Municipality of Anchorage · Photo source · US government work
Zac Johnson
Assembly Member · Anchorage Assembly · District 6
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 8 clips
UAA graduate and former Alaska State Trooper. Marine Corps veteran. Grew up along Turnagain Arm. Chair of Infrastructure, Enterprise & Utility Oversight Committee. Term expires 2026.
Affiliations
Assembly shelves salary commission pick after questions over his firm's city contract
Anchorage's mayor picked a consultant for the panel that sets officials' pay. Then his firm's $86,899 city contract came up, and the Assembly shelved the pick.
Anchorage Assembly delays Missing Middle housing vote again, this time to Dec. 1
The Anchorage Assembly scheduled its Missing Middle housing vote for a Friday at noon, then unscheduled it. It's now Dec. 1, the second delay in four weeks.
Alcohol tax advocates ask Anchorage to put more into prevention and treatment
Groups behind Anchorage's alcohol tax say it put nothing into substance misuse treatment in 2025 or 2026, with none planned for 2027. They want a change.
Peltola leads Sullivan by 626 votes with nearly all Alaska precincts counted
Peltola leads Sullivan by 626 votes with nearly every precinct in, but early, absentee and questioned ballots are still out.
Alaska's 2026 races have drawn at least $210 million, mostly in the Senate race
Alaska's 2026 races have drawn at least $210 million. If turnout matches 2022, that's about $790 per voter. Three-quarters is in the Senate race.
Bush Caucus endorses Kreiss-Tomkins as Wasilla group registers to oppose Menard
Bush Caucus unanimously backs Kreiss-Tomkins for governor. • Wasilla group registers to oppose Menard over unproven stolen valor claim. • Senate race sees new PAC spending for and against Sullivan and Peltola.
Girdwood's new park pavilion could be named for longtime resident John Trautner
Girdwood's new park pavilion may be named for John Trautner, a former fire chief and Texaco owner who came to Alaska in 1953. The Assembly takes it up Nov. 4.
Murkowski endorses Democrat Kreiss-Tomkins
Three days after Trump called her a disgrace, Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor. Wilson vowed to work to unseat her.
DGA-backed group spends $601,000 in one day on Alaska's governor's race
A group backed by the Democratic Governors Association spent $601,000 in one day on Alaska's governor's race, half for Kreiss-Tomkins and half against Wilson.
Lieutenant governor candidates vow to carry out Ballot Measure 2, split on what comes next
“I am a fan of ranked choice voting and especially as an independent, open primaries. It's a system that allows me to fully participate”
Anchorage's water utility could own the rights to most of the city's tap water in 2055
“I think I'm inclined to suggest that we should not delay action on this.”
Anchorage Assembly amends proposed police surveillance rules, then runs out of time
The Assembly agreed an administrative warrant isn't enough to share surveillance data the rules bar, made it easier to pause a tool, then ran out of clock.
Downtown business leaders ask Anchorage Assembly to make police foot patrol permanent
Downtown business groups asked the Assembly to make APD's foot patrol permanent. The bed tax money paying for it is nearly gone, and the 2027 budget has none.
RGA-funded PAC spends $1.5 million backing three Republicans and opposing Kreiss-Tomkins
Kodiak PAC, funded by the Republican Governors Association, spent $1.5 million backing three GOP tickets and opposing Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins before Alaska's Nov. 3 governor's race.
Progressive group behind Alaska Voter Guide went by 907 Action until August
Alaska Voter Guide isn't the state's pamphlet. It's a progressive political group that went by 907 Action until August. Steven Spielberg gave it $5,000 in 2024.
Labor-backed committee pays $150,000 for Kreiss-Tomkins ticket ads
A labor-backed committee paid $150,000 for digital ads backing the Kreiss-Tomkins and Johnson gubernatorial ticket, with spending set to run through Election Day on Nov. 3.
Kreiss-Tomkins leads governor money race as outside groups raise $3.15 million
Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins raised $4.28 million for governor, more than triple the cash on hand of any Republican opponent, as outside groups poured $3.15 million into the race.
Anchorage Assembly to hear proposal capping city department staffing Tuesday
Anchorage departments have topped their budgeted staffing five years running. An Assembly proposal would make them get permission first. Hearing Tuesday.
Anchorage Assembly to consider Disability Employment Awareness Month resolution
The Anchorage Assembly is scheduled to consider a resolution on Oct. 6 recognizing October as Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Alaska Work Matters Task Force has separately reported lower employment among Alaskans with disabilities.
Wasilla sets Oct. 12 hearing on airport master plan that recommends higher lease rates
Wasilla airport leases have cost 6 cents a square foot for decades. A new 20-year master plan says that should go up. The public hearing is Oct. 12.
MatCom adds two fire and EMS dispatch positions paid for by the Mat-Su Borough
MatCom gets two more fire and medical dispatch positions so a second dispatcher and call taker can be on duty around the clock. The borough pays.
Anchorage's police union endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins and Johnson for governor
Anchorage's police union endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins and Johnson for governor, citing Johnson's trooper years. The other three tickets are Republican.
A new poll has Kreiss-Tomkins ahead in the first round and the last
A bipartisan AARP poll has Kreiss-Tomkins at 40 percent and winning a ranked-choice simulation 55-45, but a quarter of voters ranked neither finalist.
Teamsters, former Republican senator endorse Kreiss-Tomkins
Teamsters Local 959 and former Republican state Sen. Lesil McGuire endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor.
A Seattle union gave its Alaska committee $500,000. It's spent $8,000 of it in cash.
A Seattle union gave its Alaska committee $500,000 to back Kreiss-Tomkins and six House candidates — and it's spent just $8,000 of it in cash.
APOC denies expedited review of disclosure complaint against Johnson
Regulators denied both of Joel Borgquist's requests to fast-track disclosure complaints against candidates. Johnson's goes to a normal investigation.
An ordinance would tighten oversight of Anchorage's staffing overruns
Anchorage's government has run past its budgeted position count five years running. Three Assembly members want future overruns to need the mayor's sign-off.
A complaint tied to the Tshibaka-led Accountability Project challenges the Democratic ticket's disclosures
“I collect zero income or compensation from WAF. This is a business that I manage through my limited role via power of attorney, but do not own.”
One Democrat, three Republicans, and two months to go
The left consolidated behind Kreiss-Tomkins. The right split three ways. That is the shape of Alaska's governor race with two months to go.
Fifteen Anchorage Assembly members will have their spending accounts examined in a 9-2 vote
Fifteen Anchorage Assembly members will have their $24,000 spending accounts examined. Nobody will be required to answer the findings in writing.
Alaska's governor race upended in a day: a disqualification, a last-minute filing, and a lone Democrat
Alaska's governor race flipped in a day: Treg Taylor was disqualified, his wife filed at the deadline, and it's now three Republicans versus one Democrat.
First Election Day Tapes from two statistically significant Anchorage precincts put Kreiss-Tomkins and Begich ahead of the field
All of our analysis these were the precinct that most closely aligned with statewide results, so Alaska news went out to get that information. This is not the statewide results.
The Assembly says Anchorage hunger is rising. Its resolution does not say how it knows.
An Anchorage resolution up Tuesday says nearly 40,000 residents, including 12,000 children, face food insecurity — a rate that's climbed since last year.
Anchorage is studying a new wildfire tax on every property owner as the federal money runs out
“this is merely a request to the administration to investigate the feasibility and mechanisms by which something like a wildfire interface service area could be adopted.”
The NRA gives Begich an F and three Republican tickets A+
The NRA's political arm gave the ticket of leading Alaska governor candidate Tom Begich an F and three Republican tickets A+ in its new primary grades.
Anchorage Assembly weighs how hard to investigate Martinez's travel
The Anchorage Assembly must pick between a quiet look at George Martinez's travel and a subpoena-backed investigation that could end in his removal.
The AI money came first. The data center moratorium came Thursday.
Days after AI money turned up in his filings, Kreiss-Tomkins called for a data center moratorium — one a governor has no power to directly impose.
Anchorage Hillside neighborhood demands expedited chipping days as municipal contracting stalls
Hillside residents demand the Municipality speed up brush chipping before fire season peaks, citing stalled contracting and uncleared piles in the wildland-urban interface.
Sitka names sole finalist for municipal administrator, schedules public receptions
Sitka named Jenny Alber as sole finalist for municipal administrator and scheduled two public receptions July 26 and 27 before the Assembly votes on hiring.
Kodiak Borough assembly scheduled to introduce marijuana tax measure for October ballot
“Mr. Smiley, the city has 3 marijuana distribution stores and they're charging 5%.”
Kodiak Assembly weighs new revenue and unlocks unused savings
Kodiak's assembly worked both ends of its budget: a possible tax on nonresidents who take most of its deer, and a discount account it had but never used.
Kodiak seiners back Kreiss-Tomkins for governor
A Kodiak seiners' group endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins for governor on a fisheries platform — though "restore balance to the Board of Fish" means very different things to different fishermen.
Anchorage Assembly takes up wipes ban in city sewers June 23
Anchorage Assembly takes a first reading June 23 on an ordinance banning all disposable wipes from city sewers, with fines up to $1,000 per violation.
Anchorage Assembly reviews missing middle housing overlay for transit corridors
Anchorage has wanted denser transit corridors on paper since 2001 — this opt-in overlay is the city's latest test of whether residents actually mean it.
Kreiss-Tomkins tries to make up ground, launches six-figure ad buy in governor's race
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a former Sitka legislator, launched a six-figure ad campaign across Meta, YouTube, and radio for Alaska's 2026 governor's race, focusing on schools, fisheries, and cost of living.
DNR opens public comment on Homer parcel sale to University of Alaska
“staff had gotten to the assembly with a recommendation it go up for sale and planning and zoning changed the recommendation to not”
Anchorage transfers Heritage Land Bank parcel for natural burial cemetery
“There are very few options in Anchorage these days other than if you have access to one of those privately reserved spots of the cemetery.”
Anchorage Assembly to consider letting licensed wildlife operators use air guns in city limits
Anchorage may let licensed wildlife operators use air guns in city limits — sorry, attic squirrels.
Kodiak Assembly sets mill rate at 8.75, rejecting school increase
Kodiak Assembly set the fiscal year 2027 property tax mill rate at 8.75, with Assembly Members Johnson and Smiley voting against the lower rate.
Anchorage Assembly to vote on natural burial cemetery on HLB land
Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on giving 9.6 acres of city land to a nonprofit to build Alaska's first natural burial cemetery, avoiding $500,000 in fair market value but freeing the municipality from expanding the nearly full downtown cemetery.
