Illegal signature gathering at the Palmer Post Office

Friday Dec.12, 2003 at approximately 3:00pm, Mat-Su Valley News was provided with photos of the signature gatherers in front of the Palmer Post Office. Petitioners were informed they were in violation of Federal Regulations and were asked to leave the premises. They did not and claimed they had permission from someone in the Post Office. There was a third petitioner that disappeared into the Post Office as soon as she saw a camera. The photographer then entered the Post Office and requested of a clerk to ask the petitioners to leave. The clerk ducked into the backroom and closed the door as he mumbled something about it being "a pending case". Huh?
A phone call to the USPS Inspectors office (562-8790) confirmed that no-one at the Post Office has the authority to waive any Federal Regulations and in fact are required to enforce them.

Update: Saturday Dec.13 2003 11:30am
Each petitioner was handed a copy of USPS poster #7 and were informed that on Monday the State Postal Inspector would be notified. Several copies of Poster #7 were left at the Post Office.

Update: Monday Dec.15 2003 3:30pm
There were no petitioners at this time. It is unknown if the PO ran them off.
A call placed to the Palmer PO this afternoon got this response: "I don't know anything about it."

Update: Tuesday Dec.16 2003 3:30pm
There were no petitioners at this time.

Update: Saturday Dec.20 2003 Noon
No petitioners have been reported seen at the Palmer Post Office since last Saturday.

Click here to see USPS Poster #7 (PDF)
No Dogs, No Gambling, No Drugs and NO petitioning!

This is a violation of 39 CFR Ch.1 Part 232.1(h)

Signature gatherer solicits driver

Another illegal signature gatherer

Saturday Photos

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Our Comment: The Initiative petition signature gatherers apparently don't really care what the law is and feel that it is ok to ignore it if it furthers their political agenda. The public expects that those collecting petition signatures on behalf of any group or organization will obey the law and will be held accountable for any infractions. The sponsors (Harry Crawford, Eric Croft, David Guttenberg), rightfully, should surrender these illegal petition books to the State Attorney General.

All of the signatures collected illegally on Federal property should be
disqualified by the Alaska Division of Elections.

There is no justification for breaking the law in the quest for signature$.

In a sick twist of irony, this is their website: www.trust-the-people.org
And their APOC Report (scroll down to Trust The People)

American Family Voices (Bush Bashing site)
BALLOT INITIATIVE STRATEGY CENTER

-Editor

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Here is the unaltered e-mail sent by Mat-Su Valley News:

To: kcompton@gci.net
Cc: Representative_Eric_Croft@legis.state.ak.us ; Representative_Harry_Crawford@legis.state.ak.us ; Representative_David_Guttenberg@legis.state.ak.us ; Attorney_General@law.state.ak.us ; Lt_Governor@gov.state.ak.us
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 9:52 AM
Subject: Trust the People

"Under existing law, a U.S. Senate vacancy is filled by the governor’s appointment.

Under existing law, it is illegal to gather signatures at the Post Office!
http://www.matsuvalleynews.com/pr62.html

Trust the People?
Yeah...right..

If you are to be trusted you will make a public apology and withdraw the signatures gathered illegally.
Or, better yet, surrender the entire package and start over!

Shame on you!