Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Mary Sattler Peltola announced four additional staff hires. 

“I’m thrilled to be expanding my team both in Washington and back home in Alaska,” said Peltola. “With Congress out of session for the month of October, my team will be putting an extra focus on constituent services and setting up our operations across the state.”

Peltola has hired Sam Hiratsuka as her new Legislative Assistant for Native Affairs and rural issues. Hiratsuka (Yu'pik, Aleut, Winnemem Wintu, and Navajo) was born and raised in Anchorage. Most recently, he served as a Legislative Correspondent for U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan covering Indigenous Affairs, natural disaster responses, as well as housing, small business, fisheries, oceans, tourism, postal, and immigration policy. Hiratsuka will be based in Peltola’s Washington, D.C. office.

Tyson Fick, who previously served as Peltola’s Chief of Staff in the Alaska Legislature, has been brought on as a Special Assistant for fishing policy as well as in-state constituent services. Fick has lived and worked all over Alaska and has extensive knowledge in fishing, oceans, and food security. He previously served as Communications Director at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, and as Executive Director at Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers. Fick will be based in Juneau.

Logan Basner joins Peltola as a Special Assistant focused on in-state constituent outreach. Basner was born and raised in Palmer. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Most recently, he served as Chief of Staff to Alaska State Representative Tiffany Zulkosky and as a Regional Navigator for the Alaska Federation of Natives’ Navigator program. Basner will be based in Anchorage. 

Emily Larsen will join the Washington, D.C. office as a staff assistant for the representative. Born and raised in Maine, she recently graduated from American University, where she studied Justice and Law with a concentration in Terrorism and Security. She is currently working on a masters in Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy. Larsen comes to Peltola’s office after an internship with U.S. Senator Angus King.
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