Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan was sworn into office Monday at a ceremony in Honolulu. Sullivan was re-elected in April to a second term, which officially began July 1.
The swearing-in ceremony coincided with a planned family reunion to Hawaii to visit his wife's family.
Sullivan was sworn in from an attorney's office in Hawaii, via a Skype feed to Anchorage's City Hall where District Court Judge Brian Clark administered the oath. The event was watched by Sullivan's chief of staff Larry Baker and city attorney Dennis Wheeler, as well as reporters.
Wheeler said July 1 was the earliest Sullivan could be sworn in and that it was best to get it done sooner rather than later, when the mayor gets back to Anchorage on July 16. He’ll be sworn in again during a second ceremony when he gets back to town.
Some Anchorage voters were annoyed and surprised the mayor didn’t need to be in Anchorage to be in Anchorage for the swearing-in.
“I guess I just kind of question his sense of priorities,” said voter Joni Haas.
Other voters didn’t think it was a big deal.
“He’s been mayor already, he’s made the commitment -- I don’t have a problem with it,” said voter Connie Cutchins.
Sullivan said it was easier to move his schedule around rather than to ask several family members to change their plans. He also said the location of the swearing in wasn’t as important as the meaning behind the oath of office. Asked if he was worried about voter reaction, Sullivan said there was no fear on his part.
“There’s folks who want to try to find the negative in everything,” Sullivan said, “but quite frankly there’s really nothing but a positive experience here."
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