Anchorage mayor-elect LaFrance has selected a transition team made up of prominent nonprofit and business leaders and former politicians.

Anchorage Mayor-elect Suzanne LaFrance on Thursday announced the 18 leaders of her transition team as she prepares to take office July 1 after winning a mayoral runoff election against incumbent Dave Bronson.

According to a written statement, three teams led by prominent Anchorage residents, former lawmakers and community leaders will focus on LaFrance's three priority areas: good government, safe streets and sidewalks and building for the future.

Members of the team include Bill Popp, a longtime Anchorage economic development leader who lost the regular election for mayor and then supported LaFrance in the May runoff election.

The team also includes Aaron Leggett, president of the Eklutna Indian Village, former Democratic state representative Ivy Spornholz and former state representative and Republican state representative Jennifer Johnston.

The “Good Government” group will focus on issues like staffing city departments, balancing the city's budget and delivering better services. “Safe Streets and Sidewalks” will address homelessness, fill police department vacancies and make public spaces safe, while the “Building the Future” team will look at ways to “deliver better economic opportunity, more housing, affordable child care and a reliable energy future,” the statement said.

Each team will gather input from affected residents, and LaFrance has tasked each team with creating an overview of current challenges in each focus area and “a concise list of actions that cities can take to move forward,” according to the statement.

It will also recommend how the LaFrance administration can continue to work with residents, community groups and businesses affected by the issue.

Earlier this week, Mayor LaFrance appointed former city attorney Becky Wint Pearson as Anchorage's city manager and Katie Scovic, LaFrance's former campaign manager, as chief of staff.

“Anchorage faces great challenges, but also great opportunities to move our community forward,” Mayor LaFrance said in a statement Thursday. “It will take all of us working together, and I'm honored to have such talented leaders join us as we partner with the community to identify obstacles and opportunities.”

The groups plan to submit their findings after LaFrance takes office, according to the statement.

Members of the “Good Governance” group:

• Eleanor Andrews: civic entrepreneur and former state and city administrator.

• Mike Abbott: Interim president and CEO of United Way of Anchorage and served as mayor under the Berkowitz and Begich administrations.

• Jane Angvik: Former member of the Anchorage Charter Commission and Anchorage Council member and chairwoman.

• Jennifer Johnston, a former Republican state representative from Anchorage.

• Jasmine Smith: local entrepreneur, community organizer and 2023 finalist for national Black media network theGRIO’s Hero Award.

Safe Streets & Sidewalks Members:

• Bob Dole: Current vice president of the Rasmuson Foundation, former city development services director and deputy commander of the Alaska Air National Guard.

• LeeAnn Garrick, chief operating officer for the Cook Inlet Tribal Council and former vice president of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Association.

• Walt Monegan: Former president of the Alaska Native Justice Center, director of the Alaska Department of Public Safety and chief of the Anchorage Police Department.

• Beth Nordlund: executive director of the Anchorage Park Foundation.

• Dave Rittenberg, senior director of adult homeless outreach services for Catholic Social Services.

“Building the Future” Members:

• Sheldon Fisher: Former director of the Alaska Department of Taxation and managing partner and investor in major downtown developments.

• Carol Gore: Former president and CEO of the Cook Inlet Housing Authority.

• Joel Hall: President of the Alaska AFL-CIO.

• Radhika Krishna: executive director of the Anchorage Downtown Partnership.

• Aaron Leggett, president of Eklutna First Nation Village.

• Bill Popp: Former president and CEO of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation.

• Ivy Spornholtz, director of the Alaska Wilderness Association and former Democratic state representative.

• Jonathan Taylor, director of public affairs at the University of Alaska.

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