In May, the Anchorage Assembly quietly approved an ordinance allowing its members to work simultaneously as partisan staffers for Alaska state legislators.
The change, enacted with little-to-no public discussion, quickly benefited one of their own: Assemblywoman Anna Brawley, who is now employed by Anchorage Rep. Andrew Gray.
The policy shift was accomplished through AO 2025-67, which passed unanimously in May after a similar February ordinance, AO 2025-20, ran into legal complications. Both ordinances addressed whether municipal employees, including elected officials like Assembly members, can hold political positions concurrently. The revised measure appeared on the Assembly’s consent agenda, typically reserved for routine or noncontroversial items, meaning it passed with minimal discussion or scrutiny.
Brawley, who voted in favor of the ordinance in May, accepted a job soon after with Rep. Gray, a Democrat representing Midtown Anchorage. The move has raised eyebrows in political circles, due to the troubling appearance of self-dealing and conflicts of interest.
The ordinance she voted on allows a municipal employee, and even an elected Assembly member, to also serve in a partisan political role, provided certain conditions are met.
According to the ordinance language, these roles are permissible if they are “clearly separable” and do not conflict in duties, hours, or compensation. Read Must Read Alaska‘s original report on why there may be a conflict of interest or double dealing explains some of the ethical issues raised:
The two legislative documents linked to the ordinance offer insight into the Assembly’s thinking. One memo justifies the move by citing a need to clarify municipal rules and align them with state ethics laws. The action gives insiders like Brawley a new path to consolidate political influence and pass confidential information back and forth between the two lawmaking bodies.
AO 2025-67 – Legal Framework Document 1
AO 2025-67 – Legal Framework Document 2
Those who argue that Dave Donley, who works as a deputy commissioner and also serves on the Anchorage School Board are ignoring the fact that he is in only one lawmaking body, while Brawley has a foot in each.
This move reeks of insider maneuvering as the Assembly changed the law, with the appearance that at least one of the Assembly members planned to benefit immediately.
The previous article from Must Read Alaska revealed that Brawley had quickly taken a position as a staffer in Rep. Gray’s office after the ordinance passed. Her dual roles give her influence in both Anchorage city government and the Alaska State Legislature, raising questions about divided loyalties, conflicting duties, and whether the public interest is being served.
It remains unclear how often Brawley will be able to balance the work of a city legislator with that of a state legislative aide. The Alaska Legislature is a full-time commitment during the session and often requires year-round constituent and committee work. Hours often go late into the night. Meanwhile, the Anchorage Assembly has its own demanding schedule, especially with budget cycles, land use decisions, and ongoing debates over homelessness and public safety. Assembly meetings often run past 11 pm, and there are multiple meetings per week.
The ordinance also raises concerns about precedent. With this legal door now open, other Assembly members may seek jobs within the Legislature, while retaining their elected municipal positions, potentially blurring lines between levels of government and dueling accountability.
The optics are difficult to ignore: A law was changed, a vote was cast, and a job was secured, seemingly in that order.
It’s my layman’s opinion that this is what’s problematic for her: “Brawley, who voted in favor of the ordinance in May, accepted a job soon after with Rep. Gray, a Democrat representing Midtown Anchorage.” She should be removed from the Assembly.
Wow, those people seem to be really sneaky!
Is this conflict of interest? Can we still view these assembly meetings on television and/or internet?????????
Lying, cheating- self-serving deception? It’s all just part of ‘life’s rich pagent’ to the left!
Yep a liberals idea of “democracy” were the few, the more equal, consolidate all power within their small number, because clearly THEY know best!
These people are piles of dung.
Racketeering, fraud, money laundering, misappropriation of funds, acting counter to the public interest. How much more of this shit are we going to put up with. Is Treg Taylor on the payroll of this bunch of criminals?
I recall a time in Alaska, before Oil $ , when members of the Legislature did not have staffers, neither did they have offices.
Yet somehow, despite these deprivations, the State had essentially the same miles of Highway, better Ferries, great schools and it operated its airports. Imagine that!
What changed? My observation is that those elected were men and women with integrity and a lifetime of accomplishments. Unlike the fools we elect today, who are only there for a paycheck. ( a measly one too, aside from the perks).
SO much for Brawley being trustworthy or all the members that voted for this rule change. How convenient for them to change the rules for one of their own and now everyone can follow Anna’s example. No conflict to see here. Move along.
It is easy to see why our Anchorage Assembly snuck this through. It was because they could. Totally arrogant and tone deaf. As a private citizen working for an Alaska corporation, I cannot work simultaneously for another company that does essentially the same business. This is clear. What stuns me is this was passed unanimously. Zero conservative opposition. Zero.
Yeah? What do the people say? Who gives a rat’s patoot? That’s what I love about Anchorage. Not a clue about due process. Not a lick of curiosity. Hey what do YOU guys think? Who cares.
When one of them gets a DUI, will the Assembly change the law so they get off scott free?
.
We may not be at tar and feathers stage, but we are getting close.
Meanwhile, when Jamie Allard said a person of German descent should be allowed to have the German word for father as his license plate, she was censured, removed from committees, and basically sidelined for such an egregious act.
.
If leftists did not have double standards, they would have no standards at all.
Good Lord!
Anchorage, go back up and see the pictures of the people running your city government. I’ve never laid eyes on a more feckless Assembly of freeloaders and commie infiltrators.
You voted for this?
Somehow, I think 100% mail in voting, and huge restrictions on observing ballot counting voted this in. The average Anchorage resident is also too apathetic to care about local politics, compounding the problem.
Absolutely a conflict of interest. She needs to be removed from the Assembly and that rule needs to be repealed, soonest.
Can a recall be initiated on these grounds. At least that would foil their long game. Sickening.
Conflict of interest anyone ??
No worse than Rep. Kopp. Public service does not pay enough to live sustainably in Alaska. Ask Pete Kott
So it’s okay when your side does it.. gotcha.