Anchorage Mayor LaFrance announces 6 new executive hires

Suzanne LaFrance, Anchorage’s recently elected Mayor, gives her closing remarks astatine her swearing-in ceremonial astatine Town Square Park successful Anchorage connected Monday, July 1,2024. (Matt Faubion/Alaska Public Media)

Anchorage politician Suzanne LaFrance has announced six caller executive appointments. 

In a statement, LaFrance said Barbara Jones will beryllium lawman main of staff. Jones antecedently served arsenic Anchorage municipal clerk earlier retiring past year. Jones joins LaFrance’s antecedently announced main of unit Katie Scovic. 

Former Anchorage Municipal Clerk Barbara Jones will service arsenic lawman main of unit for Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. (Wesley Early/AKPM)

LaFrance has besides hired Farina Brown arsenic typical adjunct connected homelessness and wellness and Graham Downey arsenic typical adjunct connected proscription and housing. Brown antecedently worked astatine Rasmuson Foundation connected nan group’s homelessness initiatives while Downey was economical justness lead astatine nan Alaska Public Interest Research Group.

Nolan Klouda will service arsenic a argumentation advisor, directing LaFrance’s unit to instrumentality nan mayor’s priorities. Klouda has led nan University of Alaska’s Center for Economic Development for a decade. 

Nolan Klouda, Executive Director for UAA’s Center for Economic Development, discusses Project Anchorage astatine nan Peterson Tower connected Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Matt Faubion/Alaska Public Media)

Marie Husa has been hired by nan LaFrance management to service arsenic constituent relations director, while Amanda Moser will beryllium caput of outer affairs. Husa is an adjacent authorities interrogator who worked astatine Bering Straits Native Corporation while Moser antecedently served arsenic nan executive head of nan Anchorage Downtown Partnership. 

These positions are not taxable to Assembly approval, a LaFrance spokeswoman said. 

LaFrance took agency connected Monday, and had antecedently announced nan hiring of Sean Case arsenic main of police, Eva Gardner arsenic municipal attorney, Becky Windt Pearson arsenic municipal head and Bill Falsey arsenic main administrative officer.