Why Care About Local Government?
Local government affects our daily lives – fire and police response times, the frequency of road plowing, library hours, and the quality of our parks – are all determined at the local level. Our local government belongs to all of us and we all have a voice in shaping the future of the Municipality of Anchorage.
Local government is accessible. If you bring a good idea to an Assembly Member, the Mayor or a Municipal department director, you’ll often get a response and you might even see your idea implemented. Plus, cities and states across the country learn from each other, so if something is done well in Anchorage, it might be picked up by other places across the country. If you start local, you never know how far your idea might go!
What is Local Government?
Our local government is the Municipality of Anchorage, which stretches from the Knik River in the north to the end of Turnagain Arm in the South. Our Executive Branch is overseen by a Mayor and our Legislative Branch is divided into six districts with two Assembly Members representing each district.
Tribal Government
The federally recognized tribal government in Anchorage is the Native Village of Eklutna. The Muni and the Village have a government-to-government relationship for consultation and collaboration. The Native Village of Eklutna operates under a constitution with a Tribal Council (legislative), Rule Keepers (judicial) and Council President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer (executive).
Get Involved
If you want to get more involved, the first place to start is to be informed on local issues. You can learn about the Assembly’s work at
muni.org/assembly and the Mayor’s priorities at
muni.org/mayor. You can also participate in your local community council (
communitycouncils.org) to learn about neighborhood issues and meet with neighbors.
If you have time to give, you can volunteer for a municipal department, serve on a board or commission, give input on a park or neighborhood plan, or email the Mayor or Assembly with a question or suggestion.
Tips for Impact
Once you are ready to share your idea or suggestion, here are some tips for impact:
- Keep your testimony/email succinct so your idea can easily be understood
- Share how the issue will personally impact you
- It’s okay if you don’t know all the details, but just want to say “I support this” or “I don’t support this”
- Learn more at our Guide to Testimony at muni.org/assembly
Learn More
Now that you know the basics, here's where you can find more information: