Anchorage Mayor LaFrance Announces Hiring of 6 New Executives

Anchorage Mayor-elect Suzanne LaFrance delivers closing remarks during her inauguration ceremony at Town Square Park in Anchorage on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Matt Faubion/Alaska Public Media)

Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance has announced six new executive appointments.

In a statement, LaFrance said Barbara Jones will serve as deputy chief of staff. Jones previously served as Anchorage’s city clerk before retiring last year. Jones joins Katie Scovic, LaFrance’s previously announced chief of staff.

blonde woman with glasses — Barbara Jones, a former Anchorage city clerk, will serve as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. (Wesley Early/AKPM)

LaFrance also hired Farina Brown as special assistant for homelessness and health and Graham Downey as special assistant for transportation and housing. Brown previously worked at the Rasmuson Foundation on the group’s homelessness initiatives while Downey was economic justice manager at the Alaska Public Interest Research Group.

Nolan Klouda will serve as policy advisor and lead LaFrance’s staff in implementing the mayor’s priorities. Klouda has led the University of Alaska’s Center for Economic Development for a decade.

A man in a plaid suit speaks. — Nolan Klouda, executive director of the UAA Center for Economic Development, discusses the Anchorage project at the Peterson Tower on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Matt Faubion/Alaska Public Media)

Marie Husa was hired by the LaFrance administration to serve as director of constituent relations, while Amanda Moser will be responsible for external affairs. Husa is an equal rights investigator who worked at the Bering Straits Native Corporation while Moser was previously executive director of the Anchorage Downtown Partnership.

These positions are not subject to approval by the Assembly, a LaFrance spokeswoman said.

LaFrance took office Monday and previously announced the hiring of Sean Case as police chief, Eva Gardner as city attorney, Becky Windt Pearson as city manager and Bill Falsey as chief administrative officer.