Assembly OKs funds for ACLU bill

Assembly approved appropriations of $70,400 to pay toward the balance of ACLU-Alaska’s legal fees

Community member Kalliste Edeen offers an invocation at the Jan. 8 Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Community member Kalliste Edeen offers an invocation at the Jan. 8 Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A lawsuit between Kenai Peninsula Borough and the American Civil Liberties Union is finally over after the assembly approved on Tuesday appropriations of $70,400 to pay toward the balance of ACLU-Alaska’s legal fees. The borough has now spent $120,400 defending the Hunt et al. lawsuit, and at least $134,000 in legal and other fees related to the invocation policy, according to Homer News.

The borough received a bill of $80,000 in attorneys’ fees after the borough failed to defend its former invocation policy.

At Tuesday’s borough assembly meeting, Greg Andersen of Kenai spoke to the assembly in his public comment, saying that the invocation saga was finally over.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“A bill has been received for ACLU’s lawyer fees and the invocation saga can finally be closed,” Andersen said. “Over $165,000 in taxpayer money was spent and countless hours wasted.”

Andersen said he hoped the assembly would learn from the litigation experience.

George Pierce of Kasilof commended the assembly’s effort to fight for the former invocation policy.

“I don’t feel that it’s a waste of money to stand up for God,” Pierce said during public comment. “Evidently, people do, but I don’t… I’d be proud to give my tax money to the invocations.”

The former invocation policy was challenged after Lance Hunt, an atheist, Iris Fontana, a member of the Satanic Temple, and Elise Boyer, a member of Homer’s Jewish community, were denied the chance to provide an invocation because they did not belong to an official organization with an established presence on the peninsula, which was a requirement of the former policy.

ACLU-Alaska helped the plaintiffs file a suit against the borough, citing that the invocation policy violated the establishment clause, free speech clause and equal protection clause of the Alaska Constitution. In October 2018, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Andrew Peterson ruled that the former policy violated the state’s establishment clause, which bans the government from establishing an official religion or favoring religious beliefs.

In January 2017, the assembly appropriated $50,000 to defend the former policy. According to the Homer News, the borough entered into a contract with the Alliance Defending Freedom — A Scottsdale, Arizona, based religious rights organization — to defend themselves in the Hunt et al. lawsuit.

The borough narrowly voted to not appeal the court ruling, and a new inclusive policy was established late last year, which allows anyone to provide invocations before borough meetings. This year, invocations have been offered from a variety of people, including a Wiccan who invoked ancestors, and a yoga teacher who led the assembly through a series of breathing exercises.

More in News

tease
Voznesenka School graduates 4

A commencement ceremony was held at Land’s End on Monday.

Graduates celebrate at the end of the Kenai Central High School commencement ceremony in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Fight as the generation who will stand tall’

Kenai Central High School graduates 113.

Guest speaker Donica Nash gave out candy matching each student, including this package of JOYRIDE to Gideon Pankratz, at the River City Academy graduation ceremony Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Skyview Middle School just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
River City Academy graduates 9

The school serves students in seventh through 12th grade and has an enrollment of about 80

Nikiski graduates view their slideshow during a commencement ceremony at Nikiski/Middle High School in Nikiski, Alaska, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘We need to change the world’

Nikiski Middle/High School graduates 31 on Monday.

State Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) exits the Senate Chambers after the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, adjourns until next January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles

Lawmakers speed through final votes on veto override on education funding bill, budget with $1,000 PFD.

The Homer Chamber of Commerce’s float in the Fourth of July parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024, celebrates their 75th anniversary in Homer, Alaska, in the spirit of the parade’s theme, “Historical Homer.” A measure that would have increased special event fees for those looking to host gatherings in city-maintained spaces was voted down during a May 12, 2025, meeting of the Homer City Council. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Education funding boost stands as lawmakers successfully override Dunleavy veto

Three of the peninsula’s legislators voted to override the veto.

Jeff Dolifka and his children perform the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula’s Royce and Melba Roberts Campus in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘So proud of what we accomplished’

New Boys and Girls Clubs campus dedicated Saturday with a ribbon-cutting and donor recognition.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dunleavy vetoes 2nd bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday

Bill passed by 48-11 vote — eight more than needed — but same count for override not certain.

Most Read