A judge in Anchorage will rule on Monday whether or not Assembly Chair Felix Rivera will stand for recall on the April ballot for the Anchorage municipal election.
Judge Dani Crosby heard both sides of the argument today, as the Municipality was in the awkward position of having to defend its decision to approve the recall petition signatures.
“Our petitioners agree with the arguments that Muni Attorney Ruth Botstein presented today in Superior Court. Those arguments validated that our recall petition of Felix Rivera for violation of the emergency mandate is supported by current case law, and the recall is both legally and factually sufficient and should be placed on the ballot in April,” said Russell Biggs, one of the petitioners.
Botstein argued that Rivera, in allowing his chosen people to remain in an Assembly meeting in violation of the mayor’s emergency order for crowd limits, made a decision to ignore the law, even after it was pointed out to him. It’s up to the voters to decide if the violation of the law is sufficient enough to justify a recall.
The lawsuit against the recall effort was filed by a group of supporters of Rivera, led by Peter Mjos and fundraised by Rep. Andy Josephson, Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson and Assembly member Meg Zalatel.
Rivera represents Anchorage Assembly District 4, Seat G. He was reelected last April and his normal term would not end until 2023. If the judge agrees with the Municipality, Rivera will be the only Assembly member on the ballot, which includes a race for mayor and four school board seats.
