Hometown: Juneau, Alaska
Role: Capitol Budget Coordinator and Chief of Staff, Alaska Legislature
Years of legislative service: 11
What inspires her: “People who give more to the community than they take back out.”
Why did you choose to work at the legislature?
I’m not actually sure I did. My family was heavily involved with the legislature. My father was the director of legislative finance, my mother was a legislative liaison and my uncle was a representative. I, however, got a degree in biology and worked for many years as a naturalist and eventually a captain on whale watching boats, and I stayed as far from politics as I could. But tourism is seasonal work in Alaska, so I worked one session in my off-season and found that this apple didn’t fall as far from the proverbial tree as I would have liked! Eleven years later, I’m still here and loving it.
What skill or talent are you most proud of?
Getting along with (nearly) everyone.
What’s the best advice you were ever given?
Do something every day to make the world a better place. My mother used to read me a book about the “Lupine Lady” (“Miss Rumphius,” by Barbara Cooney), which is all about how small acts make the world more beautiful. The lesson stuck.
What’s one thing you love about your state?
Just one?! I love how sometimes I look outside and it’s so beautiful that it looks fake, and all I can do is stop and stare for a while.
What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?
I’ve got two young kids, so haven’t read a book longer than 12 pages in a few years, but I’m a giant Harry Potter nerd, so I’ve got a couple of HP-related podcasts going, including “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text” and “Potterless,” for when a get a few minutes to myself.
This email interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
For its “Staff Snapshots” series, State Legislatures News is asking legislative staff about their role in the legislature. To suggest a staffer for this series, please use the email icon above to contact Holly South.