Anchorage Assembly files court appeal to acquire documents on probe into resigned wellness director

By Anchorage Everyday News

Updated: 35 minutes ago Published: 35 minutes ago

Anchorage Assembly members listen to public testimond throughout a unique Housing and Homelessness Committee meeting on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (Bill Roth / ADN)

The Anchorage Assembly on Friday stated it is filing an appeal with the state Superior Court in an work to acquire records on the city’s investigation into the former wellness division director.

Mayor Dave Bronson in February declined to present documents to the Assembly on an internal investigation into Joe Gerace, who resigned as city wellness director final year as an Alaska Public Media and American Public Media investigation revealed he had fabricated or exaggerated substantial components of his resume.

In denying the Assembly access to the investigation, the mayor stated the documents are personnel records, so it would be against municipal code to release them. Bronson also stated releasing them would violate privacy rights in the Alaska Constitution. The Assembly, in the Friday appeal to the Superior Court, disputes these claims, and Assembly leadership has stated the public has a correct to know about Gerace’s hiring and tenure at the division.

Assembly Vice Chair Chris Continual stated Friday that court “is the all-natural spot for these sorts of choices to be produced.”

“This is not an extraordinary action,” Continual stated. “We have a disagreement of opinion on the query. There is no other procedure to have any choice produced, one particular way or the other.”

Bronson, in a written statement Friday, stated his administration “is reviewing the appeal and will stick to the legal procedure as necessary.”