Mayor Greg Fisk was found dead in Juneau, Alaska. He had just been elected mayor. (Facebook/City & Borough of Juneau)
Stephen “Greg” Fisk, who had only been serving as mayor of Juneau, Alaska, for less than two months, was found dead in his residence, KTVA Alaska reported. He was 70 years old and he was supposed to serve as mayor until 2018. The cause of his death is being investigated.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Greg Fisk Had Been Mayor For Just Over a Month
My pictures from there scene of Mayor Greg Fisk’s death are online now: t.co/MSqk84CJq1
Fisk had been mayor of Juneau, Alaska, for just a little over a month, KTOO reported. He was found dead in his home on the afternoon of November 30. His son found him in his house and called the police around 3:34 p.m., KTVA reported. He was declared dead at the scene.
Fisk’s neighbors on Kennedy Street were lighting candles in his honor:
Neighbors of Greg Fisk on Kennedy St. light candles in his honor.
2. The Cause of Death Is Not Yet Known
The cause of his death is still being investigated and police said they had not yet determined if his death would be considered suspicious, NBC News reported. Fisk leaves behind son Ian and grandson Kai, KTOO reported. So far, police have said that his death was not a suicide and there were no signs of forced entry, CNN reported.
The Governor of Alaska, Bill Walker, issued a statement on Twitter saying that his thoughts and prayers were with Fisk’s family:
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Mayor Greg Fisk. He will be remembered for his dedicated service to the community of Juneau.
3. He Unseated Incumbent Mayor Merrill Sanford by a Wide Margin
Greg Fisk had only been mayor for a little over a month. (Facebook/Greg Fisk for Mayor)
Fisk won the election on October 6, 2015. He challenged incumbent Mayor Merrill Sanford, who was just finishing his first term. He won by a wide margin of 3,830 votes to Sanford’s 1,910, according to the Juneau clerks office. Fisk ran a more aggressive but positive campaign than his opponent and assumed office on October 20. His goals as mayor included greater economic development by attracting new industries. He wanted to see Juneau become one of the greatest “small cities” in the country, KTOO reported.
4. The City’s Deputy Mayor, Mary Becker, Will Serve as Mayor in the Interim
Greg Fisk’s mayoral win was his first time running for office. (Facebook/Fisk for Mayor)
Juneau’s deputy mayor, Mary Becker, will take over as mayor in the interim, KTOO reported. The city will issue a press release in the morning explaining what will happen next. Becker called Fisk a personal family friend:
She and her husband were close to Fisk, Becker told KTVA:
This is a devastating loss.”
Becker’s second term was to last until 2016.
5. He Was the Founder and Owner of SeaFisk Consulting & Management
Greg Fisk ran a consulting company in Juneau. (Facebook/Fisk for Mayor)
Fisk had never run for office until this year. Prior to this, he was the founder and owner of SeaFisk Consulting & Management, a business that provides consulting services to fisheries. According to an interview with KTOO, FIsk had very specific views on national issues. He didn’t think police body cameras were a major issue for Juneau, since the city didn’t have the same police issues that other cities had. He didn’t believe in jailing people for marijuana offenses, but he thought decriminalization would have been a better route to take.
Although he had never run for office before, he was a civic activist, NBC News reported. He had served as a fisheries specialist for Alaska’s Commerce Department and had served on many boards and commissions for Juneau. Fisk moved to Alaska in 1959 and had been a Juneau resident for 34 years.
