David Pruhs
American politician
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David Pruhs (December 19, 1959)[1] is an American politician who served as the mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska from 2022 to 2025. Prior to his election as mayor, Pruhs served two terms as a member of Fairbanks' City Council. Pruhs served one three-year term as the 52nd Mayor of Fairbanks before he was defeated for re-election by Democrat Mindy O'Neall in 2025.[2][3]
David Pruhs | |
|---|---|
| |
| 52nd Mayor of Fairbanks | |
| In office October 24, 2022 – October 27, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Matherly |
| Succeeded by | Mindy O'Neall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1959 or 1960 (age 66–67) Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | California Polytechnic State University (BS) |
Career
Pruhs was born in Fairbanks, and graduated from Monroe Catholic High School before achieving a BS in Business Administration, from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He was Chair of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission (2012–2014), before serving two terms as a member of the Fairbanks City Council (2014–2020), concurrently as a member of the Alaska Real Estate Commission from 2016 to 2020.[4]
Mayor of Fairbanks
In 2022, Pruhs was elected to replace fellow Republican two-term incumbent Jim Matherly who was retiring. In the officially non-partisan election on October 4, 2022, he faced Fairbanks City Council Member Valerie Therrien, and defeated her with 55.9% of the votes.[5]
During his tenure, he received criticism for a Facebook post in April 2025, which stated his opinion that the city operates downtown “for residents… not for visitors”, as a comment on people coming into downtown from villages and shelters. Critics, including Alaska Native organizations like the Tanana Chiefs Conference, said the comments implied a link between Alaska Native people and social problems such as vandalism or disorder and reinforced harmful stereotypes about Native communities.[6] Pruhs subsequently issued a public apology.[7]
In the 2025 mayoral election, Pruhs ran for re-election but was defeated by Democrat Mindy O'Neall who won with approximately 54% of the vote. After conceding, Pruhs suggested that low voter turnout, roughly 15% of eligible voters participated, contributed to his loss.[8][9]