By Steve Doyle
Times Staff Writer
steved@htimes.com
October
24, 2002
Kevin Garrison can picture it.
He eases the 1988 Blue Bird school bus with the broken
odometer into Montgomery on Nov. 4 - the day before the general election.
He turns onto Dexter Avenue and wheels up to the historic
front steps of the state Capitol. There are lawmakers in suits, popping
flashbulbs, maybe a marching band.
They're there to see the bus, "Reform One."
Drenched in signatures, it's an odd sight. Illegible squiggles compete
for space with flowery, John Hancock-like autographs. Then you notice
Matesha Owens' pep-rally message below the driver's side window: "What
do we want? New Constitution!!"
Garrison, who graduated from the University of Alabama
in August with a degree in civil engineering, never thought he'd be
driving a clunky bus around the state. But he does it because he says
the state deserves a better constitution.
Garrison and a buddy wake at 6 a.m. and pile into the
bus, knowing they won't get home until well after dark. So many events,
so far apart: rallies at Samford University in Birmingham, in Florence,
at Athens State University and, on Wednesday, Huntsville's Big Spring
International Park.
His group, Alabama Citizens for Constitutional
Reform, bought the used bus to serve as a roving petition. Hundreds
of people have signed it since the tour began last week in Perry County.
High school and college students have been the most enthusiastic
signers so far, Garrison said, but some aren't interested in the finer
points of the debate. (From the pen of one teen: "Veronica is
freakin' hot!" And another: "Cullman Bearcats rule.")
Supporters of a constitutional rewrite argue Alabama's
current governing document, written in 1901, is outdated, racist and
bottles too much power in Montgomery. County governments, for example,
can't consider new taxes or set up planning boards without the Legislature's
blessing.
Opponents of constitution reform say a rewrite could
lift gambling and tax restrictions and remove references to God.
Hartwell Lutz, a former state House member from Gurley
and a speaker at Wednesday's rally, said the 101-year-old document
is "not even halfway representative of democracy." Lutz
co-signed a resolution in 1973 calling for the creation of a panel
to rewrite the constitution, but the resolution never made it out
of committee.
He says the mood is better, but it'll take more than
an autograph-covered bus to persuade some lawmakers. Such as? "Maybe
if high school football is stopped," because schools don't have
enough money for athletics, he said.
Lutz carried a copy of the constitution to the rally.
He said he wanted to dunk it in kerosene and set it on fire during
his speech, which surely would have impressed the Discovery Middle
School wind ensemble seated nearby. But his wife talked him out of
it.
Although constitution reform has gotten a lot of press,
it's not the main topic at office water coolers. About 30 adults showed
up for Wednesday's rally at Big Spring Park.
"It's a hard topic to discuss," Garrison said.
"It's not Alabama or Auburn football. There's still a lot more
education work that needs to be done."
.
Go to: ACCR
Bus Tour Summary
Go to: ACCR
Bus Tour Schedule
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