Sullivan defeated former state Rep. Eric Croft in May in a run-off election. He replaces Mark Begich, who resigned after defeating incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens in the 2008 Senate race.

With Sullivan’s swearing in, Acting Mayor Mark Claman, who has served since Jan. 3, returns to the Anchorage Assembly.

Before taking office, Sullivan named to members of his executive team during a press conference June 30.

Sarah Erkmann, a columnist for The Alaska Standard and a former public relations executive, will be responsible for heading up Sullivan’s communications efforts and Dennis Wheeler, an executive with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and former state assistant attorney general in the Department of Law’s Natural Resources section, will join Sullivan’s team as the city’s attorney.

“These will be extremely critical roles in my administration, and I believe the energy and enthusiasm that both Sarah and Dennis will bring to their jobs perfectly compliment the depth of experience of the executive team,” Sullivan said. “I’m delighted they agree with me that public service is a noble profession.”

Both Erkmann and Wheeler are life-long Alaskans; they’re both graduates of Sullivan’s alma mater, the University of Oregon; and they both returned to Alaska after their collegiate career to establish their professional and family lives. Wheeler is a 1984 graduate of Chugiak High School.

Erkmann will begin her new role Monday and Wheeler will begin Aug. 3.

They join an administration team that already includes Chief-of-Staff Larry Crawford, Municipal Manager George Vakalis, Office of Management and Budget director Cheryl Frasca, Economic and Community Development Director Greg Jones and Labor Relations Director Nancy Bear Usera.

Reach the reporter at editor@alaskastar.com.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, July 9, 2009.