Lyman Hoffman

American politician

Lyman Hoffman


Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate
In office July 9, 2019 – January 19, 2021
Preceded by	Mia Costello
Succeeded by	Shelley Hughes
Member of the Alaska Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 16, 1995
Preceded by	George Jacko
Constituency	T (1995–2003) S (2003–present)
In office January 21, 1991 – January 18, 1993
Preceded by	John Binkley
Succeeded by	Rick Halford
Constituency	M
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
In office January 18, 1993 – January 16, 1995
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Ivan Ivan
Constituency	39
In office January 19, 1987 – January 21, 1991
Preceded by	John Binkley
Succeeded by	Ivan Ivan
Constituency	25

Personal details
Born	(1950-02-13) February 13, 1950 (age 74) Bethel, Territory of Alaska, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Republican (caucus)
Spouse	Lillian
Children	2
Education	University of Alaska, Fairbanks (BA)

Lyman F. Hoffman (born February 13, 1950) is a Yup'ik politician and Democratic member of the Alaska Senate since 1995. He represents the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska Peninsula, and Aleutian Islands. He also served in the Senate from 1991 to 1993 previously, and was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1987−91 and 1993−95.

In January 2019, Hoffman became the longest-serving member in the history of the Alaska Legislature, surpassing the tenure of Jay Kerttula, the previous record holder.^[1]

Partisan affiliation

Hoffman was the only registered Democrat to caucus with the Republicans in the Senate from 2015 to 2023.^[2] He endorsed Republican nominee Dan Sullivan over Senator Mark Begich during the 2014 U.S. Senate race.^[3] From 2007 to 2013 and again since 2023, Hoffman has been a member of a bipartisan majority coalition of Democrats and Republicans.

Drunk driving and jail sentence

On May 1, 2004, Hoffman was arrested for erratic driving and for striking a home with his car. He refused to take a breathalyzer test and later pled guilty to the charges. He was sentenced to three days in jail by Judge Peter Froehlich, which began on July 6. Hoffman also had his driver's license revoked for 90 days, was placed on probation for one year, and was fined $1,500.^[4]^[5]

Ethics violations

Hoffman was found guilty of violating financial disclosure laws by the Senate Committee on Legislative Ethics. Hoffman hid about $500,000 in income from his business interests in a company that primarily contracts with a state-funded agency. From Alaska Public Media, "The committee found that Senator Hoffman "knowingly" prepared and filed incomplete disclosures, leaving out a "substantial" amount of income."^[6]

Alaska's fiscal crisis

In 2016, Hoffman was the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, whose plan to address the state's fiscal crisis focused on cutting services and capping the Permanent Fund Dividend.^[7] Critics note that the hardest hit areas from slashing the PFD are in Hoffman's district.^[8] However, Hoffman has also called the dividend the "first call" on revenue from Permanent Fund earnings. ^[9]

References

^ Downing, Suzanne (November 17, 2020). "Sen. Jay Kerttula dies in Juneau, age 92". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
^ Matheson, Ben (November 6, 2014). "Senator Lyman Hoffman to Caucus with Majority". KYUK. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
^ Matheson, Ben (October 24, 2014). "Lyman Hoffman Endorses Dan Sullivan for Senate". KYUK. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
^ "Hoffman sentenced on drunk driving charge". Juneau Daily News. June 29, 2004. Retrieved September 26, 2008.
^ Maria Downey (June 29, 2004). "Bethel senator sentenced for drunken driving". stopthemaddness.org.
^ Matheson, Ben (November 7, 2013). "Legislative Ethics Committee Says Senator Hoffman Failed to Disclose Income". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
^ Brooks, James (February 24, 2017). "Senate Majority unveils plan including spending cap, big cuts and Permanent Fund spending to fix the budget". Juneau Empire. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
^ Kitchenman, Andrew (July 6, 2017). "PFD Cut Affects Some Alaskans More Than Others". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
^ https://alaskalandmine.com/landmines/brad-keithleys-chart-of-the-week-the-misleading-narrative-and-its-consequences/

External links

Media related to Lyman Hoffman at Wikimedia Commons

Alaska State Legislature – Senator Lyman Hoffman official AK Senate website
Project Vote Smart – Representative Lyman F. Hoffman (AK) profile
Follow the Money – Lyman F. Hoffman
- 2006 2004 2002 1998 1994 1992 1990 campaign contributions
Lyman Hoffman at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature
Appearances on C-SPAN

Offices and distinctions

Alaska House of Representatives
Preceded by John Binkley	Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 25th district 1987–1991	Succeeded by Ivan Ivan
New constituency	Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 39th district 1993–1995	Succeeded by Ivan Ivan
Alaska Senate
Preceded by John Binkley	Member of the Alaska Senate from the M district 1991–1993	Succeeded by Rick Halford
Preceded by George Jacko	Member of the Alaska Senate from the T district 1995–2003	Succeeded by Donny Olson
Preceded by Donny Olson	Member of the Alaska Senate from the S district 2003–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Mia Costello	Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate 2019–2021	Succeeded by Shelley Hughes