Dave Bronson has stepped down from his role as director of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, less than a year after taking the job. Bronson cited a desire to spend more time hunting, though political observers believe the move signals a possible run for governor in 2026.
Bronson, however, said he bought a lodge.
Bronson was appointed airport director in January by Gov. Mike Dunleavy after serving a term as mayor of Anchorage. During his time as mayor from 2021 to 2024, Bronson oversaw the city during the tail end of the Covid-19 pandemic and a period of fiscal challenges. His administration frequently clashed with the leftist Anchorage Assembly over spending priorities, homelessness policy, and emergency powers.
A retired US Air Force officer and commercial airline pilot, Bronson built his public profile as a political outsider when he launched his mayoral campaign in 2020. He emphasized fiscal restraint, public safety, and skepticism of government mandates. His election marked a shift for Anchorage after six years under Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, a Democrat, who resigned in disgrace and was temporarily replaced by Democrat Austin Quinn-Davidson.
After losing his reelection bid in 2024, Bronson was tapped to head one of Alaska’s most important economic assets: the Anchorage airport, a global cargo hub and one of the state’s largest employers. His tenure there was relatively low-profile, focused on operations and maintaining Anchorage’s role as a critical stopover point for international freight traffic.
Bronson’s resignation has sparked speculation in Republican circles that he intends to challenge for the governor’s office. His supporters note his strong ties to conservative voters in Southcentral Alaska and his background as both a military officer and former city executive.
If he enters the race, Bronson would likely face a crowded Republican primary, with several figures already positioning themselves for statewide office. For now, he insists he is stepping back for personal reasons, though his next move is already the subject of debate across Alaska’s political spectrum.
Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson files letter of intent to run for reelection
Bronson appointed to head up Anchorage International Airport
As with the Anchorage Assembly and unions, he would find he is unable to change much because of the commies in the legislature and state unions. It will take a flamewthrower to clear out the infestation.
Right on Bronius you are. I’m not sure how this entire episode ends without major bloodshed, I know one thing it can’t go on like this forever. I’m sick of the nonsense.
I really like Bronson….wishing him well whatever he does.
I’d vote for him over any of the ones that already declared.
How about Bronson as Lt. Governor, alongside Bernadette Wilson? That would be an awesome ticket …….and Bronson could still go hunting.
Nope, not for me. Wilson is a bit much for me, and I am a hard core republican.
Agree 100%
Too conservative to get elected. He would balance the ticket as LtGov for a more moderate Republican. Cheers –
Probably will not toss his hat into the gubernatorial ring.
But if he does, he’s way more viable than Crum, Taylor and a pile of the wannabes who have entered or are thinking about running for Governor.
All the best to you, Mayor Bronson! I still feel our assembly treated you badly in your tenure, and, that Anchorage would be in much better shape if the assembly hadn’t stymied everything you tried to do. Hope you keep on fighting the good fight!
If he has figured out how to make public service pay for all the crap he’d receive from the ingrates, more power to him. I suspect though that he has better things to do than being ragged around by the mindless rabble.
Hunting certainly does sound more fun than being ragged around by all the mindless rabble. 😆
Personally, I’d rather have a man in the Governor’s office than a woman, and I wish more men who jumped on board in City Hall during Bronson’s term as mayor had stayed the course. He’d have to assemble a helluva team to get the job done.
Ha ha ha.
He quit to get away from his boss……Angie Spears. Others in airports have left because of her.
Director of Anchorage Airport, the fourth busiest cargo hub in the world, is a very intense job. Not everyone can handle the complexity and the pressure. Good luck to Dave and his lodge adventure.
The sudden departure with no notice from the director position is telling.
Did the upcoming winter factor into his decision due to his memos related to all the problems associated with the lack of critical staffing at the airport for safe snow and ice control?
Or was it that Angie Spear is craving the opportunity to further her reign of total power and destruction over the Anchorage Airport by securing another loyal butt-kisser in the director’s position and Bronson was in the way? Maybe Aaron Danielson? Or did the director’s position get switched over to a classified PCN yet so Angie could permanently install one of her friends like Teri Lindseth?
Dunleavy couldn’t keep Craig Campbell in the director’s position either. How sad. If Dunleavy was smart, he would find a new home for Angie Spear starting TODAY. I heard Cracker Barrel may need a new CEO soon.
If the public really knew what was happening at the airport, they would be careful about when they made their decisions to fly.
Thanks for the inside scoop….not gonna fly this winter if I don’t have to
My last conversation with Dave gave me the feeling He doesnt need the personal grief the loonytics the Anchorage ASSembly threw at him and it left me with his plan to move on to greener pastures and give up on trying to steer a sinking ship away from imminent disaster.
During his entire term as Mayor I was shocked at the extremes the coward Constant would go to take any decent Mayor down.
Constant and his cronies are the scum that will take Anchorage to a “place thats never been”.
I will always enjoy a conversation with Dave who is a decent man and look forward to visiting his lodge.
Keep in mind that if no one fights & the commies win there will be no more hunting lodges.
The fish & the animals will belong to the ‘King’ and you will not have the right to take them.
(only ‘certain’ people will have that right)
Mayor Bronson, please run for Governor! We have a field of idiots at the moment. We need a MAGA Governor.
Dave Bronson is a proven level headed conservative leader. I would be delighted to see him enter the race for Governor , finally a serious candidate that many people I know would support and vote for. Go Dave!
I heard that he was asked to resign.
Bronson was a bigger disaster at TSAIA than he was as Mayor. M&O is so short staffed they will have trouble keeping TSAIA a 24/7 operation this winter. Streets can go unplowed, runways can’t
Frank, have you been hitting the PCP again???
Well Frank, Bronson definitely didn’t care about the airfield maintenance crew. He never bothered to talk with most of that crew and only took in what the maintenance manager Zaramie Lindseth had to say. Huge mistake for sure. Everyone knows Zaramie is DOT’s “useful idiot” at the airport and is in WAY over his head.
But Bronson never had a chance anyway because he didn’t know Trudy Wassel was retiring, and Angie Spear and Ryan Anderson were waiting to install Aaron Danielson in Trudy’s spot. That was bound to create the necessary top to bottom political pressure to squeeze Bronson out who was stuck in the middle of that nonsense.
Ryan Anderson and Angie Spear are going to drive the death knell in the Anchorage airport by convincing Governor Dunleavy and Tyson Gallagher to install their yes-man Aaron Danielson in as the new director. This has been the plan for some time now. Bronson just didn’t know it and didn’t do his homework before he took the job.
Governor Dunleavy should ask the airport police officers if they have ever been “grabbed or assaulted” by Aaron Danielson while on duty when Danielson was serving as the AIA Police Chief. If that actually happened, the excuses will be endless on why that incident got dropped, I’m sure.
Tell old Dave if he is serious to contact me. I have tremendous resources for which Alaskans would love to gain legal access, without the disgraceful theatrics.
Anything to do with the sudden and unexplained air traffic control tower?
Probably not, as the tower is under federal jurisdiction (FAA), not the airport, which is under State of AK jurisdiction.
I can’t help but wonder if this is related to that stalker that was caught working for the airport recently. Even if Bronson didn’t know, it happened under his watch, and as is often the case in politics, everyone looks for someone to blame. I wouldn’t be surprised if that started happening, and Bronson is opting to just remove himself from things before the drama either boils over, or someone tries to hang it on him.
Maybe he could run against Princess for Senator??