While the mayor of Anchorage is generally prohibited from using official municipal email or other government resources to advocate for or against ballot measures ahead of elections, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance appears to be doing so anyway.
In an April 3 email blast, LaFrance openly advocated for ballot propositions that are now before Anchorage voters.
“These propositions help fund critical public improvement, and are our way of taking care of what we already have. They also fund safety projects from Chugiak to Girdwood,” LaFrance stated using her official municipal email.
She then went on to claim that the fate of the ballot propositions will define “who we are.”
“Capital projects are more than just line items in a budget; they’re statements about who we are and where we’re headed,” LaFrance asserted. “Whether it’s fixing our roads, ensuring our fire engines are reliable, or improving our trails and parks, we are shaping the Anchorage our children will inherit. We get what we pay for, and this ballot is an opportunity to invest in a safer, stronger, and more accessible community.”
LaFrance’s use of her government email to plug ballot propositions could be a violation of Anchorage code (Chapter 1.15), which explicitly limits the use of public resources for political purposes. Section 1.15.040 addresses the proper use of municipal resources, which include employee time, equipment, facilities, and systems such as government email accounts. These resources must primarily serve public purposes and cannot be directed toward personal or political ends.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Section 1.15.110 specifically governs political activity, defining it as any act intended to influence the outcome of an election – including ballot measures or bond propositions. The code explicitly prohibits public servants, including the mayor, from using or authorizing municipal resources for such advocacy. Even minimal use, such as sending a promotional email from a government account, is barred if it constitutes advocacy rather than neutral education.
A narrow exception exists: The mayor (or an executive designee) may appear before the Assembly, school board, appointed bodies, community councils, civic organizations, or media to support or oppose a ballot measure. However, this does not extend to broad promotional campaigns via official email or mass communications.
The rules distinguish between advocacy (urging a yes or no vote) and neutral education (presenting balanced information). Violations can be reported to the municipal Board of Ethics or Ombudsman’s Office.
For the April 7 election, Anchorage voters will determine the fate of multiple bond proposals, totaling roughly $143 million for proposals that cover school construction and remodeling, road maintenance, park upgrades, recreation center improvements, library renovations, new fire trucks and parking lot improvements.
Each proposition appears separately on the ballot, allowing voters to approve or reject them individually. Debt service would be repaid over time with increased property taxes.
