U.S. Senator Mark Begich announced today the hiring of Heather Handyside as his new press secretary. Handyside will be based in his Anchorage, Alaska office.

Handyside worked for the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) from 2003-2009 and served a public safety policy advisor, director of emergency management and homeland security, and deputy municipal manager. In these roles she served as municipal liaison to the Anchorage Assembly, project manager for the Anchorage Wide Area Radio Network (AWARN) and representative to the Alaska Land Mobile Radio (ALMR) project, and launched the Anchorage Trail Watch program.

“I’m delighted to have Heather on my staff again,” said Senator Begich. “She’s a great communicator who is knows the Alaska press corps well. Heather gets Alaska and will help make sure Alaskans are connected to all my offices in Alaska and DC”

In 2010 Handyside launched a public policy consulting company, Drawbridge Consulting, and managed a client list that included local governments, the State of Alaska, non-profits, Native corporations and small businesses. She served as Communications Director for the Scott McAdams campaign in 2010 specializing in messaging and media relations.

Handyside graduated from The American University in Washington D.C. with a bachelor’s degree in international policy and a minor in communications. After graduation she spent a year traveling through the Middle East and Africa before moving to Alaska in 1994. Handyside is a native of Pittsburgh, PA and remains a loyal Steelers fan.

Media requests should be directed to:

Heather Handyside
Press Secretary
Office of U.S. Senator Mark Begich
510 L Street, Suite 750
Anchorage, AK 99501
Tel: (907) 258-9304 Cell: (907) 350-4846