Courtney Kerster
Courtney Kerster (Democratic Party) was the acting Chief of Staff to the Governor of New Mexico. Kerster assumed office on September 30, 2022. Kerster left office on January 5, 2023.
Kerster was appointed interim chief of staff for the gubernatorial administration of Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) on September 9, 2022 to replace former Chief of Staff Matthew Garcia. She began the position at the end of September 2022.[1] She left the position in January 2023 to return to her role as senior advisor to Lujan Grisham.[2]
Chief of staff
- See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff
In 2022, Ballotpedia identified Courtney Kerster as a gubernatorial chief of staff. A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing the governor's agenda.
The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by each administration. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):[3]
- Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar;
- Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues;
- Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and
- Manage and communicate the governor's policy agenda to the state legislature and the public.
In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff, and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."[3]
Michelle Lujan Grisham chief of staff
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In July 2022, former Chief of Staff Matthew Garcia was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. Kerster was appointed to fill the chief of staff position when he left at the end of September 2022. She held the position until January 2023.[2]
See also
- Michelle Lujan Grisham
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Gubernatorial chiefs of staff
- United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of the Governor, "Governor’s office announces new interim leadership," September 9, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Office of the Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, "Governor’s Office announces new chief of staff," January 5, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 National Governors Association, "The Many Roles of the Governor’s Chief of Staff," accessed April 20, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Matthew Garcia (D) |
Chief of Staff to the Governor of New Mexico 2022-2023 |
Succeeded by Daniel Schlegel (D) |
