Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson announced Friday that Craig Campbell, a top official, has resigned. Campbell served in several roles in the Bronson administration, including chief of staff and, most recently, as policy and programs director.
Campbell will return to a position at Alaska Aerospace, where he was president and CEO from 2012 to 2019. His first day back will be Oct. 25.
In an August interview discussing the city’s mass shelter facility, Campbell indicated that he didn’t plan to stay with the administration for the long haul.
“I’m an employee,” Campbell said. “A temporary employee for six months at $55,000, with no benefits.”
In a statement, Bronson called Campbell “the definition of what service and commitment to Alaska is.”
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Campbell had previously served as lieutenant governor for 15 months under former Republican Gov. Sean Parnell. He was also co-chair of Bronson’s transition team and is vice chair of the Alaska Republican Party.
A spokesman for the Bronson administration said that Karl Raszkiewicz will fill Campbell’s vacancy in the mayor’s office. Also, Marilyn Banzhaf will serve as acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Bronson’s first months in office have been marked by a series of tumultuous transitions, including the firing of his real estate director and chief equity officer, and an early resignation from his health director.
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Campbell’s departure is one of several resignations and firings this week alone. Shawn Hays was head of mass care at the Sullivan Arena mass shelter before she was fired this week. She said she felt blindsided by her termination.
“Two weeks before I went to the health department, they — meaning the Office of Emergency Management — said, ‘This might be another year. Can we get your commitment?’ And I said absolutely,” Hays said.
Additionally, Development Services director Bob Doehl announced that he’d be leaving his position, effective Nov. 3. Doehl says he’s leaving on his own volition.
This story previously misspelled Karl Raszkiewicz’s last name.
Alaska Public Media’s Lex Treinen contributed to this report.
Wesley Early covers Anchorage life and city politics for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at wearly@alaskapublic.org and follow him on X at @wesley_early. Read more about Wesley here.
Lex Treinen is covering the state Legislature for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at ltreinen@gmail.com.
