Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Representative Peltola announces upcoming staff transition 

April 25, 2023   

Contact:
Sam Erickson   
Press Secretary   
sam.erickson@mail.house.gov   
707-980-1078   

Washington, D.C.— Today, Representative Peltola announced an upcoming transition in a key D.C. staff role. After guiding the Representative’s office through the end of the 117th and the beginning of the 118th Congress, Alex Ortiz will be departing from his role as Chief of Staff at the end of May.   

“Alex was one of my first calls after winning the special election in 2022,” said Representative Peltola. “I knew I would need someone with the experience and institutional knowledge to help me hit the ground running, and I will be forever grateful that he chose to drop everything and return to D.C. to help me. Alex was an early supporter of my nonpartisan, solutions-oriented approach to legislating, and his experience was vital in many of the successes we have already achieved for Alaska, from convincing the Biden Administration to re-approve the Willow Project to securing federal disaster relief funding for Typhoon Merbok. While we are all sad to see him go, I am pleased to announce that Alex will be staying on in a special role with my campaign team, where he will be leading Southeast Alaska and Republican outreach.”   
  
“I was honored by the opportunity to serve as Representative Peltola’s first Chief of Staff and to manage the transition from Congressman Young to this new era for Alaska,” said Alex. “We both shared a commitment to honoring his legacy, and we did that with Willow. Congressman Young won a special election and helped create the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, and 50 years later Mary won a special election and delivered on Willow to reinvigorate that system. As they say, history doesn’t always repeat, but it often rhymes. Serving in this position was an unexpected but wonderful opportunity, and I was glad to help build and grow our team. The office is in good hands with a strong staff that is ready to serve Alaskans, just like Congressman Young’s team did. I am ready to resume pursuing a new career in government relations, and to continue building Republican support for Mary’s Pro-Fish, Pro-Family, Pro-Freedom, and Pro-Jobs agenda in 2024 and beyond.”   

Following Alex’s departure, Deputy Chief of Staff Anton McParland will assume Chief of Staff duties in Representative Peltola’s office.    

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