Walker hires new press secretary
JUNEAU EMPIRE
Gov. Bill Walker will soon have a new press secretary. Austin Baird, formerly the state politics reporter for KTUU-TV, will join the governor’s staff in the second week of December, it was announced last week.
Baird replaces Katie Marquette, who left the governor’s staff earlier this year to become spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.
The governor’s office announced two other staff changes last week.
Stephen Mattson, photographer and web expert for the governor’s office, has taken a job as an IT specialist for the state. David Lienemann, a photographer for former vice president Joe Biden, will replace him as the governor’s director of public engagement.
On the legislative side of the governor’s office, Elizabeth Bolling — chief of staff to Rep. Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan — will become assistant legislative director, replacing Emily Gaffney.
Bolling and Lienemann start their jobs this week.