Anchorage Assembly certifies runoff election results, officially starting transition to LaFrance mayorship

The Anchorage Assembly on Friday unanimously certified the results of the mayoral runoff election, officially making Suzanne LaFrance the municipality’s mayor-elect.

The election certification also marks the beginning of a one-month transition period for the mayoral administrations. Mayor Dave Bronson’s term comes to a close at the end of June and Mayor-elect LaFrance takes office July 1.

LaFrance, a former Assembly chair, won the race with 53.5% of the vote, a total of 5,636 more votes than Bronson, who received 46.5%.

In a brief interview, LaFrance said she is “excited and grateful to see the results not only certified, but to see such a clear outcome” of the election.

During the runoff, the city saw its third-highest voter turnout at 33.5%, Anchorage election administrator William Northrop said. A total of 79,658 ballots were cast.

Turnout was behind only the 2018 regular mayoral election, which saw 36.3% voter turnout, and the record of 38.4% during the 2021 runoff, when Bronson narrowly won against then-Assembly member Forrest Dunbar, who is now a Democratic state senator.

Dunbar was present at Friday’s Assembly meeting along with a throng of other LaFrance supporters. Several wore fuchsia T-shirts printed with the words “Landslide LaFrance.” The crowded room in City Hall erupted in cheers and clapping following the Assembly’s vote to certify the election. Assembly Vice Chair Meg Zaletel wore a T-shirt that said “America needs female leaders.”

LaFrance spoke briefly, thanking the Assembly, the city’s election team and the municipal clerk staff.

“I’m looking forward to working with all of you on a smooth and productive transition and very excited about what’s ahead for our community,” she said.

Work on the transition was already beginning Friday afternoon, as LaFrance and her campaign manager, Katie Scovic, were headed to meet with the city’s municipal manager. Earlier this week, LaFrance launched a transition website, teamanchorage.com.

LaFrance said she has not yet made any formal decision on her transition team or executive staffing.

“The first priority is on good governance, and to build a strong team of qualified, competent, ethical people who are passionate about our community,” she said. “The second priority is to ensure that our streets and trails are safe.”

That means focusing on homelessness and ensuring the city has a year-round shelter plan in place, and filling the numerous vacancies at the police department, she said.

Other top priorities include “getting to work on a plan for snow removal and then, finally, just building Anchorage’s future and focusing on economic development and housing,” she said.

LaFrance is the first woman elected as Anchorage’s mayor.

In 2020, then-Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson was the first woman to serve as the city’s top executive. Quinn-Davidson was nominated to the position by the Assembly following the resignation of former Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.