![City of Kodiak Mayor Pat Branson sat near the front of most talks during the AML conference.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c2f07d0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1365+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2c%2Fd2%2F53a8bfb14cbdb2262542de1a382c%2Fdscf6254.jpg)
Brian Venua
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KMXT
![From left to right, Nils Andreassen with Alaska Municipal League introduces Speakers Undercurrent News Alaska Reporter Kirsten Dobroth, City of King Cove Mayor Warren Wilson, and King Cove City Manager Gary Hennigh, as Carole Triem ensures the speakers have everything they need.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/57ba238/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1152+0+0/resize/880x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb3%2Fa6%2F1818def443c1b241b7c119fe2629%2F3.jpg)
Brian Venua
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KMXT
![Felix Rivera of Anchorage, Katie Koester of Juneau, and John Leach of Sitka speak about how they manage their municipalities despite high vacancy rates.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8aa8323/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1365+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2Ff1%2Fa4de87be436599b6d81d3e6e4eee%2F4.jpg)
Brian Venua
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KMXT
![U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was a highlight speaker during the conference and acknowledged several of the struggles in common across the state.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/35b3ec0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1365+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0c%2F79%2F6c8dfb3f47c9b39d979f9406612a%2F5.jpg)
Brian Venua
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KMXT
![The room full of elected leaders sat quiet for Sen. Murkowski's remarks.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d1efb23/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1365+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F88%2F26%2F78d0c36d4c30a6b34925bd7d6f2d%2F6.jpg)
Brian Venua
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KMXT
![Lon Garrison, the executive director of the Association of Alaska School Boards, shares common issues in education between school boards across the state.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1f258be/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1151+0+0/resize/880x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F59%2F7d%2F0a64b7454728b043c2aa674f5c73%2F7.jpg)
Brian Venua
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KMXT
![AML's Summer Legislative Session held a reception in Kodiak Island Brewing's tasting room with free tokens for attendees, a silent auction, and even door prizes.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4e3319e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1365+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F79%2F1b%2Fbe5d71054652b777a5f840d341f3%2F8.jpg)
Brian Venua
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KMXT