Opinion ID: 1239200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: composition of the advisory reapportionment board

Text: Plaintiffs have contended that the reapportionment board was not constituted as required by article VI, section 8, of the Alaska Constitution, which specifies in part: Appointments shall be made without regard to political affiliation. There were no Republican members appointed to the reapportionment board. Since we have found that the 1971 reapportionment plan is unconstitutional, the question as to the composition of the board has become moot and we therefore do not reach that issue at this time. [42] We also note that the parties stipulated that the Governor in creating the reapportionment plan was not acting from political considerations and that he did perfrom his function in good faith. Thus if there was error in the composition of the board such error was rendered harmless, as the obvious purpose of the constitutional provision was to prevent the appointment of a board whose efforts might result in a politically motivated reapportionment plan. Under our decision it will be necessary to refer this matter to a reapportionment board for formulation of a permanent plan. Thus, although it is not necessary for us to rule at this time on the question of whether the 1971 reapportionment board was validly constituted, it is incumbent upon us to set forth some criteria which we determine applicable in deciding whether a board has been appointed without regard to political affiliation, so as to withstand challenge. [43] At the outset, we recognize that this phrase is not the equivalent of requiring a bi-partisan board. [44] Nevertheless, in reviewing the validity of the appointment, some (although not necessarily all) of the following considerations would appear to be germane: The political affiliation of members of the board; the nature of their activities in partisan politics, particularly if from one political party only; and the expertise and general qualifications which members bring to the board.