Mayor of Alaska capital found dead, less than 2 months after winning office

Juneau Mayor Greg Fisk, found dead at his home on Nov. 30

(Image credit: Facebook/FiskForMayor)

published 1 December 2015

Stephen "Greg" Fisk, 70, was elected mayor of Juneau, Alaska, in October, easily beating incumbent Merrill Sanford. On Monday afternoon, the Juneau Police Department said, Fisk's adult son, Ian Fisk, called 911 to report that he had found his father dead at his home. Mayor Fisk was pronounced dead at the scene. The Juneau Police Department "is aware of rumors that an assault occurred in connection with Fisk's death," the department said Monday night. "Those rumors are speculation." Fisk's body will be sent to Anchorage for an autopsy.

City Assemblywoman and Deputy Mayor Mary Becker will step in as mayor on at least a temporary basis, she told KTVA CBS 11 News, and she's working with the city attorney to figure out what happens next. The autopsy results "are expected within several days and will be used to determine the cause of death," according to the Juneau Police Department.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.