Anchorage Public Library Deputy Director Judy Eledge resigned amid a lengthy scandal over repeated racist statements on social media and to library employees.
Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson announced Tuesday morning that he accepted her resignation, and her last day will be Monday.
Eledge, a longtime player in conservative politics, was appointed by Bronson to lead the library in August, 2021, but her appointment was withdrawn when it became clear she would fail confirmation by the Anchorage Assembly. Bronson then hired her as deputy library director, a job which does not require Assembly confirmation.
Bronson appointed Eledge to the top library job after her run for Anchorage School Board was mired in controversy over her social media posts. The posts included racist and homophobic/transphobic comments, as well as statements mocking the use of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Months later, those same posts contributed to the Anchorage Assembly loudly signaling they would not approve her appointment to library director. Eledge was then appointed as Deputy Director, where she served as Acting Library Director until Bronson named Virginia McClure to the director role in September 2022.
Eledge adds to a large list of hires and appointees that have resigned or been fired from the Bronson administration in the first two years of his tenure.
While serving in this capacity, she has consistently been involved in disputes with other personnel.
Eledge is at the center of a state and federal lawsuit against the municipality, filed by former director of the equal opportunity office Heather MacAlpine. MacAlpine was investigating claims of workplace harassment by Eledge when she was fired by the Bronson administration.
Two weeks ago, Bronson asked the Assembly for $827,500 million to settle the lawsuit with MacAlpine and Former Municipal Manager Amy Demboski. He did not specify how much would go to MacAlpine. The Assembly will make a decision on the settlements at the May 23 Assembly meeting.
In the past month, Eledge’s comments resurfaced in the media with an in-depth report by the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica, which included recordings of her comments to another employee.
Following the report, the ADN opinion page published multiple op-eds and letters to the editor calling for her resignation.
On Tuesday, Anchorage Assembly members Kameron Perez-Verdia and Chris Constant introduced a resolution calling on Eledge to resign.
Eledge was appointed by Governor Mike Dunleavy to a national education commission in March.
