OPINION: Why I'm running to be your mayor

Growing up here in Alaska, my family always drove around with a pair of jumper cables in the back of the car.

When someone had their hood up, we’d stop and help. When we needed a jump, someone else would stop.

I remember these as defining moments of growing up here, where everyday people worked together to solve everyday problems. It’s how we made progress and moved forward.

Lately, it feels like we’re moving backward in Anchorage, spending more time fighting and blaming than finding common ground and getting things done.

My opponent has gotten so caught up in splitting sides and picking fights that he’s forgotten how to show up every day and do the job.

The mayor is the CEO of our city. A CEO is supposed to bring people together to solve problems.

I worked in the private sector for 25 years. I can tell you that if any other organization was in the shape the Municipality is in right now, we’d be looking to the CEO for answers, or we’d be looking for a new CEO. We’ve seen incomplete financial audits … scandals and expensive lawsuits … and an unprecedented staffing crisis, including over 50 officer vacancies at APD. The list goes on.

I know we can do better. I know we can make this a place we’re all proud to call home, where our kids not only want to live but can afford to live. Whether it means spurring more housing development or investing in our schools or building a reliable energy future, we have incredible opportunities here in Anchorage.

We also have a lot of work to do to get there – from cleaning up the financial mess at City Hall and staffing up APD, to bringing about a real plan for homelessness and jumpstarting our economy. And yes, we need to get the snow cleared from our streets in the winter. We can do all of these things, but only if we work together and have leaders focused on solving problems.

I’m a mom of three, and I know that bullies lash out rather than accept responsibility. Despite what my opponent says, this election isn’t about left or right, red or blue. It’s about coming together to get things done.

I’m running to represent all of Anchorage and to bring a low-ego, problem-solving culture back to City Hall.

It’s going to take a team. I’m committed to hiring a team of qualified, competent, ethical people who are passionate about our community.

We’ve got a lot to do, and I’m ready to get to work. I hope to earn your vote in the May 14 election.

Suzanne LaFrance lives in South Anchorage with her husband and three kids. She is a registered nonpartisan running for mayor of Anchorage.

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