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List of mayors of Fairbanks, Alaska facts for kids

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David Pruhs
David Pruhs, the current mayor of Fairbanks, is shown here campaigning in 2012. He became mayor on October 24, 2022.

This article tells you about the people who have served as mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska. It also lists the mayors of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, which is like a county that includes the city.

A mayor is the main leader of a city or town. They help make important decisions and lead the local government. Fairbanks is a city in the U.S. state of Alaska. It was started in 1901 and became an official town on November 10, 1903. Later, around 1950, it became known as a city. When Alaska became a state in 1959, Fairbanks citizens voted to have "home rule." This means they can make many of their own local laws.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough was created in 1963 and officially started on January 1, 1964. This borough includes Fairbanks and other nearby towns and villages. The main office for the borough is in Fairbanks.

Mayors of the City of Fairbanks

Jim Matherly
Jim Matherly was mayor from 2016 to 2022. This photo shows him campaigning in 2016.
Steve Thompson of Alaska
Steve Thompson was mayor from 2001 to 2007.
H. A. Boucher
H. A. Boucher served as mayor from 1966 to 1970.
Douglas G. Preston
Douglas Preston was mayor from 1954 to 1957.
Maurice T. Johnson
Maurice Johnson served as mayor from 1949 to 1950.

The way the city mayor was chosen has changed over time. At first, the mayor was picked from the city council members. Later, people voted for the mayor separately for a two-year term. However, the city was mostly run by a city manager, so the mayor was more of a leader without much power.

In 1992, the mayor's job changed again. The mayor became the main leader of the city government, serving a three-year term.

Nr. Name Term start Term end
1 E. T. Barnette 1903 1906
2 B.D. Mills 1906 1907
3 J. Barrack 1907 1908
4 Fred Carter 1908 1909
5 Joseph Smith 1909 1909
6 Mel Sabin 1909 1910
7 A.J. Nordale 1910 1911
8 F.S. Gordon 1911 1912
9 Dan Driscoll 1912 1913
10 E.C. Heacock 1913 1913
11 Murray C. Smith 1913 1915
12 Andrew Nerland 1915 1916
13 R.R. Meyers 1916 1917
14 G.M. Smith 1917 1917
15 Henry T. Ray 1917 1918
16 E.E. Suter 1918 1919
17 A.L. Wilbur 1919 1921
18 C.H. Woodward 1921 1922
19 R.W. Ferguson 1922 1923
20 Thomas A. Marquam 1923 1925
21 Dr. Frank De La Vergne 1925 1931
22 Jessie F. Bryant 1931 1933
23 Arnold Nordale 1933 1934
24 E. B. Collins 1934 1938
25 Arthur Leslie Nerland 1938 1940
26 William Growden 1940 1943
27 Howard G. Hughes 1943 1945
28 Alfeld Hjalmar Nordale 1945 1948
29 Ray Kohler 1948 1949
30 Maurice Johnson 1949 1950
31 Robert Hoopes 1950 1952
32 Ralph J. Rivers 1952 1954
33 Douglas Preston 1954 1957
34 Paul B. Haggland 1957 1960
35 Joseph M. Ribar 1960 1962
36 Darrell Brewington 1962 1965
37 Sylvia Ringstad 1965 1966
38 H. A. Boucher 1966 1970
39 Julian C. Rice 1970 1972
40 Harold Gillam 1972 1978
41 William Ransom Wood 1978 1980
42 Ruth E. Burnett 1980 1982
43 Bill Walley 1982 1988
44 James D. Nordale 1988 1990
45 Wayne S. Nelson 1990 1992
46 James C. Hayes 1992 2001
47 Steve M. Thompson 2001 2007
48 Terry Strle 2007 2010
49 Jerry Cleworth 2010 2013
50 John Eberhart 2013 2016
51 Jim Matherly October 24, 2016 October 24, 2022
52 David Pruhs October 24, 2022 Present

Mayors of the Fairbanks North Star Borough

Jim Sampson (2008)
Juanita Helms (1959)
Bil Allen (1977)
Politicians on grandstand at 2008 Labor Day parade
Then-borough mayor Jim Whitaker and current mayor Karl Kassel at the Fairbanks Labor Day parade in 2008.

The leader of the borough was first called a "chairman" instead of a "mayor." This changed in the mid-1970s. Around the same time, the term of office for this position changed from two years to three years. This job is not connected to any political party.

Nr. Name Term start Term end
1 John D. Schleppegrell 1964 1966
2 Harold Gillam 1966 1968
3 John A. Carlson 1968 1982
4 Bill Allen 1982 1985
5 Juanita Helms 1985 1990
6 Jim Sampson 1990 1997
7 Hank Hove 1997 2000
8 Rhonda Boyles (R) 2000 2003
9 Jim Whitaker (R) 2003 2009
10 Luke T. Hopkins (D) 2009 2015
11 Karl Kassel (I) 2015 2018
12 Bryce Ward (R) 2018 Present
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List of mayors of Fairbanks, Alaska Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.