Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson today named Judy Eledge as the new director of libraries.
Last week the Anchorage Assembly refused to confirm Bronson’s first choice for Anchorage librarian. As an answer to their insult, the mayor made Sami Graham his chief of staff, and told the Assembly that her office would be located in the Z.J. Loussac Library.
But evidently that was a short-lived idea.
Instead, Bronson appointed a Republican activist to be his choice for libraries. Eledge is the president of the Anchorage Republican Women’s Club and has long been active in campaigning. She was one of two electors in the recent presidential election, and ran for school board this spring.
Eledge, like Graham, doesn’t have a master’s of library science degree, which the liberal members of the Assembly say is an essential requirement. Like Graham, Eledge is an educator by training and experience.
Eledge has lived in Alaska for over 40 years and spent 16 years as a teacher in the Anchorage School District.
While her children were in the school system, Eledge was was Chugiak High School PTA president and was honored as the Chugiak High School Volunteer of the Year. She also served on the Alaska State Board of Education, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Municipal Health Commission, board of directors for Learning Disabilities Association of AK, and was recognized in the American Registry of Who’s Who in Education.
Since retiring as a rural principal in 2003, Eledge has worked all over Alaska in school improvement under four commissioners of Education. She was appointed the Alaska State Reading Council Coordinator to spearhead an Alaska K-3 Reading Plan. She has her bachelor of science in elementary education from Sul Ross State University, her master’s in teaching from Alaska Pacific University, and her administration certificate from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Eledge most certainly will be rejected by the Anchorage Assembly’s leftist majority.
