“I think continuity is important,” said Democrat Mary Peltola, whose first hires for her U.S. House office reach across the aisle.
Alex Ortiz, chief of staff for the late Rep. Don Young , has been hired for the same position by Democratic congresswoman-elect Mary Peltola.
Congressional staff don’t usually cross the partisan aisle when they move from one office to another. But Young was a Republican. Peltola is a Democrat. “I think continuity is important,” Peltola said. “And someone who’s been in the office who can help explain some of the background and intent of legislation, negotiations that have happened.”Peltola has also announced four other staff hires.
Larry Persily of Juneau will be a senior policy advisor. He was a deputy commissioner at the Alaska Department of Revenue and was federal coordinator for Alaska’s proposed natural gas pipeline.