Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz said Thursday he had rounded out his office staff with four hires, including two people who previously worked for him in the Alaska Legislature.
In a statement, Berkowitz said he appointed Ona Brause as his deputy chief of staff. Brause worked for Berkowitz when he was a Democratic legislator in the state House, and most recently worked as director of finance and operations for Intelligent Energy Systems LLC, an Anchorage-based renewable energy business.
Another former Berkowitz legislative staffer, Amy Coffman, has been appointed as a special assistant. Coffman worked as field director for Berkowitz during the mayoral campaign and in the mayor's office will focus on community councils, diversity and homelessness, according to Berkowitz's statement.
Myer Hutchinson, who recently worked as press secretary for the Alaska Senate minority caucus, has been appointed as Berkowitz's communications director.
And Nora Morse, who worked as Berkowitz's communications director during his campaign, has been appointed as a special assistant and press assistant. She will focus on public safety, domestic violence and sexual assault, according to the statement.
Berkowitz took office July 1.