Mayor Sullivan Sworn in for Second Term via Video Conference

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By Kirsten Swann

Story Created: Jul 3, 2012 at 8:23 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 3, 2012 at 8:23 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan officially kicked off his second term in office Monday, reciting the oath of office surrounded by his family and friends.

While he began another term as mayor of Anchorage July 2, Sullivan wasn't actually in town – in fact, he was out of state altogether, and may be the first mayor ever to take an oath via video conference call.

After winning the April 3 municipal election with nearly 60 percent of the vote, Monday afternoon he prepared to be sworn in for his second term.

But unlike the last time he swore the oath, Monday Sullivan was actually thousands of miles away, spending time at a family reunion.

Monday’s ceremony was conducted via video conference call.

According to municipal code, the move was perfectly legal, since Sullivan is still bound by his original oath and there's no hard and fast date for renewing it.

"The code says July 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable, which we've covered, and when he gets back we'll cover it again so the people who complain that he was out of state when he did won't have a legal basis to challenge his swearing in because we'll take care of it here when he gets back," said Municipal Attorney Dennis Wheeler.

"When I was sworn in three years ago, I had the honor of having my Alaskan family there, including my father, who passed away just a couple months afterwards, so it's really an honor for me today to be able to share this experience with my Hawaii family and friends," Mayor Sullivan said.

He says it's the words that matter, not the location.

Sullivan said he's in Hawaii this week just because it was easier to rearrange his schedule for the family reunion rather then ask everyone else to rearrange theirs.

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Anonymous said on Tuesday, Jul 3 at 3:08 PM

that is to avoid prosecution may be with the todd palin prostitution ring. malia litman has a blog on word press that details that and the cover ups by the mayor and the anchorage police dept and the fbi no laws has no bounds in alaska...

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