Suzanne LaFrance
{{Short description|American politician (born 1968)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Suzanne LaFrance
| image = Assembly Member Suzanne LaFrance (cropped).jpg
| office1 = Mayor of Anchorage
| term_start1 = July 1, 2024
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Dave Bronson
| successor1 =
| office2 = Member of the Anchorage Assembly for District 6, Seat K
| term_start2 = 2017
| term_end2 = 2023
| predecessor2 = Bill Evans
| successor2 = Zac Johnson
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|51|2020|3|28}}
| birth_place = Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.https://www.elections.alaska.gov/election/2020/General/LaFrance,Suzanne_HD28_WEB.pdf
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Independent
| education = University of Portland (BA)
Purdue University (MA)
| caption = LaFrance in 2023
}}
Suzanne M. LaFrance (born 1968 or 1969){{Cite web|url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2020/03/28/14-questions-anchorage-assembly-candidate-suzanne-lafrance/|title=14 questions: Anchorage Assembly candidate Suzanne LaFrance|website=Anchorage Daily News}} is an American businesswoman and politician from the state of Alaska. She is the 38th mayor of Anchorage, having unseated incumbent mayor Dave Bronson in the 2024 election.
Life and career
LaFrance was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, but her family moved to Alaska when she was a young child, eventually settling in Palmer. She attended the University of Portland for her undergraduate degree and Purdue University for her master's degree, and prior to entering politics worked in business as a financial analyst and project manager.
LaFrance served on the Anchorage Assembly from 2017 to 2023.{{Cite web |last=Early |first=Wesley |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Former Anchorage Assembly chair Suzanne LaFrance to run for mayor next year |url=https://alaskapublic.org/2023/05/09/former-anchorage-assembly-chair-suzanne-lafrance-to-run-for-mayor-next-year/ |website=Alaska Public Media}} She ran for the Alaska House of Representatives against James D. Kaufman for the 28th district in 2020,{{Cite web |last=George |first=Kavitha |date=October 20, 2020 |title=House District 28 race centers budget crisis |url=https://alaskapublic.org/2020/10/20/house-district-28-race-centers-budget-crisis/ |website=Alaska Public Media}} but lost.{{Cite web|url=https://mustreadalaska.com/lafrance-concedes-james-kaufman-will-represent-house-district-28/|title=LaFrance concedes; James Kaufman will represent House District 28|first=Suzanne|last=Downing|date=November 15, 2020}}
In 2024, LaFrance ran for mayor of Anchorage against Dave Bronson, the incumbent mayor. LaFrance defeated Bronson.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-05-21 |title=LaFrance declares victory in Anchorage mayor’s race |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2024/05/21/lafrance-declares-victory-in-anchorage-mayors-race/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=Anchorage Daily News}}{{Cite web |last=Klecka |first=Joey |date=May 23, 2024 |title=Bronson concedes Anchorage mayor’s race to LaFrance |url=https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/05/23/bronson-concedes-anchorage-mayors-race-lafrance/ |website=www.alaskasnewssource.com}} She was sworn into office on July 1.{{Cite web |last=Early |first=Wesley |date=July 2, 2024 |title=Suzanne LaFrance sworn in as first woman elected Anchorage mayor |url=https://alaskapublic.org/2024/07/01/suzanne-lafrance-sworn-in-as-first-woman-elected-anchorage-mayor/ |website=Alaska Public Media}}
References
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{{s-bef|before=Dave Bronson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Anchorage|years=2024–present}}
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{{Mayors of Anchorage |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:LaFrance, Suzanne}}
Category:21st-century mayors of places in Alaska
Category:Mayors of Anchorage, Alaska