South Anchorage photographer joins Assembly race

The owner of a South Anchorage photography studio, David Jensen, says he's joining the 2016 race for the Anchorage Assembly.

Jensen, 58, filed paperwork Friday with the Alaska Public Offices Commission indicating his plans to run. He's now one of at least three candidates vying to fill an open South Anchorage seat in the nonpartisan April city election. The seat is currently occupied by Jennifer Johnston, who is barred by term limits from running again.

"I'd like to bring that average-guy, practical, fiscal independent review to difficult decisions we have in the future with our budget," Jensen said.

Jensen is a third-generation Alaskan whose family moved from Fairbanks to Anchorage in 1963. He graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1989 with a public communications degree and opened his first photography business, Alaska Pet-ography, shortly after.

Jensen has published two books compiling his pet photography. He also serves as president of the Anchorage Lions Club.

This would be the first political office for Jensen, who described himself as "very independent." He says he registered as a Republican at age 18 and hasn't changed since. He said his concern about looming state and city budget challenges prompted him to run.