Monday is the final day for candidates to file in the City and Borough of Juneau elections. Over the weekend, Angela Rodell, the former executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund, started collecting the 25 needed signatures to run for city office. It became clear then that the rumors were true: Mayor Beth Weldon, who has served two terms, will not get an easy path to reelection.
Rodell has been a financial consultant for the past few years, since leaving as the CEO of the Alaska Permanent Fund. She had also served as the Commissioner of Revenue, and Deputy Commissioner of Revenue – Treasury Division.
Her paperwork is not yet showing on the elections tab at the Juneau.org website, nor at the Alaska Public Offices Commission, where she must also file her financials, but word is out.
Rodell is a Republican, while current Mayor Beth Weldon is an undeclared — not with any party. Weldon recently lost her husband, served in the fire department, and is well-liked. Rodell will have to work hard to unseat her.
For the most part in Juneau, the mayor has no real power, other than running assembly meetings and ribbon cutting. The city manager answers to the assembly and has far more power than the mayor.
Here are the candidates for Juneau’s municipal election, which is conducted by mail and ends on Oct. 1 (list will be updated later on June 22, final filing day):
ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES
Mayor – One open seat (3-year term)
Beth Weldon
Assembly District 1 – One open seat (3-year term)
Neil Steininger
Assembly District 2 – One open seat (3-year term)
Emily Mesch
Nathaniel (Nano) Brooks
Maureen Hall
Dorene Lorenz
Three open seats on the Board of Education. (All seats for a 3-year term)
Elizabeth (Ebett) Siddon