how elected officials chose to interpret those results, a fact the Clarion conveniently missed. A court decision is needed because ACT believes the borough is not honoring past voter initiatives and intends to continue violating borough codes and state statutes they don’t like.

Our constitution wisely provides for citizens to lawfully petition their government. Initiative petitions are a form of direct democracy. When Kenai borough residents voted to control the cost of government, it became the sworn duty of elected officials to follow the people’s wishes. When that second step was disregarded; then citizens like ACT must take action or our whole system of government is in jeopardy.

Finally, I commend the ACT volunteers for their efforts and encourage them to continue helping to make government better for all of us.

Furthermore, I hope the editorial staff at the Clarion will render the respect due to those citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights to hold government accountable to the people.

Eddie Burke

Anchorage