Anchorage veteran preference could exclude recent Afghanistan, Iraq vets

Anchorage veterans who own businesses could get a 5 percent edge on city contracts under a new ordinance, but the Assembly is split on which veterans should count.

The administration's version limits the preference to veterans discharged within five years of the bid date. An invitation to bid advertised Wednesday would offer the preference only to a business owned by a veteran who was discharged on or after May 28, 2021. The last combat troops left Afghanistan in August 2021 and Iraq in December 2021.

Assembly Member Jared Goecker, one of the sponsors, said the five-year window creates too narrow a gap for veteran-owned businesses to be established. He said it excludes a significant portion of the veteran population. Goecker wants to extend the preference to most municipal contracts and any veteran-owned business, regardless of residency.

The competing versions also differ on discharge status. The sponsor version requires discharge under honorable conditions, which includes honorable discharge and general under honorable conditions. The administration version initially included a broader category that officials said went too far.

Assembly Member McCormick questioned why the preference would extend beyond honorable discharges. He said the municipality values honorable service and is willing to pay extra for that.

The ordinance is scheduled for debate at the Assembly's June 9 meeting.