Christopher Constant voted chair of Anchorage Assembly after new members sworn in

Five newly elected Anchorage Assembly members and two who won reelection were sworn into office late Tuesday after certification of April 4 election results.

Afterward, the Assembly unanimously selected Christopher Constant as chair and Meg Zaletel as vice chair.

The incoming Assembly members are Zac Johnson, who represents South Anchorage; Anna Brawley, West Anchorage; George Martinez and Karen Bronga, East Anchorage; and Scott Myers, Eagle River/Chugiak.

Constant, who represents North Anchorage, and Felix Rivera of Midtown each began a third term in office.

Constant, in his first comments as chair, said he is “honored to have been given the opportunity to lead this new Assembly boldly and bravely into the future.”

“This election, now certified, comes at a crucial time in our city’s history, as we emerge from a long and dark period of the pandemic and enter a new day of what, I hope, will be characterized as collegial accountability from the Assembly,” Constant said. “Members who have just departed led this municipality through the greatest challenge it has faced in its near 50-year existence. They served in a profoundly challenging time. And they did so honorably.”

“And now, it is your turn to take up the mantle that they leave for you,” he said to the new members.

The outgoing members — Chair Suzanne LaFrance, Austin Quinn-Davidson, Pete Petersen and interim members Joey Sweet and Robin Dern — each wore boutonnieres of bright yellow sunflowers on Tuesday night.

Before the swearing-in ceremony, departing members and those remaining exchanged bittersweet, occasionally tearful farewells.

LaFrance also welcomed the new members before stepping down from her role. LaFrance opted not to run for reelection in South Anchorage.

Quinn-Davidson in West Anchorage also chose not to run again. During her time as a member, she served for several months as acting mayor after the 2020 resignation of Ethan Berkowitz.

During the goodbyes, several other members thanked Quinn-Davidson for stepping up as acting mayor.

“We have, as others have said, been through a lot together,” LaFrance said. “Austin, you had it really tough serving as acting mayor, and you led us through such a profoundly difficult time and you never lost your grace.”

Petersen, departing from East Anchorage, served the limit of three full consecutive terms. Before leaving his seat Tuesday, he gave the incoming Assembly members a last piece of advice:

“Don’t burn bridges, work to build relationships. And that’s what I’ve tried to do,” he said.