Suzanne LaFrance sworn in as first woman elected Anchorage mayor

2 months ago

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A female successful a bluish suit shakes hands pinch people.

Hundreds of group flocked to Anchorage’s Town Square Park Monday to watch Suzanne LaFrance’s inauguration, wherever she officially became nan first female elected to lead Alaska’s largest city.

LaFrance is not nan first female to service arsenic Anchorage mayor. That favoritism belongs to Austin Quinn-Davidson, who nan Assembly picked arsenic acting politician backmost successful 2020 aft Ethan Berkowitz resigned.

Quinn-Davidson beamed Monday arsenic she introduced LaFrance and talked astir their activity together. She said nan 2 person had to navigate a world “dominated by antheral leaders and approaches.”

“I’ve watched Suzanne lead successful her ain way,” Quinn-Davidson said. “Listen alternatively of talk, attraction connected group and their needs arsenic she navigates challenges, return hateful words pinch patience and graciousness and beryllium consenting to put herself connected nan statement for what is right.”

Following a six-year stint arsenic an Anchorage Assembly member, pinch 2 years arsenic chair, and a twelvemonth of campaigning, LaFrance officially became politician astatine 7:30 a.m. Monday. She was ceremonially sworn successful by Jane Angvik, a longtime nationalist servant who helped draught nan city’s charter.

A female hugs her mother astatine a podium.

LaFrance highlighted her connection of bully government, transparency and accountability. She began her remarks by talking astir her puerility playing squad sports for illustration lucky and soccer, calling teamwork “essential” to who she is.

“Today isn’t astir 1 azygous person,” LaFrance said. “Today’s astir this typical spot we telephone location and what we’re going to do together to hole it up and make it nan spot we each cognize it tin be.”

As LaFrance spoke, a group of astir a twelve protesters stood nearby, chanting done a megaphone: “release nan footage now” and “civilian oversight now.”

During her remarks, LaFrance acknowledged nan protesters, saying, “I want to admit nan group present who are practicing their First Amendment rights.” People applauded.

The statement down nan protest, nan Party for Socialism and Liberation – Anchorage, precocious launched a run to found an independent constabulary reappraisal committee for nan city.

In nan past 2 months, a string of Anchorage constabulary shootings near astatine slightest 2 group dead. Advocates person pushed for nan release of nan officers’ assemblage camera footage. But erstwhile Acting Chief Bianca Cross refused, saying it will beryllium disposable aft investigations are complete.

From time one, LaFrance said, her incoming municipal lawyer Eva Gardner and nan new constabulary main Sean Case are moving to summation constabulary accountability.

“They are already digging into issues and moving connected draught policies to guarantee clear connection and build spot betwixt APD and nan community,” LaFrance said.

In an question and reply aft her remarks, LaFrance said apical of mind is “stabilizing nan municipality.”

“Making judge that we’ve sewage a grip connected nan finances, and that we’ve sewage nan devices successful spot to unit up because we cognize we’ve sewage a batch of vacancies,” LaFrance said. “And that impacts nan transportation of services to residents.”

She besides highlighted Anchorage’s lodging crunch arsenic a problem to solve, arsenic good arsenic really to support nan city’s bum population.

As for being nan first female elected to beryllium Anchorage mayor, LaFrance said she’s proud and grateful for nan women who made strides earlier her.

The inauguration ended pinch a capacity from nan Lepquinm Gumilgit Gagoadim Ts’msyen Dancers.