Anchorage Chamber of Commerce president, Andrew Halcro, announced he is leaving his position in order to run for mayor of Alaska’s largest city.
Speaking to retired public employees at the Anchorage Senior Activities Center Tuesday, Halcro explained he’s filed paperwork to officially launch a bid to be mayor.
Though mentioning his intent to run a positive campaign, Halcro described the decision to run as stemming from what he described as “Tammany Hall” style politics in Mayor Dan Sullivan’s administration.
“I don’t know how anyone that’s awake can be $25 million over on a $9 million project,” Halcro told the crowd, referring to the Municipality’s delays and cost over-runs bringing the new SAP payroll software system online.
Citing his business background and years with the Chamber of Commerce, Halcro said his approach to the local economy will combine fiscal prudence with adaptability to a changing revenue landscape, including expanding tourism efforts in Anchorage and finding new ways to finance capital projects.
Halcro served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1998 until 2002, and ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor against Sarah Palin.
Other major candidates in the mayor’s race are Assembly member Amy Demboski, as well as former Assembly members Dan Coffey and Paul Bauer.
The municipal election is April 7th.
Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska.
@ZachHughesAK About Zachariah
