James Kaufman

Representing East Anchorage, Abbott Loop & Hillside

Member News more >

Senate Republicans Craft Fast-Track Budget Compromise

Working constructively with the Majority to craft a compromise amendment, the Senate Republican Caucus was able to decrease a CBR draw by $76 million. Full Story >>

Senate Republicans Request Education Compromise

The Senate Republican Caucus understands a funding increase is necessary to sustain our schools. However, the legislation put forth today does not contain the policy reforms necessary to support our student’s academic growth. Full Story >>

Senate Republicans Promote Fiscal Solutions

On Monday, the Alaska Senate Republican Caucus presented a bill package providing answers to the state’s fiscal dilemma. Full Story >>

Personal Profile

James Kaufman

District F, Republican

I moved to the Anchorage Hillside after accepting a position as a resource projects Quality Manager and Team Lead in Alaska’s oil and gas industry. My job was to help project management teams improve the quality and efficiency of their North Slope projects to deliver greater value for the every dollar spent on their capital improvements.

When I retired in 2017, I knew that Alaska was my home and that I was staying put. I became more active in our Community Councils, the Anchorage HALO organization, and served as the Hillside Lead for the Coalition of Community Patrols. I helped organize several events to address the ongoing threat of wildfires on the Hillside and other realities of living in Alaska: Earthquakes, record breaking snow storms, volcanic eruptions, and the pandemic. In each of these roles I focused on how to improve the safety, security and resiliency of our community.

Seeing the need in our state government for more common sense, I successfully ran for public office. After serving two years in Alaska’s House of Representatives, I am grateful to serve District F in the Alaska Senate. A career in quality management on large and complex oil and gas projects has taught me a range of skills that can be directly applied to my role in the Senate. These skills include the ability to analyze complex and expensive organizations and projects, determine the root causes of failure, find efficient solutions, identify opportunities to improve, and successfully manage the necessary changes to avoid unintended consequences.

I have served as the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and on the Resources, Legislative Budget & Audit, Health and Social Services, and Judiciary committees. I currently serve on the Senate Finance Committee where I seek to use my range of skills to help guide the State of Alaska towards a more fiscally-sound and sustainable future. I am excited to continue working for my neighbors in Abbott Loop, Independence Park, Huffman/O’Malley, the Lower Hillside, and Prospect Heights.