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Staff Report

More than a dozen presenters and several local organizations are putting on a Democracy Fair on Saturday, April 18 at the UAA Kachemak Bay Campus on Pioneer Avenue. 

The event is designed to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, encourage people to participate in our democracy and features a 2-foot by 4-foot enlargement of the Declaration of Independence for fair goers to sign. 

The doors are set to open at 10:30 with a color guard of local Boy and Girl Scouts kicking off activities at 10:45 a.m. The day will include presentations on democracy and the constitution by UAA Kachemak Bay Campus history professor Jeff Meyers, retired history teacher and broadcaster Bob Bird, and former attorney and Kenai Peninsula Youth Court Director Ginny Espenshade. 

That will be followed by a local government 101 with Homer Mayor Rachel Lord, Planning Commissioner Heath Smith, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Willy Dunne and former Alaska House Representative Paul Seaton.

In the afternoon, former Attorney General of Alaska Doug Baily and Justice Warren Matthews, former chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court, will present on the Alaska judicial system. Dave Berry, director of the Homer Public Library, and Amber Corey from the Homer Legislative Information Office will team up with KBC students to discuss how to find and recognize reliable information. 

The day also includes lighter fare including a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence by Pier One Theatre, making a wish or birthday card for the country, in addition to signing the declaration. 

Community members will be able to register to vote and make updates to their voting registration. Information about the new municipal and borough election dates will be available.

A light lunch will be provided by Alice’s, Fat Olives and Mike’s Alaskan Eatery. 

The fair is sponsored by the Homer United Methodist Church Civic Engagement Group, League of Women Voters Kenai Peninsula and Kenai  Peninsula Votes. The Republican and Democratic parties will host information tables along with the City of Homer, Alaskans for Fair Courts and more.


Full information and a fair schedule is available online.