Tuesday’s special Anchorage Assembly meeting is to formally certify the recent municipal election. But also on the agenda is a surprise item: The reorganization of the Assembly, with a new chair possible.
Some Assembly members have requested the reorganization; they want Chairman Felix Rivera to be replaced immediately. Assemblywoman Suzanne LaFrance’s name has been floated as a possible new Assembly chair, along with Assemblyman John Weddleton.
During the last Assembly meeting, Rivera stunned the public when he read a statement defaming Assemblywoman Jamie Allard of Chugiak/Eagle River, calling her xenophobic, and saying people like her do not belong in Anchorage. When she called for a point of order, he cut her microphone. Assemblyman Chris Constant then said it was her fault for not calling for another point of order.
Rivera had just come off of a victory against a recall effort launched by residents of his district, and his breaking of Robert’s Rules of Order to publicly denounce one of his Assembly colleagues revealed the real Rivera.
Whether the group trying to remove him as chair has enough votes is uncertain. He appears to have the support of Assemblymen Forrest Dunbar, Chris Constant, and Pete Peterson, while it’s certain that Assemblywomen Jamie Allard and Crystal Kennedy have had enough.
The Anchorage Assembly meeting begins at 5 pm at the Loussac Library at 36th Ave. and Denali Street. There is limited time for public testimony on the agenda. You can watch the meeting at this YouTube channel.
