Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) announced recent staff hires, promotions, and changes to his congressional staffs in San Diego and Washington, D.C.

Rep. Peters released the following statement on the changes to his staff:

“Our staff is full of bright, passionate, caring, and dedicated public servants,” said Rep. Peters. “I’m very proud of all my staff has accomplished and look forward to seeing them emerge as leaders for San Diego and our country. We’re ready to get to work for San Diego in 2018.”

Below is a full list of his staff for 2018:

In the San Diego Office are:

MaryAnne Pintar, Chief of Staff

MaryAnne Pintar will continue to run San Diego operations and outreach, as well as press, communications and political strategy. Pintar began working with Peters in 2008, and was his last Chief of Staff when he was San Diego City Council President. She was Communications Director for his 2012 congressional campaign, and managed his 2014 and 2016 re-elects. She previously was Communications Director and Chief of Staff to Mayor Susan Golding and had her own consulting business. Pintar has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, and a Master of Science in Mass Communications with emphases in political science and advertising from San Diego State University.

Anthony Nguyen, District Director

Anthony Nguyen, who began in Peters’ office when he took office in 2013, recently was promoted to District Director. Nguyen has served as Director of Constituent Services since 2016 and previously as a Legislative Assistant in the Washington, D.C. office. Nguyen covers health care, human trafficking, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) affairs, and senior/aging policy. Nguyen has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego University, a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of San Diego, and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Southern California. Nguyen is fluent in Vietnamese.

Kiera Galloway, Director of Constituent Services

Kiera Galloway, who has served as Field Representative for the past two years, was promoted to Director of Constituent Services to help oversee all casework operations. Galloway worked on Peters’ 2014 campaign and served as his Staff Assistant in Washington, D.C. in 2015 before returning to San Diego as a Field Representative. Galloway assists with education, women’s, LGBT equality, arts, housing and homelessness and local transportation policy and assists with veteran casework. Galloway has a Bachelor of the Arts in History with a concentration in History and Law from Stanford University.

Jason Bercovitch, Field Representative

Jason Bercovitch covers immigrant and faith-based community outreach, international trade, Middle East foreign affairs, financial services and gun safety policy areas, as well as all immigration and IRS constituent casework. Bercovitch was an intern in Peters’ District Office in 2013 and previously interned for Congresswoman Susan Davis while working as a financial advisor and loan officer at various local financial institutions. Bercovitch has a Bachelor of the Arts in Business Economics with a minor in Political Science from the University of California- Riverside.  Bercovitch lived for much of his childhood in Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish.

Juan Hernandez, Field Representative

Juan Hernandez, a San Diego native, was in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard for a total of 12 years. After his service, Hernandez worked for various nonprofits in San Diego helping homeless veterans through casework and housing navigation. Hernandez covers veteran’s issues, including Service Academy Nominations, the Vietnam Veterans’ Commemoration program and veteran casework. Hernandez has a Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology from the University of Phoenix and an Associate in Arts Criminal Justice from the Community College of the Air Force. He is fluent in Spanish.

Erin Magee, District Scheduler and Field Representative

Erin Magee, a San Diego native, joins the San Diego office as District Scheduler and Field Representative. Magee most recently served as Peters’ Legislative Correspondent in Washington, D.C. Magee was a Field Organizer on Peters’ 2016 campaign and interned in Peters’ District Office in 2015. In addition to managing the San Diego schedule, Magee covers travel/tourism, high tech, biotech, and government reform policy areas, as well as federal grants and State Department and U.S. Postal Service constituent casework. Magee has a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science from Gonzaga University.

Quin La Capra, Digital Media Director

Quin La Capra began working for Peters in 2016 as a Press Assistant in his Washington, D.C. office and recently moved to San Diego. As Digital Media Director, La Capra directs all of Peters’ online media presence, handles local press outreach, and recently began covering economic development issues. La Capra graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a minor in International Relations.

Howard Ou, Field Representative

Howard Ou, a California native, covers defense, environment, transportation and infrastructure, AAPI, Asia Pacific Foreign affairs and constituent casework. He worked on Peters’ 2014 campaign before being selected as a Field Representative for Peters’ District Office in 2015. He spent 2016 as legislative fellow for Rep. Judy Chu and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus through the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. Ou has a Bachelor of Science in Professional Psychology from Alliant International University and a Master of Science in Homeland Security from San Diego State University. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

In the Washington, D.C. Office are:

Daniel Zawitoski, D.C. Chief of Staff

Daniel Zawitoski will manage all D.C. operations, legislative affairs and strategy, and Peters’ leadership position in the New Democrat Coalition. He is also the office contact for national advocacy groups. Zawitoski is an original member of Team Peters as the Director of Research for Peters’ first congressional campaign in 2012. Prior to taking over as D.C. Chief of Staff, he served as Peters’ Legislative Correspondent, a Legislative Assistant, and, most recently as Legislative Director. Zawitoski has a Bachelor of the Arts in History from Colby College and a Master of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State University.

Sterling McHale, Legislative Director

Sterling McHale, a San Diego native, was promoted to Legislative Director. Previously, McHale was a Legislative Assistant, Legislative Aide, Legislative Correspondent and intern in Peters’ Washington, D.C. office.  Prior to joining Team Peters, he worked for a statewide government affairs consulting firm in California, the California State Assembly, and the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors. McHale covers defense, energy, transportation and infrastructure, homeland security, trade, telecommunications, small business, tourism, economic development, financial services, and housing issues. McHale has a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science from Point Loma Nazarene University. 

Anaïs Borja, Legislative Assistant

Anaïs (“ah-ny-EES”) Borja, a California native, started working as a Legislative Assistant for Peters in 2017. Anaïs covers health, environment, seniors/aging, agriculture, natural resources, and space. Previously, Borja worked in New York for several years in marketing and communications. Borja has a Bachelor of the Arts in Comparative Literature from Harvard University and a Master of Public Administration from New York University. She speaks French and Spanish.

Baillee Brown, Legislative Assistant

Baillee Brown started working for Peters in 2015 as his Scheduler in his Washington, D.C. office. Baillee began to handle policy issues in 2016 and will start 2018 as a Legislative Assistant where she will cover veteran’s issues, education, labor, public safety, immigration, homelessness, government reform, nutrition, and women & LGBTQ issues. Brown has a Bachelor of the Arts in Politics from Occidental College.

Colin MacCarthy, Press Secretary

Colin MacCarthy, one of Peters’ most recent hires, previously worked on Capitol Hill for now-retired California Senator Barbara Boxer on her Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, where he started as a Press/Staff Assistant and was later promoted to Director of New Media. Colin handles national/D.C. press outreach in the Washington, D.C. office. MacCarthy has a Bachelor of the Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.

Arlene Pun, Staff Assistant and Legislative Aide

Arlene Pun, a San Diego native, started as an intern in Peters’ Washington, D.C. office in 2016. Arlene is Peters’ Staff Assistant and recently took on an additional role as a Legislative Aide. Arlene covers Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) affairs, animals, arts, Postal Service issues, and runs the Washington, D.C. internship program. Pun has a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science from American University.

Hannah Stern, Scheduler

Hannah Stern, a Coronado native, started working for Peters as his Deputy Finance Director in 2016. Following the election, Hannah worked in the District office as his District Scheduler, while covering the Life Sciences portfolio in San Diego. Hannah will be joining the Washington, D.C. office as his Scheduler. Prior to joining Team Peters, she worked in neuroscience researching, including labs at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla and the University of Texas at Austin. Hannah has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UC San Diego and a Master of Science in Psychology from Claremont Graduate University.

Elise Sugarman, Legislative Correspondent

Elise Sugarman, a California native and the most recent hire, previously interned for Congresswoman Cheri Bustos and the House Democratic Caucus. Sugarman has a Bachelor of the Arts in Politics with an Urban and Environmental Policy minor from Occidental College.