SOL MEDIAN CHE DE
DECEMBER 2020 / NO. 30 / ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
BILINGUAL EDI T ION
SOL DE MEDIANOCHE SE PUBLICA MENSUALMENTE GRACIAS AL APOYO DE ALASKA CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM // SOL DE MEDIANOCHE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY WITH SUPPORT FROM THE ALASKA CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM
Felix Rivera, Chair of the Anchorage Municipal Assembly
Make Anchorage a Better Place to Live Y BY CARLOS MATIAS
Félix Rivera, presidente de la Asamblea de la municipalidad de Anchorage
Quiero hacer de Anchorage una mejor ciudad
E
POR CARLOS MATIAS
res de origen puertorriqueño, pero no hablas español. Viniste a Alaska para estudiar en la Universidad del Pacífico de Alaska (APU) y graduarte con una licenciatura en Estudios Liberales. Pronto mostraste tu vocación política como presidente de la Sociedad Estudiantil. Trabajaste como Oficial de Relaciones Constituyentes y Asistente Especial en la Oficina del ahora exalcalde, Ethan Berkowitz, y esta experiencia te ha servido bien como miembro de la Asamblea y después presidente de esta. Eres el segundo latino elegido para la Asamblea de Anchorage, después de Mike Gutiérrez (2008-2011), y algunas noticias dijeron que serías el alcalde interino de Anchorage, aunque finalmente ha sido nombrada Austin Quinn-Davidson, la primera
mujer en esta posición después de más de un siglo de historia de la ciudad. E N T R E V I S TA :
¿Qué tan bien conocías a Ethan Berkowitz? ¿Cómo sobrellevaste la crisis que obligó a Berkowitz a salir del cargo?
No conocía a Ethan antes de trabajar para su campaña para alcalde en el 2015– sólo sabía su nombre y había visto el ahora famoso video de él en la legislatura con los intercesores en la sala de representantes del estado de Alaska. Conocí a Ethan un poco, pero para decir verdad, desarrollé una amistad mucho más estrecha con su esposa, Mara Kimmel. El escándalo me golpeó duro al principio, tanto a nivel personal, como profesional. Espero lo mejor para Ethan, Mara y los niños.
ou are of Puerto Rican descent, but you don’t speak Spanish. You came to Alaska to study at Alaska Pacific University (APU) and graduated with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree. You soon showed your political vocation as president of the Student Society. Then worked as Constituent Relations Officer and Special Assistant in the Office of the now ex-Mayor, Ethan Berkowitz, and this experience has served you well as an Assembly Member and Assembly Chair later on. You’re the second Latino elected to the Anchorage Assembly, after Mike Gutierrez (Assemblyman 2008-2011), and some news sources said that you would be the interim Mayor of Anchorage, although Austin Quinn-Davidson, was finally named interim Mayor. This made her the first woman to hold this position after more than a century of city history. INTERVIEW:
How well did you know Ethan Berkowitz? How did you experience the crisis that forced Berkowitz out of office?
I didn’t know Ethan before I worked for his 2015 campaign for Mayor – I just knew his name and had watched the now-famous video of him in the legislature calling out lobbyists on the floor of the Alaska State House. I got to know Ethan a little bit, but truth be told, I developed a much more fond friendship with his wife, Mara Kimmel. The scandal hit me hard at first – both on a personal level, and also on a professional level. I hope the best for Ethan, Mara, and the kids. Why was it decided to make Austin QuinnDavidson the interim Mayor of Anchorage, when it seemed that everyone was sure it was going to be you? What were the reasons for not being appointed mayor?
That decision was probably the most difficult one I’ve ever had to make. Let me be perfectly clear – I was not coerced or forced into this decision. Any insinuation is an insult to my intelligence. Austin and I had dozens of conversations over the course of that week and in the
end, a decision was made that I felt was the best for Anchorage as a community and for the Anchorage Assembly. Your public career seems to indicate that you set goals for yourself and work to achieve them. What is your next goal? Congressman? Mayor-elect of Anchorage? Some higher office of responsibility in the Biden Administration?
Right now, focus is super clear – I want to help make Anchorage a better place for all. For me, I try and do my best to keep ego out of my decisions to run for office. Any decision I make to run for higher office will be based on whether I am the best fit for the office or not. So yes, if it is in the best interest of the community for me to run for a higher office, I would be honored to do so. How have you experienced the four years of Donald Trump’s administration and what do you expect from the next phase with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris?
The Trump administration has been a very trying experience. Every day some new horror was forced on people I love. At a minimum, I would hope that a Biden administration would stop some of the atrocities that came out of our current one. But I honestly don’t expect much more than that. I would love the Biden administration to blow away my expectations. You have declared yourself openly gay and so has Austin Quinn-Davidson. One way or another, you two are making history, bringing an openly gay person and the first woman in the history of the city to the Mayor’s office, and you for being Chair of the Assembly while being gay, being the first Latino to do so and possibly the youngest, at 31.
Sorry, but I’m not seeing a question here. But I guess to comment: Representation matters. Having diverse voices at the table ensures that all voices are considered and that all parts of our community can benefit from the work we do. You have stated that you are proud to “help fight for and eventually win protections for Anchorage’s LGBTQ residents in employment, housing, and public