Alaska Native issues dominated a forum for the two candidates for mayor in Anchorage, Alaska.

Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Eric Croft both said they will reach out to Native people if elected. "Our job is to recognize that all people have dignity, all people have rights," said Sullivan, The Anchorage Daily News reported.

"The next mayor needs to be proud of being the mayor of the largest Native village in the state," Croft said.

Croft said he will maintain a rural adviser on the mayor's staff and seek to recruit more Natives into city jobs. Sullivan said he doesn't comment on potential hires.

Anchorage usually hosts the annual Alaska Federation of Natives conference but lost out to Fairbanks in recent years. Some Natives didn't feel as welcome in the Anchorage, a perception that city leaders have sought to change.

Sullivan and Croft will face each other in the May 5 runoff election. Walt Monegan, the state's first Alaska Native public safety commissioner, ran for mayor but came in fourth in a vote earlier this month.

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Candidates speak out on Native concerns (The Anchorage Daily News 4/28)