Legislators spend unnecessary energy loathing each other because of our political differences, which is a prime factor in preventing us from getting the work done we are hired to do. Rhetoric often divides us more than reality. When our citizens decide who they want to represent them, we need to remember that we work for them — which means everyone. We work for Democrats, Republicans, independents and more without any consideration of whether or not they voted for us.
We are elected to office to represent our community — all of them. If the mayoral election of 2021 tells us one thing, it is our job to lead through these divisions.We are grateful for the mayor’s choice of Amy Demboski to the second-highest position within the Municipality of Anchorage. Ms. Demboski served collaboratively with us from Day One, and we were impressed because we knew firsthand that she served for all the right reasons. Like us, she truly cares about our community and wants to make a difference. Our political differences are vast, but like us, her focus is the community.
While serving on the Anchorage Assembly, we had the opportunity to come to consensus on issues that involved different perspectives. The public doesn’t often see the decision-making process up close, but most Assembly decisions are made by consensus. Mostly, people see decisions made by divided votes. We were able to work through challenging issues and maintain respect for each other because we shared some core values. We can disagree passionately and still treat each other with respect. That our mission is to strengthen the municipality and better the lives of our neighbors through effective budgeting and responsive government.
Ms. Demboski does her homework and values our opinions. She will be professional, thoughtful and effectively coordinate with the Assembly, mayor, and department directors to ensure the work of the people is done efficiently and professionally. She will take a reasonable approach to critical issues.Our experience tells us that Anchorage residents can be confident she will serve the community as municipal manager with integrity, ethics, compassion, and respect for our employees. Her decisions will be based on community need with executive and legislative input. She will work fairly with the Assembly, recognizing the challenge the legislative branch has when making decisions. Like us, she will lead with dignity for the betterment of our entire community.
Congratulations, Ms. Demboski!
— Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson
Assembly Vice Chair Christopher Constant
Anchorage
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