Suzanne Cunningham has been named legislative director for Gov. Mike Dunleavy. She’ll be tasked with moving the governor’s bills and budget through the legislature.
Cunningham is a longtime aide in the Legislature, serving most recently for five years as the chief of staff for Sen. Kevin Meyer, who is now Alaska’s lieutenant governor.
Cunningham took a position with Sen. Lisa Murkowski last year as senior oil and gas policy adviser to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, but is returning to Alaska to serve in the Dunleavy Administration.
Others named to the Office of the Governor include:
Laura Cramer: Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Cramer was the chief of staff to Sen. Anna MacKinnon.
Ed King: Chief economist. King is the former principal of King Economics Group.
Brandon Brefczynski: Special assistant to the governor’s policy advisors, providing research, analysis, reports, and logistical support to the key policy team of John Moller, Brett Huber, and Ben Stevens. Brefcynski was most recently at the Alaska Oil and Gas Association.
Mary Ann Pruitt: Acting Communications Director; on contract to set up communications team. Pruitt is the principal of PS Strategies and has other clients.
Jeff Turner: deputy communications director. Turner has worked for legislators including former Rep. Charisse Millett.
Austin McDaniel: Digital strategy manager. McDaniel most recently was the digital marketing strategist at GCI and worked in a similar role in the Parnell Administration.
Jordan Shilling: Communication specialist. From Fairbanks, Shilling most recently worked as a legislative aide to Sen. John Coghill.
Jeremy Price: Deputy chief of staff. Price, from Salcha, was the founding state director of Americans for Prosperity Alaska.
Amy Demoboski: Deputy chief of staff. Demboski has most recently served on the Anchorage Assembly, had a radio talk show and a long career in business management.
Janice Mason: Executive scheduler. Mason continues in this role she has had since the Palin Administration, handling the complicated schedule of the governor.