Anchorage Mayor LaFrance Announces 6 New Leadership Hires

Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance announced the appointment of six new executives.

In a statement, LaFrance said Barbara Jones will serve as deputy chief of staff. Jones previously served as Anchorage city clerk before retiring last year. She also served as the city’s civil rights attorney and as executive director and staff attorney for the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission. Jones joins LaFrance’s previously announced chief of staff, Katie Scovic.

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 the economic justice lead for the Alaska Public Interest Research Group.

Nolan Klouda will serve as a policy advisor, leading LaFrance’s staff to implement the mayor’s priorities. Klouda has led the University of Alaska’s Center for Economic Development for a decade.

Marie Husa has been hired by the LaFrance administration to serve as director of constituent relations, while Amanda Moser will serve as chief external affairs officer. Husa is an equal rights investigator who worked at the Bering Straits Native Corporation, while Moser previously served as executive director of the Anchorage Downtown Partnership as communications director for former Gov. Bill Walker.

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

LaFrance took office Monday. He 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.