Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 215

Voter's Guide General Election PROPOSITIONS 301302 2 ways to approve paid King Day on ballot KING, COLUMBUS HOLIDAY OPTIONS Proposition 301: if Passed by the Legislature in September 1989. if Establishes a paid holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. for state workers and moves the state's paid Columbus Day to an unpaid observance. if Leaves the number of state holidays constant at 10. Proposition 302: (Passed by the Legislature in May.

if Establishes a paid King Day and restores Columbus Day as a paid holiday. if increases the number of state holidays to 11. If Arizonans vote: A. For Proposition 301 State gets paid King Day and unpaid Columbus Day. B.

For Proposition 302 State gets paid King Day and paid Columbus Day. C. For 301 and 302 The one getting the most "yes" votes wins. D. Against 301 and 302 State gets paid Columbus Day and unpaid King Day.

backing 302 stay home, it could go down in defeat. Meanwhile, people opposed to this holiday have their own problem: How do you oppose a holiday honoring a black man and avoid being linked to the KuKluxKlan? "It is amazing how they can make bigots and racists out of people who think for themselves," said Julian Sanders, a leading opponent of King Day. The critics of this holiday have insisted all along that racism has nothing to do with their opposition. Rather, they -say, the state has no business honoring a man whom biographers say cheated on his wife and had communists or communist sympathizers among his entourage. 3 states without a holiday "It's his agenda whereby he would play the role of Robin Hood, using the government to take from the rich and give to the poor," Sanders said.

"That program, to me, is un-American." Sanders said the philandering was less important, but still bothersome. "I happen to believe character begins in the home, and if you don't have it at home, you don't have it at all," he said. King's supporters acknowledge he was imperfect but they say, essentially, So what? "It (the philandering) has nothing to do with whether you acknowledge what Dr. King did for civil rights. Clearly, he was a human being," said Carolyn Walker, a south" Phoenix Democrat and the state Senate's only black member.

Walker added that just because there were communists or former communists close to King didn't mean he had anything to do with communism. Forty-seven states have a King holiday, according to the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission. Arizona, Montana and New Hampshire Martin Luther King Day. The holiday, marked by the federal government and nearly all states, is intended to honor the man considered primarily responsible for dismantling American segregation.

It's a day that connotes brotherhood. But not in Arizona. Here, it might better be named Agony Day. It conjures up visions of political torture, charges of racism, complaints about immorality and communism. On Tuesday, the state's voters will be asked to settle the issue, which has simmered in Arizona since 1972.

Polls show support for a paid holiday among a majority of Arizonans. But there's nothing simple about this issue. And that includes the ballot Voters will face two proposals that would create a paid King holiday: One, Proposition 301, would move the state's paid Columbus Day holiday to an unpaid observance, keeping the total number of paid holidays for state workers constant, at 10. The other, Proposition 302, would retain a paid Columbus Day, increasing the number of paid state holidays to 1 1. King supporters have this nightmare: Voters go to the polls, discover they have to make a choice, and vote no on both in frustration.

That's just what holiday opponents the No-No Committee want voters to do. King supporters, who are pushing hard for 302, think they have overcome the problem. "I believe the number (of the proposition) will be known," said former House Majority Leader Burton Barr. "We've put together a great campaign. I feel we have a good chance." Turnout may be key It all could hinge on voter turnout King supporters assume their opponents will turn out solidly, and that if those PROPOSITION 300 are the holdouts.

In Arizona, the issue has been down a hard road. Eighteen years ago, Sen. Cloves Campbell, a black, introduced a resolution in the Arizona Legislature to honor King. He didn't get to first base. That was followed year after; year with bills, usually introduced by minority members.

They all failed. In .1986, former Gov. Bruce Babbitt, on the eve of launching his presidential campaign, unilaterally proclaimed a holiday. Attorney General Bob Corbin later decreed Babbitt's action unconstitutional, and then-Gov. Evan Mecham rescinded the paid holiday when he took office in January 1987, prompting a string of cancellations of conventions planned for the state.

Mecham later proclaimed an unpaid observance honoring King on the third Sunday in January, a proclamation that remains in effect, but is largely unobserved- Things started looking up for holiday fans in 1989. The business and civic establishments of Tucson and Phoenix, worried about the state's reputation, its economy and the possible loss of the 1993 Super Bowl, began lobbying hard for King Day: They persuaded legislators to pass one law in September 1989 and a second one in May 1990. The propositions on the ballot are referendums on those two laws. If both pass, winner is Proposition 301 replacing Columbus Day with King Day was passed in September 1989. Sanders, along with members of the Italian-American community, led a successful petition drive that blocked enactment of the law until Arizona voters could decide the issue Tuesday.

Then legislators, hoping to kill the public vote, passed the second law in May, reinstating Columbus Day and establishing King Day. But Mecham led a successful drive to put that law on the legislators generally receive $35 a day, while lawmakers from outlying counties receive $60. Legislators also receive 25.5 cents a mile for the use of their cars between the Capitol and home. The raise is supported by Sen. Jerry Gillespie, R-Mesa, a one-term lawmaker who was defeated in the Sept 11 primary.

He said many qualified people, especially owners of small businesses, can't afford to serve now. "I sacrificed my entire career," he said. "I sacrificed my (insurance) agency. I am not complaining. But a lot of people are not willing to do that" But Hawker and Gillespie fear the taxpayers will reject the raise.

"Legislators, in the voters minds don't deserve a raise because of the ($265 million) tax increase, Martin Luther King Day and other things," Gillespie said. ballot. Hence, Proposition 302. If both pass, the one getting the most "yes" votes takes effect. King Day supporters hope voters will view Proposition 302 as a referendum on Mecham and will vote yes to spite him, even if they're not crazy about the paid holiday.

They take hope from Mecham's poor showing the September Republican primary. Mecham drew 24 percent in the five-way primary, second to Fife Symington's 44 percent. "We've got him on the ropes. This is the way to finish it," said Arnie Zaler, a founder of UNITY, a group supporting Proposition 302. Zaler and other leaders of the MLK Better America Committee have bombarded the media with press conferences, trotting out groups of preachers, Mormons, minorities, businessmen and others who support the holiday.

The press conferences generally announced the obvious, but they nevertheless got attention. That has irritated King opponents. "It's plways some prominent wealthy leader behind it" Sanders said. "With some (voters), if so well orchestrated that they think they "have got to do it (support Proposition 302)." Meanwhile, opponents have taken the attitude that voters have heard enough. They have remained silent since turning in their referendum petitions in August "We simply felt people needed the opportunity to express themselves and don't need to be told how to vote," Sanders said.

"People don't need to be brainwashed, they don't need to be intimidated or have their arms twisted." Bob Stanford, a founder of the No-No Committee, agreed. "We're just kind of doing it the silent way, with bumper stickers and stm" he said. "If people want to foot the bill, hey, babycakes, have at it "I'm thinking about getting out of the state." i PROPOSITION 202 Proposition 202, from page 14 would counteract a law passed last year that prohibits such landfills in or near floodplains, Weiss said. The proposition also would weaken rules for notifying neighboring property owners of public hearings about landfills. Current law requires that all property owners within 1,000 feet receive notice.

That would be reduced to 300 feet The proposition would eliminate civil penalties for violation of medical-waste laws," Weiss said. Current law allows penalties of up to $1,000 perday per violation. Weiss said the proposition would strengthen existing recycling legislation. It would set a goal of recycling 20 percent of the state's solid waste. The.

state now has no comparable goal. The proposition also would require hazardous-waste generators to adopt and implement waste-minimizing plans to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste. No such program now exists. $9,000 raise asked for PROPOSITION 300 if Would raise state legislators' pay to $24,000 a year from $15,000. Sunday, November 4.

1990. Voters will have the opportunity to show what they think of the Arizona Legislature when they pass judgment Tuesday on Proposition 300, a proposal to raise lawmakers' annual pay to $24,000 from $15,000. The chairwoman of the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers, which recommended the pay increase, is not holding her breath that voters will approve the 60 percent raise. "If we could have tied it to limitations on years served, I think it would pass and I think we would have a package instrumental in giving us good leadership," said Marilyn Hawker, a Mesa businesswoman who also is director of Kids Voting, a project in which children will accompany their parents to the polls Nov. 6 and vote in their own elections.

"But by law, the commission can't make those recommendations. "Still, the number of people leaving the Legislature or not considering running is phenomenal and very often is related to the amount of money paid versus the time and heat involved." Voters last approved a legislative pay raise in 1981. Since then, they repeatedly have rejected proposals for raises, the last time in 1988, when a ballot item called for a $25,000 legislative salary. Supporters of Proposition 300 say that issues have grown tougher over the years, making the Legislature a full-time job for half a year. Arizona ranks 25th among all states in legislative pay and near the bottom among states in which the legislatures meet for more than just a few weeks a year.

In addition to salaries, legislators receive expense pay seven days a week while they are in session and several days a month during the remainder of the year. Maricopa County legislators PageVGIS The Arizona Republic.