Kavitha George, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Kavitha George is Alaska Public Media’s climate change reporter. Reach her at kgeorge@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Kavitha here.
Bronson widens lead in Anchorage mayoral race
Retired commercial pilot Dave Bronson is ahead by 627 votes in the runoff race for Anchorage mayor against East Anchorage Assembly member Forrest Dunbar. That’s according to updated election results posted Thursday afternoon. The margin between the two candidates is still less than 1 percent, but it has widened since Wednesday, when Bronson was up by less than 300 votes.
Bronson takes a slim lead in the Anchorage mayoral runoff
Retired commercial pilot Dave Bronson took a slim lead in the runoff election for Anchorage mayor on Wednesday. With about 76,000 votes counted, Bronson leads over Assembly member Forrest Dunbar by under 278 votes. Only about 4,000 votes were added to the count between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Anchorage mayor’s race too close to call, with thousands of ballots left to count
Forrest Dunbar leads Dave Bronson in a narrow race, but full results won't be known for weeks.
Anchorage’s new police chief wants to prioritize building community trust
Anchorage's first Black police chief said his said his top priority will be building trust in the community, particularly with communities of color.
Signs of strong turnout for Tuesday’s hotly-contested mayoral runoff in Anchorage
As of Friday the municipal Elections Center had already received 61,525 ballots. That’s 3,563 more than had been received by general election day last month. About 75,000 people voted in the general election.
Bronson outraises Dunbar in latest campaign finance reports
Bronson’s campaign has outraised Dunbar’s in the runoff election by about $77,000, but overall, Dunbar has still raised more — close to $591,000 in total, compared to Bronson’s $559,000.
Still deciding between Bronson and Dunbar? Here’s where they come down on major issues.
Anchorage voters still have about a week to cast their ballots as the city chooses its next mayor in a runoff election.
The two candidates, East Anchorage Assembly member Forrest Dunbar and retired commercial...
Anchorage Assembly confirms city’s first Chief Equity Officer
The Anchorage Assembly confirmed the city’s first Chief Equity Officer on Tuesday, a new role dedicated to promoting equity in city government. That includes making sure municipal hiring and contracting is fair and representative of the community, tracking how municipal resources are distributed and educating the community about its role in dismantling systemic inequity.
The bears are back in Anchorage. Here’s what to know.
Bears are up and about in Anchorage, and looking for food. If you haven’t already, now is the time to take down bird-feeders, clean up any outdoor food waste, including pet food, and ensure trash is stored securely.
Anchorage Assembly rolls back COVID-19 gathering limits and business restrictions
Anchorage COVID-19 restrictions are set to loosen significantly next week. At a meeting on Tuesday, the Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to remove all gathering limits and social distancing requirements for the city starting Monday, May 3. The decision also lifted COVID-19 requirements for businesses like hotels, bingo halls, gyms, salons and childcare centers.
Bronson and Dunbar have starkly different visions for Anchorage
Dave Bronson, a retired commercial and Air Force pilot and Forrest Dunbar, a captain with the Army National Guard who serves on the Assembly. The candidates, who will take part in a runoff election next month, have starkly different visions for the future of Anchorage.
Anchorage Assembly discussion reveals deep division after brutal year of pandemic politics
After an explosive disagreement during a meeting last week, the Anchorage Assembly held a routine reorganization vote Tuesday to elect an acting chair. Despite opposition from some members, Midtown Assembly member Felix Rivera was re-elected to the position.
Anchorage Assembly certifies municipal election
The Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to certify the results of the April municipal election on Tuesday. This means results are now official, though they may still be subject to a recount, if the candidates are within half a percentage point of each other. Results may also be contested on legal grounds if there is proof of fraud, corrupt election practices, or the candidate does not meet qualifications for office.
Warm weather and plowing in Anchorage mean clear trails likely a week away
A month into a cold spring that followed a pandemic winter, temperatures in Anchorage are reaching into the 60’s this week and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department is hard at work, transforming the slushy remains of ski trails into clear paths for the bikes, strollers and roller blades of summer.
APOC denies expedited hearing after allegations of Bronson campaign finance violation
The runoff election for Anchorage mayor began to heat up this week, after Forrest Dunbar’s campaign accused Dave Bronson’s campaign of more than $170,000 in finance violations. On Wednesday, the Alaska Public Offices Commission denied the Dunbar campaign’s request for an expedited hearing.
Anchorage Assembly extends COVID emergency declaration by closest vote yet
The Anchorage Assembly approved an eighth extension of the city’s COVID-19 emergency declaration Tuesday. The measure passed six to four, the slimmest margin an extension has seen since the COVID emergency began.
Election update: Anchorage school board race tightens
The Anchorage school board race between Kelly Lessens and Judy Eledge has narrowed to less than 100 votes, with Lessens narrowly holding onto the lead Monday.
Anchorage mayor loosens pandemic restrictions, plus adds incentive to get vaccinated
Embedded in the new emergency order is an incentive to get a COVID-19 vaccine: once 70% of eligible Anchorage residents are vaccinated, the restrictions become merely an “advisory” instead of law.
Extra marks on ballots held up tabulating on Anchorage’s Election Night
Results in the Anchorage election came in slowly this year. Last year the elections center got through more than half the ballots the first night, but by Tuesday night, less than a fifth of the total ballots that had been received were tabulated. On Wednesday evening, the clerk’s office explained the early reports were held up by some unusually marked ballots.
Dunbar and Bronson still lead Anchorage mayor’s race as more ballots are counted
Assembly member Forrest Dunbar and former Air Force pilot Dave Bronson are still leading the race for mayor after the Anchorage municipal clerk added a second batch of votes to the results of the April 6 election Wednesday afternoon.