Uluao “Junior” Aumavae Confirmed as Anchorage’s Second Chief Equity Officer

The Anchorage Assembly unanimously confirmed Uluao “Junior” Aumavae as the Municipality of Anchorage’s Chief Equity Officer. In that position, Aumavae ensures that municipal hiring and contracting is fair and represents diverse perspectives.

“I want to congratulate Junior and his family on this historic occasion,” says Mayor Dave Bronson. “Junior has been expertly serving as the chief equity officer for the last five months, and his contributions to our team and the Municipality cannot be overstated. He is a tremendous force for good, has a positive impact everywhere he goes, and knows how to build meaningful relationships that translate into real outcomes. I look forward to Junior’s work advancing equity, inclusion, and justice for the people of Anchorage,” Bronson adds.

Aumavae becomes the highest serving government official of Polynesian descent in Anchorage history.

“I want to thank Mayor Bronson for having the confidence to appoint me, the Assembly for confirming me, and community members for coming out to support me. Most importantly though, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the opportunity He has given me to serve the people of Anchorage,” Aumavae says.

The Assembly had the option of extending Aumavae’s interim status beyond the usual sixty-day cutoff, pending the outcome of Bronson’s lawsuit asserting that the mayor has the authority to fire a chief equity officer at will. (The ordinance creating the position only allows dismissal for cause.) In January, Bronson settled a separate lawsuit from the city’s first chief equity officer, whom Bronson fired six months after the position was created.