Citing extremely shocking allegations in Demboski’s letter, Anchorage Assembly considers next steps

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Members of the Anchorage Assembly discuss a letter of formal notice sent to Mayor Dave Bronson by City Manager Amy Demboski during a Rules Committee meeting on Jan. 12, 2023. (Screenshot)

The day after a lawyer for former city manager Amy Demboski sent a scathing letter to Mayor Dave Bronson alleging unlawful acts, gender discrimination, gross mismanagement and retaliation, Assembly members of Anchorage discussed how they should respond. Members say they are coordinating with legal counsel on options to reduce liability and illegal behavior.

I am shocked and not surprised, Assembly Deputy Speaker Christopher Constant said at a rules committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, which took a long detour from its scheduled agenda to discuss the Demboski document.

On Wednesday, a lawyer representing Demboski released the 11-page letter to elected officials and the media. It is filled with accusations, including that Bronson and members of his administration broke numerous laws in the administration of municipal contracts and engaged in or neglected sexist conduct and harassment, and alleges that his abrupt dismissal was retaliation. for raising concerns with the mayor. Demboski and his lawyer are asking the mayor’s office to settle his wrongful dismissal claim and issue an apology or risk litigation.

[Fired Anchorage city manager accuses Bronson administration of illegal, unethical behavior]

Bronsons’ office said Wednesday it would not comment on the matter.

The allegations in the letter are extremely shocking and describe a level of mismanagement of municipal resources that we have not seen in our tenure in the Assembly, Constant and Assembly President Suzanne LaFrance said in a statement Thursday. . Because the allegations are so extreme, we are still processing everything we have read and determining what action the Assembly can take to protect municipal employees, finances and reputations.

Thursday afternoon, during their committee meeting, the members were already thinking about what was to come next.

The Assembly, as you all know, is very limited in the actions it can take when it comes to personnel matters, LaFrance said.

She and Constant asked the Assembly’s legal adviser to examine the extent of their powers in relation to the alleged misconduct within the executive.

We have legislative powers, but what exactly does that mean for investigations? asked Assembly Counsel Dean Gates. We have subpoena power, we have not exercised it.

The members intend to hold a special meeting to discuss the potential avenues available to them in the coming weeks.

An option that was not explicitly mentioned during the Thursday meeting: withdrawal. This summer, the Assembly passed a measure outlining a process for the Assembly to remove a mayor for abusing the public trust. Although Bronson tried to block the rule change with a veto, it was quickly overruled by a supermajority of Assembly members.

Members will want to understand the full range of options, LaFrance said in a brief interview, and did not elaborate further on whether removal proceedings would be on the table.

The Assembly has already asked the Bronson administration for a closed meeting to discuss its investigation of former Anchorage Health Department director Joe Gerace.

We might consider expanding the scope of this meeting, LaFrance said.

[Read Amy Demboskis letter to Anchorage Mayor Bronson detailing allegations of unethical behavior]

Matters involving employment and human resources matters must generally be held in executive sessions to comply with personnel rules.

LaFrance told members at Thursday’s meeting that they expected to see a budget appropriation in the near future that could fund a review by contractors of municipal procurement processes and ensure, given the issues raised in the letter, that the city abides by laws preventing discrimination and harassment.

I think it was all caught off guard, said member Kevin Cross, who represents Eagle River and sided with the administration on a series of issues.

He said that going forward, it was important for the Assembly to remain united in all the actions it took and to emphasize that it was working in the public interest and not on a partisan agenda.

I want to make sure we eliminate any pretense that it’s political,” Cross said.

Other Assembly members say the issues raised in Demboski’s letter confirm issues they’ve been watching and trying to learn more about for almost as long as Bronson has been in office.

There is a pattern that we have seen. And so I don’t see this as independent of the actions that have taken place on the part of the administration over the past year and a half, said Kameron Perez-Verdia, who represents West Anchorage.

He noted that interest in the issues at City Hall is high among voters and the public, and that findings should eventually be shared after frank and open discussions in an executive session.

We really haven’t as a body, as a whole body, really engaged in a thoughtful conversation about the actions we’ve seen that have paralleled that, Perez-Verdia said. It’s helpful to acknowledge that we’ve seen behaviors that align with this.

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