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By Peggy Ussery
Eagle Staff Writer
October 31, 2002

   From a distance it looked like an old yellow school bus. But on closer inspection the bus is covered with signatures of those who support an amendment that will allow voters to have a voice in any constitutional
reform.

   The moving petition, called Reform One, was in Dothan and Troy on Thursday. The bus, sponsored by the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform (ACCR) stopped at Dothan High School and Troy State University.

   “We’re trying to take our message of the need to reform the constitution to people across the state as well as the need for passage of Amendment One,” said David Perry, field director for the ACCR.

   Alabama voters will decide the fate of Amendment One in the Nov. 5 general election. One of three constitutional amendments on Tuesday’s ballot, Amendment One states that any new proposed constitution adopted to replace the current 1901 Alabama Constitution will only go into effect after voters
approve it.

   The message the ACCR is trying to get out is that approving Amendment One ensures the people of Alabama have a voice in any new constitution. But the ACCR is also working hard to convince people that it’s time the state had a new constitution.

   The bus tour has made about 30 stops around the state over the last three weeks and will visit Mobile and Baldwin County on Saturday, Perry said. The statewide tour will wrap up on Monday at noon with a rally on the Capitol steps in Montgomery.

   “I think people want to feel like they’re part of this movement,” said former Dothan mayor Alfred Saliba, who was at Dothan High on Thursday to speak to students on behalf of ACCR.

   Saliba said a new constitution is needed because the current constitution does not allow local governments to govern themselves. Saliba said the state also remains in a financial crisis under the current constitution.

   “It’s a very ineffective government that stems from this constitution,” Saliba said.

   The state constitution is also the longest in the nation with 706 amendments. The average number of amendments in other state constitutions is 58, Saliba said.

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