Grier Hopkins shares experience in politics during UAF town hall

Story and photos by Britany Adorno-Alicea

Carol Gray, professor of political science, and Grier Hopkins, Fairbanks North Star Borough mayor, stand together after the town hall on November 13, 2025.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins visited the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus to speak on his experiences with issues such as housing, coalition building, and population retention and how he handles all of those responsibilities now as the elected mayor.

Grier Hopkins was born and raised in Fairbanks. He served as a state legislator and worked as the UniServ Director at NEA-Alaska. He was sworn in as mayor in December of 2024, and is now serving his first three-year term.

He shared his experiences as a youth, having worked on political campaigns long before he became fully involved in politics. He worked as a legislative intern to Senator Ted Stevens as his first experience in politics.

Hopkins was a student athlete and played basketball, soccer, and track and field. He had plans to continue on that path when he graduated from high school.

“I did not know I wanted to do this when I came out of school,” said Hopkins. “I wanted to do track in college, and be a doctor who helped student athletes.”

He was a part of a summer internship during his high school years when he worked for Ted Stevens. He advocates for student internships and sees them as a great opportunity for young people to get involved and earn experience in those fields to later put to use.

Hopkins spoke about the responsibilities he has as mayor and how he must navigate those responsibilities and make decisions that will serve the community best. 

Grier Hopkins stands with students Brayden Oglesby, Justin Stallings, Madison Holfmen, Jacob Fither and professor Carol Grey after the town hall in Gruening on November 13, 2025.

Hopkins went in detail about the processes he has to go through, the checks and balances that are required to make moves and changes. Many of the incentives that he would wish to enact he cannot do without the authority of the Borough Assembly.

During the open floor questioning, Hopkins was asked about how the borough is working to keep people in Fairbanks, ranging from helping the housing crisis in town and on campus, energy fuel saving, and more.

One of the most discussed questions was relating to the housing industry in Fairbanks. Hopkins says one of the main powers of the borough is zoning and that's what they plan to change to start building nicer homes and community spaces to have people start to envision their futures in Fairbanks. 

“If people see good things happening in our community, if they see new projects being built,” said Hopkins on his plans to zone new neighborhoods and better housing. “They feel the energy here, people will want to stay.”

Hopkins has plans to partner with the city mayor, whose powers go far beyond only being able to build up homes and other buildings, to put out a survey to the entire community to find out what are things that we want to see changed.