Juneau’s mayor runs for reelection after husband’s death

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon talks during a metropolis gathering successful December 2023. (Clarise Larson/KTOO)

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon has announced that she plans to tally for a 3rd word successful October’s section election. 

In an question and reply connected Tuesday, she said nan determination to tally didn’t travel easy. 

“It’s been an highly reliable determination to make, particularly pinch my husband, Greg’s, passing,” she said. “But I conscionable travel backmost to nan aforesaid thoughts that I’m committed to Juneau, and I deliberation I still person immoderate things to offer.”

Her hubby died successful a motorcycle crash in Arizona successful precocious April. 

Weldon is simply a retired section main pinch Capital City Fire/Rescue and owns Glacier Auto Parts. She has 2 big sons and is simply a lifelong resident of Juneau. 

She’s been politician since 2018. Before that, she served 2 years connected nan Assembly earlier resigning to tally for mayor. She was reelected successful 2021 and will decorativeness her 2nd three-year mayoral word successful October. 

Weldon said immoderate of her priorities if reelected are supporting kid attraction development, much lodging and keeping nan city’s spending fund successful check. 

She said she thought astir not moving aft her hubby died, but yet decided to property forward.

“Before Greg passed away, I was going to tally anyway. And past that benignant of gave maine a small spot of pause,” she said. “Then I decided that he would want maine to proceed to do it because he was a quiet supporter, but he was nan type of feline that if I sewage location precocious 1 evening, there’d beryllium leftovers from meal for me.”

October’s predetermination will besides characteristic 5 different unfastened seats: 2 connected nan Juneau Assembly and 3 connected nan schoolhouse board. There are a fewer national initiatives that could besides onshore connected nan ballot.

The 2 Assembly seats up for grabs are held by Michelle Hale and Wáahlaal Gídaag Barbara Blake. Both of them opportunity they don’t scheme to tally again.

No 1 other has publically announced their volition to tally for politician truthful far, but Weldon said she’d beryllium amazed if she ran unopposed. 

“I’ve ever said your voice, your vote, truthful get retired and vote. And I deliberation we’ll spot immoderate candidates,” she said. 

The filing play to tally for section office opens July 12.