[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6101404,"mediaKeyId","2809283-f1c21a17c16913ecb34e4100156a5f9f","parentId",2809283,"title","Municipal clerk to directly oversee upcoming election operations during staffing shift, chair says","audioSeconds",66,"startMs",1901610,"endMs",1968345,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809283-f1c21a17c16913ecb34e4100156a5f9f&start=1901&end=1968","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809283-f1c21a17c16913ecb34e4100156a5f9f/thumbnail_1901610.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6101404/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Municipal-clerk-to-directly-oversee-upcoming-election-operations-during-staffing-shift-chair-says","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101404-b6f37bb8b14d4b463b4f163416776646/orig.mp4?Expires=1770747599&Signature=Ip0Q5MTqYJ4UhL9e7N49sRwu76-iP2D6mOYQrbUd1VqJRAvh4Ly6TvgbUMGFAQpSX4ZgYtzUWMmi-VOlmM~Zk63cD~XjsfN2M4H~NjfsIeCkFkHX~SxvT0dMla9G3HNB0nikcXG6b3O1WkSp5-dvEvrOJpEEyTzoINV0NtvrktVOc2VidCpYO5WyHSwTNWJjFTbkGQdIV2ciCm~pKkWTV-eCo-4kk39eEtuLpfE7BzJxQJoJVdriq8il1awqB2Y09chxocTTjieGCKRjjGkLyp2NH3Afx6-Re43oGyk85-p7eSMwqBC0Y2hfzN1yUtN8uKzMTU7E4LD0ELwsbsTNiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Municipality of Anchorage","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","Committee members were briefed that the municipal clerk will assume direct oversight of election operations during a personnel change and will appoint acting staff to cover clerk‑office duties in the interim.

Member Karen Branga asked whether the election director change had been covered. Chair Felix Rivera said he had a brief conversation with Jamie, the municipal clerk, who “assured me that, there will be no issues with the integrity of our election, that they're just moving pieces around to, make sure all the responsibilities are fulfilled.”

Rivera told the committee that Jamie would take over operation of the election center and would name Jasmine and another staffer as acting clerks for the interim period while the clerk focuses on the election center. “The clerk is staffing it directly,” Rivera said, and he characterized the arrangement as strengthening election operations during the transition.

No formal action was taken; members received the operational update and the chair asked staff to keep the committee informed if additional changes or concerns arise.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Quality Municipal Services/Ethics & Elections Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members were told March 26 that Municipal Clerk Jamie will take direct responsibility for election operations during a personnel shift; the clerk will appoint acting clerk staff to maintain election operations, and the chair said this should not affect election integrity.","taxTitle","Anchorage Municipality, Alaska","taxId",2653,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6101409,"Committee opens planning for ranked‑choice voting; sponsor says draft charter amendment nearly ready",567,1278220,1845955,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809283-f1c21a17c16913ecb34e4100156a5f9f&start=1278&end=1845","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809283-f1c21a17c16913ecb34e4100156a5f9f/thumbnail_1278220.jpg","/articles/6101409/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Committee-opens-planning-for-rankedchoice-voting-sponsor-says-draft-charter-amendment-nearly-ready","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101409-708b31d5781b669e2698e946a2968874/orig.mp4?Expires=1770747599&Signature=JsBKIPecphJn14h4f2VMLCALmaJ7JjjAnjdZL43cJKJzGvOPY8GbFtM9Cqb4bO4NAqWP05KxTL0oKjo7tOGWRscur1uBPf6KBlITvxxTtVU41jXDvBerTzhcmJxWasDYHa7QfQk-Zu~Xh1aUAyHVPFoHWEKiAmQFt-0-bmt6e6PkMQ0LkGkb6KSAm8mSe0Iul56zUdl7ByVLR9lyOR9K0WKqtlZ2~n1cqbMD~~URJfnMW0FIHWv-0zjhkuS0cz8b1sU9JR40RGVw~GfnhSSnWbelPFYBWbGmT~D4gqiSCZhvKwkR4ifjyukxt2~e12JfNW~x4LMag90uLPdsEqWOpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assembly members on the Quality Municipal Services and Ethics and Elections Committee opened an introductory discussion March 26 about implementing ranked‑choice voting (RCV) for municipal races and possible timelines for placing a charter amendment before voters.

Assembly Member Constant, who said he has a draft ordinance to establish a voter charter amendment for ranked‑choice voting, told the committee the draft is “nearly ready for prime time” and is being reviewed by administration staff; he said the sponsor’s intent is to see the question before voters in April 2026 if the committee and Assembly move forward promptly.

Chair Felix Rivera said the committee should focus first on the operational “how” of adapting local elections systems rather than re‑arguing the rationale for RCV, which he said voters have debated previously at state level. Several members asked for a clear path and timeline, and for stakeholder engagement comparable to the multi‑year process used to implement vote‑by‑mail in the past.

Members discussed scope. A sponsor representative said the draft would apply across the board — the mayoral race, Assembly races and school board contests — and convert elections to an instant runoff framework; it would also change mayoral runoff rules referenced in current timelines and adjust the threshold for an outright victory from 45% to 50% where applicable.

Assistant Municipal Attorney Jessica Willoughby briefed the committee on a recently issued federal executive order that relates to federal elections. Willoughby said the order’s language is specific to federal elections and that the Office of the Municipal Attorney will monitor any downstream effects at the state or local level: “As an executive order, it is applicable and the language within the executive order is specific to federal elections,” she said, adding that the city did not anticipate an immediate effect on local elections but would watch for consequential impacts on state law or simultaneous election processes.

Committee members asked the sponsor to notify the committee when the draft ordinance is ready for formal consideration. Members said they expect a detailed implementation discussion in May or June that will identify stakeholder groups, technical changes needed for ballots and vote counting, and public‑education plans.

","Committee members discussed next steps for adopting ranked‑choice voting locally; sponsor said a draft ballot question is under review and could be ready for an April 2026 vote, while staff outlined that implementing RCV will focus on the 'how' including stakeholder engagement and timeline.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6101414,"Assembly committee votes 4-1 to recommend postponing AO 2025-18 and urging a charter review commission",1101,134425,1236285,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809283-f1c21a17c16913ecb34e4100156a5f9f&start=134&end=1236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809283-f1c21a17c16913ecb34e4100156a5f9f/thumbnail_134425.jpg","/articles/6101414/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Assembly-committee-votes-4-1-to-recommend-postponing-AO-2025-18-and-urging-a-charter-review-commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101414-9072fb7c27ed2e0c3eef1ba93d25a1b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770747599&Signature=Kldnvkljt-BSoZrWTqJmMnXiOIulzr5-0BxICITMvIbOknxG23KZZW2cAdlL7L0CKNoTiXdNbUlZYvWxOcOIHAbjrg98ULnvGAQ6A7o5LaX0IDCrHvRZMsB36J22iOS4AECv9D160QH~496VvhzmjW5UFBEcv5C5R6rYHtO-LtzCT3dwfYBAZe6nuthby1EKlmP-0r1S92o6ZOsBEY4rCWln8~xYw316f44pw3BUIM4rFK8CUPHC9NYtOa8FGY~lhPjd-zRywijU84rSLe~2M4gDYWgeymCj03~NxsXxkSwksfR3PfhtlZQzZQ6xJv8pIlBrZ5ocYYFGBUt15ftz8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Assembly Quality Municipal Services and Ethics and Elections Committee voted 4-1 Wednesday to recommend indefinite postponement of AO 2025-18 and asked the full Assembly to consider creating a charter review commission to study proposed text corrections to the Anchorage Municipality home‑rule charter.

AO 2025-18 had been filed to amend the charter to correct grammar and to update text to reflect legal rulings. Committee members described four possible recommendations and settled on the third: postpone action on the ordinance and recommend that the Assembly consider establishing a charter review commission to examine the proposed changes and other potential amendments.

Assembly Member Felix Rivera, chair of the committee, said he “took the liberty to craft 4 different recommendations” and invited discussion before a motion and vote. Member Zach Johnson said the review commission felt like the best option: “I kinda like recommendation number 3. It feels like, you know, you lay out a good list of things that are are merit consideration,” he said, adding that a commission could make the process less political.

Member Brawley expressed support for continuing the work but warned about timing and membership: “I do worry about the timeframe of that,” Brawley said, adding the commission should include both outside community perspectives and people with municipal experience so the group does not advance recommendations that conflict with other legal or operational requirements.

Another committee member, identified in the record as Gates, said the ordinance needed more vetting and opposed immediately placing the ordinance on an upcoming ballot: “I absolutely don't recommend going for recommendation 1,” Gates said, calling some suggested charter changes more than housekeeping.

Committee members discussed whether a review body would be a Title 4 commission (an executive‑branch commission established under municipal code Title 4) or an elected charter commission created under state statute. The committee chair and other members said the recommendation forwarded to the Assembly would be brief: indefinite postponement of AO 2025-18 with a recommendation that the Assembly consider establishing a charter review commission. Specifics such as membership, ownership (assembly versus mayor), qualifications and sunset dates were left to the Assembly or to a subsequent committee process.

A motion to send recommendation 3 was moved and seconded; the committee approved it in a roll call vote that passed 4 to 1. The committee recorded the tally as four yes votes and one no vote; the committee asked the clerk to ensure the recommendation is returned to the full Assembly for further consideration.

The committee did not set a timeline for when a commission, if created, would report back. Members said the work could feed into a future ballot (members noted April 2026 as one possible election date) but left the timing open to allow a thoughtful rather than rushed process.

The action recorded in committee will be placed on the Assembly agenda for a future meeting; the clerk will advise scheduling, the chair said.

","The Assembly Quality Municipal Services and Ethics and Elections Committee voted 4-1 March 26 to recommend indefinite postponement of AO 2025-18 and that the full Assembly consider creating a charter review commission to study proposed charter corrections and legal clarifications.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Municipal clerk to directly oversee upcoming election operations during staffing shift, chair says

Committee opens planning for ranked‑choice voting; sponsor says draft charter amendment nearly ready

Assembly committee votes 4-1 to recommend postponing AO 2025-18 and urging a charter review commission