Alaska Municipal League honors Mayor Beth Weldon with 2024 Vic Fischer Leadership Award
The City and Borough of Juneau is very proud to announce that Mayor Beth Weldon is the 2024 recipient of the Alaska Municipal League’s Vic Fischer Local Government Leadership Award. Established in 2000, this award recognizes local government officials who show a significant statewide contribution and a lifetime of service to improving local government and communities in Alaska.
“We’re extremely proud to see this well-deserved recognition of all that Mayor Weldon has contributed to Juneau,” said Deputy Mayor Greg Smith. “Her deep ties to the community are reflected in a drive to look for voices and perspectives that might not be at the table and make sure they’re brought into the conversation. During the mayor’s time in office, Juneau has faced big challenges and hard questions, none of which have easy answers—yet without fail, Mayor Weldon has worked to bring the community together in finding a way forward.”
The award was presented to Mayor Weldon during an awards banquet on December 12 at the 74th Annual AML Local Government Conference in Anchorage.
Mayor Weldon was nominated for the award by City of Kodiak Mayor Pat Branson. In her nomination, Branson cited Mayor Weldon’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent glacial outburst floods, “challenging events [that] test one’s skill in leadership and problem-solving,” as well as her ongoing commitment to a sustainable childcare sector.
Mayor Weldon was first elected to this office in in 2018, following two years as an Assembly member, and is currently serving her third mayoral term. Before taking public office she spent twenty years with Capital City Fire/Rescue, retiring as division chief.
Mayor Weldon is also a long-time volunteer in numerous Juneau community organizations, including the Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club, Juneau Ski Club board, CCFR volunteer firefighters, and student swim, wrestling, and track & field clubs.
The Vic Fischer Local Government Leadership Award was established in 2000 in honor of longtime State Senator Vic Fischer. Recipients are nominated by member municipalities and judged by the AML Board of Directors. Previous recipients of the award include former Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho (2011).
For more information about the Alaska Municipal League and AML Awards of Excellence, visit akml.org.