Anchorage city clerk Barbara Gruenstein has submitted aletter of resignation (PDF) to Anchorage Assembly Chair Ernie Hall. Gruenstein is in charge of the office that runs Anchorage’s elections. Her resignation follows troubled city elections in April, in which election workers ran out of ballots at more than half of the polling places around the city. In Gruenstein’s letter of resignation, she writes, “There have been many successes, but I understand that the problems of the April 3rd election have caused you to doubt the effectiveness of my continuing to serve.” Gruenstein has apologized for the irregularities, which have since been investigated by both the city’s Election Commission and independent counsel hired by the Assembly.
City residents said last month that Gruenstein should be fired in the wake of the elections, calls that intensified after Gruenstein and deputy clerk Jacqueline Duke were questioned by the Assembly during a tense session. Duke was fired by Hall May 9, but some residents said they still wanted to see Gruenstein fired as well. According to a press release from Hall, Gruenstein had asked for her resignation to be effective immediately, but at Hall’s request, she agreed to stay on through the end of June to ensure a smooth transition.
Full Article: Anchorage City Clerk Submits Resignation – ktuu.com.