JUNEAU -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, says Miles Baker will be her new state director, running day-to-day operations in Alaska, while Bob Walsh will serve as deputy state director.

Baker, a former aide to state Sen. Bert Stedman, has been serving as Murkowski's legislative assistant for finance and budgeting in Washington. Murkowski's office says in a release that Walsh has been in the senator's Anchorage office for the last three years.

A Murkowski spokesman says Baker will be taking over for Jim Palmer. There was no one serving in the position Walsh is taking.