About Matt
Matt Claman began representing West Anchorage in the Alaska State Senate in 2023 following the November 2022 election. Prior to service in the Senate, Matt served West Anchorage in the State House of Representatives from 2015 through 2022. During these challenging times, Matt is effectively representing the interests of our community. He’s running for re-election to the Alaska State Senate to make sure our community interests are heard in Juneau.
Matt always puts Alaska first, working across party lines for a responsible action plan for Alaska with common-sense, practical solutions. A responsible action plan includes:
Improving public safety and making wise use of our public safety resources
Balancing the budget and protecting the Permanent Fund
Protecting your constitutional rights, including the right to privacy
Matt is part of the bi-partisan Senate Majority and serves in a leadership role in the State Senate as chair of the Judiciary Committee; as vice-chair of the State Affairs Committee; and sitting on the Resources Committee and the Legislative Council.
Matt served as acting mayor of Anchorage in 2009 during the height of the national financial crisis. He provided steady, careful leadership in challenging times. Before and after his service as acting mayor, he represented West Anchorage on the Anchorage Assembly (2007–2010) and was unanimously elected assembly chair in 2008. The Anchorage Daily News described his service as acting mayor: “During a short but troubled period, Claman demonstrated leadership skills that carried the city forward.”
Matt followed his dream and first came to Alaska in 1980, working as a cook in remote mining camps. After graduating from law school, Matt returned to Alaska to make his home, raise his family, and establish his career. An attorney for more than 35 years, Matt knows a lot about helping people solve problems. He has represented victims of domestic violence, commercial fishermen, loggers, families in crisis, local businesses, and individual Alaskans. He managed his own small law business for more than 11 years and taught law classes at the University of Alaska Anchorage. After his colleagues elected Matt to the Board of Governors of the Alaska Bar Association in 2002, he served as president in 2007–2008. The Alaska Bar Association award Matt its pro bono service award for his work representing victims of domestic violence in 2016 and its distinguished service award in 2022. He was instrumental in bringing Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Anchorage for the Alaska State Bar Convention, which was the most-attended bar convention in Alaska history. Matt provided leadership in implementing a pay-as-you-go method for membership dues and increasing accountability to the public.
Committed to our community, Matt served on the Heritage Land Bank Advisory Commission and on the board of several local non-profit organizations, including the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Trailside Discovery, the Anchorage Youth Symphony Association, the Alaska Center for the Environment, the Anchorage Rotary Club, and Planned Parenthood of Alaska.
Matt Claman is married to Lisa Rieger, who manages her own consulting firm and has worked extensively for Cook Inlet Tribal Council, one of Alaska’s most successful non-profit corporations. Matt and Lisa raised two children, Maia and Ben, who both graduated from West Anchorage High School. Maia works as a nurse and Ben manages a tech start-up company.
Along with his public service and work as an attorney, Matt is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and accomplished professional wilderness guide. An active hiker, biker, and skier, you’ll often find Matt enjoying the beauty of Alaska with friends and family on our trails, on our rivers, and in our parks.