LaFrance, who assumed office on Monday, expressed her confidence in the newly appointed staff members and their ability to serve the residents of Anchorage effectively.

One of the key appointments is Barbara Jones, a former longtime municipal clerk, who will now serve as LaFrance's deputy chief of staff. With 11 years of experience in the municipal clerk's office, Jones brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role. Prior to that, she served as the municipal ombudsman and executive director of the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission. Jones retired in 2023 but continued her involvement with LaFrance's campaign as a volunteer coordinator.

Nolan Klouda has been appointed as the policy director for the mayor's office. Klouda served as the executive director of the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development for the past decade, where he advocated for reforming zoning and land use regulations to address Anchorage's housing shortage. He will now lead a team of staff members to implement the administration's priorities.

Farina Brown, who previously held the position of program officer overseeing homelessness initiatives at the Rasmuson Foundation, will now serve as a special assistant to Mayor LaFrance, focusing on homelessness and health. Brown's experience as the deputy director of Alaska's Division of Behavioral Health will be instrumental in advancing the administration's priorities to address homelessness and promote community health and safety.

Graham Downey, who previously worked as the economic justice lead at the Alaska Public Interest Research Group, has been appointed as the special assistant in housing and transportation. Downey will work closely with LaFrance to advance her priorities in these areas, with a particular focus on housing, debt, and economic issues affecting working families.

Marie Husa, with a background in investigating cases involving discrimination and harassment as a member of the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, will now assume the role of constituent relations director. Husa's objective will be to ensure that residents from all backgrounds have a direct line of communication with the Mayor's Office.

Amanda K. Moser, the former executive director of the Anchorage Downtown Partnership and communications director in the administration of former Gov. Bill Walker, will serve as LaFrance's external affairs director. Moser's extensive experience in communications and managing city elections will be pivotal in overseeing the mayor's office communications.

Mayor LaFrance expressed her satisfaction with the newly appointed team, stating, "Our team is oriented around a shared approach: Collaborative problem-solving, with a focus on serving the people of Anchorage. Each of these individuals brings deep expertise and a deep commitment to our community."

These appointments follow several other executive appointments made by Mayor LaFrance over the past month, including Katie Scovic as chief of staff, Becky Windt Pearson as municipal manager, Eva Gardner as municipal attorney, Bill Falsey as chief administrative officer, and Sean Case as chief of the Anchorage Police Department.

Mayor LaFrance is building a formidable team to address the various challenges faced by the city of Anchorage. With their diverse backgrounds and expertise, these appointments aim to tackle issues such as housing, transportation, homelessness, and community development head-on.