Meet the Fairbanks Borough Candidates Before October 1 Election

By Colin A. Warren

At the Wood Center on September 16, the Honors College and the Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, or ASUAF, welcomed the Fairbanks North Star Borough candidates for the forthcoming municipal election for a panel discussion. Eleanor Guthrie, the associate director of UAF Honors College, moderated the panel along with students Axton Siekmann and Sean Wise. There were fifteen candidates present, including Santa Claus (his legal name), at the discussion, and the event kicked off with each of them giving a one-minute autobiography and mission statement. 

All three candidates for mayor – Robert Shields, John Coghill Jr., and Grier Hopkins – who were all raised in the borough, were there to distinguish themselves. Shields billed himself as a liberal-leaning technocrat interested in expanding manufacturing and clean energy; he was the only candidate who could directly address nonbinary citizens. Coghill advocated the importance of extraction and keeping taxes low. Hopkins claimed to be Fairbank’s number one cheerleader and said he would create jobs, bolster new construction, and continue a strong outdoor activities culture here.

Anton Keller, running for North Pole city mayor, was the only one of the two candidates running for that office to show for the panel. He joked that he didn’t take himself too seriously as he snapped his candy cane suspenders. He also shared that growing up in North Idaho prepared him to understand the logging and mining industries that are present in our region.

David Guttenberg, running for Assembly Seat A, explained that he served 17 years in the Alaska legislature as a finance member and Minority Whip. He did all that, he said, after 25 years in the construction business. He assured the audience he’d bring his years of experience to strengthen the borough. 

Garret Armstrong, running for Assembly Seat F, spoke excitedly about education and the borough in general. He is currently a physical education teacher in the borough and a “proud union member.” Like many of the candidates, he is a UAF graduate.

Kristan Kelly, running for Assembly Seat G, explained that she has a deep connection with UAF, having graduated with a master’s degree in education and watching her son ski for the school. She said she wants “Fairbanks to remain a great place to raise a family, buy a home and grow old.”

Loa Carrol-Hubbard, running for School Board Seat A, shared that she was born in Fairbanks nearly 60 years ago and used to come to UAF every summer for music camp. She is a long-time teacher and is currently a small business owner. She strongly advocated the importance of literacy. 

Tamara Kruse Roselius, also running for School Board Seat A, a resident of Fairbanks for 40 years, emphasized her experience with PTA and school board policy committees. In order to distinguish herself from her competitor, Carrol-Hubbard, Roselius said she is for sex ed, doesn’t think that schools are indoctrinating kids, and that she believes in climate change.

April Smith, running for School Board Seat B, shared that she has ten children, with seven of them currently in the education system. She previously served on the school board and is ready to go back to “protect your rights, protect your pocketbook, and secure the best opportunities for all students.”

Morgan Dulian, also running for School Board Seat B, pitched herself as a technocrat who recently worked for UAF for eight years, during which she brought in grants. She has three kids, two of whom are currently in public elementary schools here. In 2022, she was named one of Alaska Journal of Commerce’s Top 40 Under 40.

Aaron Crook, running for City Council Seat B, is a 20-year-old and fourth-generation Fairbanksian. He said his main priorities were mental health for all and cleaning up South Fairbanks. 

Santa Claus, who looks exactly as you might imagine, is running for North Pole city council. He has served twice as city council member for North Pole and more recently as Mayor Pro Tem. At one point, he asked us to imagine how the children see us. He also has a master’s degree from New York University and various previous jobs, including working for the Virgin Islands Port Authority, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Sierra Club.

The vote for the municipality seats for the Fairbanks North Star Borough is on Tuesday, October 1.

Please visit https://www.fnsb.gov/DocumentCenter/View/468/Polling-Places-by-District-PDF to find the polling place nearest you.

All polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.