Jim Matherly

Jim Matherly is a Republican American politician who is the current mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska.[1]

Jim Matherly
Mayor Jim Matherly in 2017
Mayor of Fairbanks
Assumed office
2016
Preceded byJohn Eberhart
Member of the Fairbanks City Council
from District D
In office
2010–2016
Succeeded byJerry Norum
Personal details
Political partyRepublican

Political career

Mayor of Fairbanks

Matherly served two terms on the City Council (2010 - 2016) and was elected Mayor after beating incumbent John Eberhart in the 2016 election.[2] He announced in January 2019 that he would run for reelection in the fall of 2019. He won the October 1st race for re-election in 2019.[3]

Meme Controversy

In 2018, then Mayor Matherly posted a meme on his Facebook page mocking Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. The meme showed Dr. Ford with her hand raised and a caption which read "Believe in something, Even if you can't remember anything," referencing the Nike ad featuring Colin Kaepernick. The post prompted outrage from Fairbanksans. Matherly issued an apology, stating that his girlfriend had posted the meme when he showed her his new iPhone.[4]

Ordinance 6093: LGBTQ+ Non-Discrimination Ordinance

Controversially, after stating support for an LGBTQ+ non-discrimination ordinance, Matherly then vetoed the ordinance several days later.[5] Ordinance 6093 would have prohibited discrimination against people based on their gender or sexual orientation, in employment, housing and public spaces.[5]

References
  1. Axelrod, Tal (2019-03-01). "Alaska mayor vetoes law granting LGBTQ anti-discrimination protections". TheHill. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  2. Laude, Julie. "Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly files for re-election". www.webcenter11.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  3. Downing, Suzanne (2019-10-02). "Mayor Jim Matherly, outspent 2-1, wins reelection in Fairbanks race". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  4. http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/fairbanks-city-mayor-apologizes-for-meme-shared-from-his-facebook/article_7a017d70-c500-11e8-863e-579ff97cb60b.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. "'Sad day for democracy': Mayor vetoes city's newly passed LGBTQ protections". NBC News. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
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