Police PAC endorses LaFrance and Popp in Anchorage mayor’s race, fire union backs LaFrance

The Anchorage Fire Department union this week endorsed mayoral candidate and former Anchorage Assembly member Suzanne LaFrance, while the Anchorage police union’s political action group has endorsed both LaFrance and candidate Bill Popp.

In the leadup to the 2024 Anchorage city election, incumbent Mayor Dave Bronson faces three challengers: LaFrance, a former chair of the Assembly; Popp, a longtime Anchorage economic development official; and former Democratic state lawmaker and House majority leader Chris Tuck.

All four major candidates — Bronson, LaFrance, Popp and Tuck — sought endorsements from the fire department’s union, IAFF Local 1264, and the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association’s political action committee. The groups separately announced their endorsements on Monday. Each based their decisions on questionnaires and interviews with all candidates.

“As far as public safety, I believe the No. 1 job of local government is to keep our community safe. So, I’m very proud to have my commitment to public safety recognized by the APDEA PAC, and IAFF Local 1264,” LaFrance said.

Popp said he’s honored to have the support of the police union’s political action committee.

“We had a good discussion with representatives of the PAC about my support for addressing their needs, the safety of the community — but at the same time, the needs and safety of the officers and the staff,” Popp said.

Tuck did not return a phone call and text message on Tuesday. Bronson’s campaign manager also did not return a call and text message.

Of the fire union’s endorsement of LaFrance, Popp said, “I understand and respect what they chose to do.”

“I feel like I’ve still got quite a bit of support within the rank and file of the fire department. And I am happy to have that support from those members of the union,” Popp said.

Justin Mack, vice president of the fire department’s union, said that while all candidates might declare support for public safety, the executive board makes its decision based on candidates’ actions.

“For us, LaFrance has shown time and time again that she prioritizes public safety. It’s not a campaign slogan for her. It has been her votes and actions on the Assembly. And that’s what ultimately led to our endorsement,” Mack said.

Organized labor has so far largely pooled its support around LaFrance’s campaign. In September, far earlier in the race than usual, the Anchorage Central Labor Council announced its backing of LaFrance’s campaign. The council is a union coalition representing some 15,000 members.

[Previous coverage: Bronson opponents take early sides in Anchorage mayoral race]

In the 2021 race for mayor, the police union broke away from its tradition of endorsement and did not formally support mayoral candidates. Its president at the time said politics had become “incredibly divisive.”

The police union again will not make a formal endorsement in the mayoral race, said current APDEA president Sgt. Darrell Evans. However, the executive board of the union’s political action committee made endorsements.

The committee is a separate entity from the union, and not all union members choose to join it, Evans said.

LaFrance and Popp stood out as clear supporters of public safety, Evans said.

“They have both made commitments to helping APD in recruiting, recruitment and retention issues as much as they can in their roles as mayor,” Evans said.

And they are committed to building the city workforce back up in general, which has seen growing vacancies over the last several years, Evans said. “When we have vacancies in other departments, that affects everyone,” he said.

All mayoral candidates are hoping to garner enough votes in the April 2 election to advance to a runoff race or to win outright by crossing the 45% threshold necessary to win in the first round.