Peltola’s chief of staff resigns to work on her campaign

Alaska Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola’s chief of staff resigned Tuesday to work on her campaign, Peltola’s office said in a prepared statement.

Alex Ortiz was a longtime staffer and former chief of staff to the late Congressman Don Young, a Republican, who died while traveling back to Alaska last March. Ortiz took the chief of staff role in Peltola’s office after she won a special election in August to replace Young. Asked why he was continuing to work with a Democrat, Ortiz said in September, “Most importantly, I’m working for Rep. Peltola.”

Anton McParland, Peltola’s campaign manager for her 2022 congressional run, is assuming the duties of the chief of staff, her office said Tuesday. He has served as Peltola’s deputy chief of staff since January.

McParland previously worked for labor organizations, including the Service Employees International Union and the National Education Association. He has a background working in Democratic politics in Oregon, Illinois and Virginia, and said he has also worked on nonpartisan campaigns. McParland moved to Alaska to work on Peltola’s campaign.

Peltola said through a prepared statement that Ortiz was one of her first calls after August’s special election, and that she needed someone with experience and institutional knowledge when coming to Congress. She said that Ortiz would continue to work “in a special role on my campaign team,” focusing on Southeast Alaska and Republican outreach.

Peltola credited Ortiz with helping to convince the Biden administration to reapprove the Willow oil project, and working to secure disaster relief after Typhoon Merbok ravaged Western Alaska last September. Neither Oritz nor McParland immediately responded to requests for comment by the Daily News.

“The office is in good hands with a strong staff that is ready to serve Alaskans, just like Congressman Young’s team did,” Ortiz said in a prepared statement. “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.”