Sen. Mark Begich just announced that he’s hired Bethel city mayor Tiffany Zulkosky as his rural director.
Zulkosky, who has been mayor since October, will resign from the job to join Begich’s team, the announcement says.
The news came as a surprise to Bethel city clerk Lori Strickler, who I called today to find out more about Bethel’s city government. “I’m kind of shocked,” she said
Zulkosky graduated from Bethel Regional High in 2002, and earned a Bachelor's from Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., in 2006.
City of Bethel photo.
Strickler said Bethel has a strong manager/weak mayor government. (Unlike, say, Anchorage, where the mayor acts as a kind of CEO.)
According to the Bethel city Web site: The mayor serves as the ceremonial head of the city and the presiding officer at all council meetings.
Zulkosky has been serving a one-year term.
“She was voted by the people as a council member, and then the council voted her to the mayor’s position,” Strickler said.
Zulkowsky also works as a public information officer for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp., according to Begich’s office.
Bethel council members, including the mayor, don’t get a salary, Strickler said. I don’t know yet how much Zulkosky will make working for Begich.
Here’s the announcement:
Bethel resident to focus on rural issues and outreach
U.S. Sen. Mark Begich has hired Bethel resident Tiffany Zulkosky to serve as his Rural Director. An Alaska Native born and raised in Bethel, Zulkosky will resign her current position as Mayor of Bethel to join Begich’s staff at the end of the month.
“Filling this position is a priority for me given the tremendous challenges facing rural Alaska today,” Sen. Begich said. “Tiffany will be my eyes and ears throughout rural Alaska and will work closely with my staff in D.C. to address those challenges.”
Zulkosky has been serving as Mayor of Bethel since October 2008. Prior to that she served one year on the Bethel City Council and has served on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. In June 2008, she was hired as the Public Information Officer for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation serving as the liaison between the corporation and the news media.
“I’ve had a passion for public service since high school, and am thrilled to get the chance to continue that by working for Senator Begich,” Zulkosky said. “My sense of wanting to do more for my community can now be expanded as I work with Alaskans across the state to make the lives of Alaska Natives and all rural residents better.”
Graduating with honors from Bethel Regional High School in May 2002, Zulkosky then attended Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Communication in May 2006.
Zulkosky will work out of Sen. Begich’s Anchorage office.
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