the April 3 municipal election. The no-smoking-in-bars ordinance goes into effect July 1. No smoking will be allowed in enclosed public spaces with a few exceptions, in all indoor workplaces, in outdoor seating areas and arenas, stadiums and amphitheaters, in private homes and elsewhere where child care is offered, a minimum of 20-feet from any place where smoking is outlawed and a minimum of 50 feet from a hospital or clinic entrances, or any municipal building.A state-wide advisory vote for the state to adopt an amendment in the state constitution to be considered by the voters in 2008 general election narrowly passed by a 53.4% to 46.6% margin. The proposed amendment would prohibit providing employment benefits to same-sex partners of public employees and to same-sex partners of public employee retirees. The vote has no binding authority on the legislature, but supporters of the ban on benefits to same-sex partners were hopeful that if they had an overwhelming victory then it would pressure lawmakers to add a constitutional amendment in a binding vote in the 2008 general election in November.
Seat J of the Anchorage Assembly was one of six seats open in the election. It is the Seat that represents South Anchorage and Girdwood. Three candidates were vying for the spot: Jennifer Johnston, Gary Hovanec and Val Baffone. Ryan Stencel withdrew from the race because she didn’t want to split the conservative vote. The unofficial results were close by Wed. morning with Jennifer Johnston, a Republican, leading former union representative Val Baffone by a vote of 5,679 to 5,186. Gary Hovanec had 1,261. The winner will replace Janice Shamberg, who did not run for re-election.
On the school board Tim Steel won Seat A unopposed, and Chris Tuck won seat B. And voters approved all six of the bonds on the ballot approving money for issues concerning parks and recreation, transportation and schools.