Anchorage Assembly unanimously confirms Anne Helzer as municipal attorney

The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday unanimously voted to confirm Anne Helzer as municipal attorney.

Mayor Dave Bronson appointed Helzer as city attorney in February, after the resignation of former acting city attorney Blair Christensen.

Several Assembly members said they are hopeful that Helzer, in her new role, will help ease recent instability within Bronson’s administration.

Member Meg Zaletel urged other members to support Helzer’s confirmation.

“I am going to take her at her word that she is a uniter and that she is collaborative and that she is a problem solver, and that she is here to represent the entire municipality,” Zaletel said.

“That has the potential to be a sea change,” she said.

Until Tuesday’s vote, the city had lacked a permanent municipal attorney since the June resignation of Bronson’s original city attorney, Patrick Bergt. The Assembly did not confirm Bronson’s next pick for city attorney, Mario Bird, though Bird continued to work in the mayor’s office. Bronson last week appointed Bird as his acting chief of staff after the resignation of Adam Trombley.

Bronson’s administration has been rocked with instability over the last several months, precipitated by his December firing of former municipal manager Amy Demboski. Since then, the administration has seen a string of departures of top officials, including Christensen, Trombley, former deputy chief of staff Brice Wilbanks and former Human Resources Director Niki Tshibaka. Former Solid Waste Services director Dan Zipay also resigned last week, the day after the mayor’s office announced Trombley’s departure. Bronson-backed candidates are on their way to losing in all but one of the Assembly races in last week’s city election.

Several high-level positions in Bronson’s administration are unfilled by permanent appointments, and some departments are being led by a temporary director serving in an acting capacity, including the city’s municipal manager.

Assembly members have expressed serious concerns with the exodus of experience and leadership in the administration.

Member Austin Quinn-Davidson on Tuesday said that she believes Helzer’s leadership will provide needed stability.

Before taking the job with the city month, Helzer was chair of the Alaska Public Offices Commission, the state commission overseeing compliance with campaign finance laws. She was appointed in 2017 by then-Gov. Bill Walker, and later elected as the commission’s chair. Her term on the commission ended last month. Helzer was also appointed in 2020 by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to the Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board and her term ended last month.

After a swearing-in ceremony, Helzer thanked the Assembly and acknowledged the challenges ahead.

“I follow in very significant footsteps in coming into the situation and I’m going to do the best I can,” Helzer said. “... And to the members of the administration, I’m very grateful to be here. Thank you so much for the honor and privilege to take this role on.”

Helzer permanently takes the reins in the city’s Department of Law as the municipality faces several legal challenges, including the threat of a lawsuit from Demboski, who has alleged that Bronson fired her for emailing him whistleblower concerns. Bronson is also contending with ongoing lawsuits from two fired executives, who have also accused the mayor of wrongful or retaliatory terminations.

[Mayor Bronson asks for gag order against fired director as new lawsuit is filed against city in federal court]

Last month, the construction management company involved in a controversial and stalled project to build a navigation center and homeless shelter sued the city for an alleged breach of contract and failing to deal in good faith.

The Assembly last month filed an appeal with the state Superior Court in an effort to obtain records on the city’s investigation into the hiring of former Health Department Director Joe Gerace, after Bronson declined to provide documents on the internal investigation.

Helzer graduated from Regent University School of Law in 2002, according to her resume. Her annual salary will be $148,400, according to her offer letter. Helzer is a past president of the Anchorage Bar Association, and volunteers with multiple nonprofits, including Boy Scouts of America, Hilltop Ski Area and the Anchorage Concert Association, according to her resume.