Former state Rep. Chris Tuck to run for Anchorage mayor

Former longtime state Rep. Chris Tuck on Wednesday filed to run for mayor in the 2024 Anchorage city election.

Tuck, a Democrat, was first elected to the Legislature in 2008, winning multiple reelections and serving twice as leader of the House majority. He pulled out of last year’s race in a Midtown Anchorage House district after the state’s redistricting board redrew the district boundaries, pitting Tuck against a fellow incumbent Democrat.

Tuck is the third person so far to file to run for Anchorage mayor. Former Assembly Chair Suzanne LaFrance and incumbent Mayor Dave Bronson have also filed.

Some Anchorage-area legislators and former colleagues had approached Tuck about whether he would run for mayor last fall, an idea he rejected at first, Tuck said. Later, the Democratic Party inquired, and several city residents approached him, he said.

Tuck said he shares their frustration with the recent direction of the city, such as issues with snow-plowing and other basic services, growing homelessness and lack of affordable housing.

“A lot of us who grew up here, want to get back to the days where our education is some of the best in the nation, where job opportunities are plentiful, and you’re making good wages and just good quality of life for our family and our friends,” Tuck said.

Anchorage’s city government currently “seems to be in disarray,” Tuck said. Frequent clashes between the Assembly’s majority and the Bronson administration have resulted “in our city moving backwards,” he said.

“I think the most important thing right now is we need to restore faith in municipal government once again. People have lost hope, whether they work for the municipality or they’re trying to get services provided by the municipality. Our tax dollars are going out, but there hasn’t been really any good signs of how it’s paying off. And I know how Anchorage residents will be willing to invest if they know that we have a plan,” Tuck said.

Tuck has some experience in Anchorage city government. He was elected in 2007 to the Anchorage School Board and has served on two city advisory commissions, according to city documents.

In 1972, at 5 years old, Tuck moved from California to Alaska with his mother, who had grown up in Aniak, he said. He’s worked as a contractor and union organizer, and recently started an electrical contracting business in Anchorage. He has an adult son and an 8-year-old daughter.