Known best for her knowledge of the city’s finances, advocacy for affordable housing and love for swimming — Juneau Assembly member Carole Triem will be stepping away from her role after serving as a member for five years, she announced Wednesday.
Triem is one of the nine Juneau residents who comprise the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. She was originally elected to fill a one-year vacancy in October 2018, re-elected to full terms in 2019 and 2022, and is the current chair of the Assembly Finance Committee.
Born in Petersburg, Triem returned to Southeast Alaska and Juneau in 2014 after attending Seattle University where she earned a degree in economics, and Georgetown University where she earned a Masters in Public Policy. She has lived in the capital city since.
In an interview with the Empire, Triem cited family medical issues as the reasoning behind her departure from the Assembly, slated for July 10. She and her husband, Sean Maguire of the Anchorage Daily News, will be leaving the country in early August, likely for at least a few months, she said. She plans to continue working her day job at Alaska Municipal League remotely “at some capacity.”
Triem said the decision to depart was difficult, but “definitely the right choice” given the circumstances. She thanks the Assembly, city staff and the Juneau community for supporting her throughout her time on the Assembly.
“It’s been the best group of people, and I feel really lucky to have worked with my fellow assembly members and the staff — they’ve been fantastic to work with,” she said. “I’m very grateful to the Juneau voters for electing me five years ago when I think very few of them knew who I was, but they gave me a chance and I‘m glad that they did.”
With Triem leaving her post two years before her seat is set to expire, her position will now be open and on this October’s municipal ballot alongside other positions filled by current members Maria Gladziszewski (areawide), Alicia Hughes-Skandijs (District 1) and Christine Woll (District 2) that are up for the taking.
According to City Manager Rorie Watt, because Triem and Gladziszewsk’s seats are both areawide positions, candidates who run for either position will be put into one pool. The candidate who receives the most votes during the election will take Gladziszewsk’s seat — which is for a full three-year term — and the candidate with the second most votes will take Triem’s seat — which is for two years.
Triem said part of her decision to depart her position a few weeks earlier than when she plans to leave the country is to allow for her seat to be available for the candidate filing period which opens Friday, July 14, and closes Monday, July 24.
Triem said though she is leaving for an unknown amount of time, she is still interested in returning to the position in the future.
“I think one of the things that is comforting is knowing I can come back to Juneau,” she said. “Who knows what life is going to throw at us, but I would definitely be open to being in the Assembly again in the future.”
Mayor Weldon told the Empire that Triem brought both strong fiscal and economic knowledge to the Assembly, and commended her “great job” as the Finance Committee chair.
“Carole is a very bright, thoughtful young woman and is willing to learn other viewpoints,” she said. “She will be missed for her quick wit, intelligence and energy.”
Watt agreed and said chairing the Finance Committee is one of the most important and difficult positions held by an Assembly member. He said her absence will “be a loss,” but reiterated that change isn’t foreign to the city or Assembly.
“We really have valued her dedication and commitment and knowledge she has brought to the Assembly,” he said. “It’s going to be a big hole and I wish her well.”
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807.
