Anchorage, Alaska mayor steps down
He acknowledges ‘unacceptable personal conduct’
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The mayor of Alaska’s largest city submitted his resignation Tuesday night, four days after an anchorwoman at a local television station threatened to report he had posted nude photos of himself on a website.
Ethan Berkowitz adamantly denied her allegations, but on Monday admitted he had an inappropriate relationship with Maria Athens, the anchor at a Fox/ABC combined station in Anchorage.
“It is with profound sadness and humility that I resign as mayor of the Municipality of Anchorage,” he said in a statement read at the Anchorage Assembly meeting by his chief of staff, Jason Bockenstedt, and later emailed to the media. “My resignation results from unacceptable personal conduct that has compromised my ability to perform my duties with the focus and trust that is required.”
Berkowitz, 58, noted that his conduct did great injury to his wife, their family, his staff and the people of Anchorage.
A small but vocal crowd stood and cheered the resignation, effective Oct. 23.
The saga that has been the buzz of Anchorage started when Athens posted a video on her Facebook page Friday, the same day the station barred her from the studio. In the video, she claimed she would break a story that night claiming Berkowitz posted nude photos to an underage website. She later also posted what she said was a photo of the mayor’s nude back side.
Berkowitz’s office immediately denied the unsubstantiated allegation. A day later, Anchorage police said they and the FBI investigated and found no evidence of criminal conduct.
Audio of a profanity- and racist-laden voicemail also surfaced late Monday, in which a woman who identified herself as Athens and who rattled off her network affiliations threatened to kill Berkowitz, who is Jewish, and his wife. The audio of the Friday morning phone call to Berkowitz was obtained by the online blog The Alaska Landmine.
Athens was arrested later Friday after trespassing in the studio. She allegedly accosted the station manager, who documents identify as her boyfriend, and was arrested by police. Her story never aired.
Athens was charged with assault, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. She was released Monday after posting bail.
According to the city charter, Felix Rivera, chairman of the Anchorage Assembly, will serve as acting mayor until a special election is held.
A Democrat, Berkowitz was elected to his second threeyear term as mayor in 2018