Friends and coworkers packed Cordova’s Legislative Information Office, sharing hugs, laughter and congratulations with Mimi Briggs and Michelle Hahn O’Leary.
The two were honored for their decades of service to the LIO during a luncheon on Monday, Jan. 29.
Briggs began working at the LIO in 1994 and O’Leary joined the staff shortly after in 2001, becoming the information officer in 2004. They worked diligently to assure everyone access to their legislators and opportunities to testify on proposed bills.
Most recently, O’Leary planned and implemented the office’s move to its current location on First Street.
“I absolutely love this job,” she said, adding that the decision to retire was extremely hard.
O’Leary and Briggs worked together in the office for 17 years.
“She’s just been so incredible to work with,” O’Leary said of Briggs. “I’m so grateful for all the work she did here.”
Briggs sat in the corner of the room, bouncing from conversation to conversation as friends stopped by with congratulations.
“Most of all, I’ll just miss being here with a great coworker,” she said.
A man across the room jokingly asked her if she was going to “kick back” after retiring. Briggs laughed and made note of her full-time position she continues to hold with the Cordova Historical Museum.
“I think you can tell that both of these folks have served people so well,” said Nancy Bird, Cordova’s new information officer. “They are very much appreciated.”
Bird is excited about her new job.
“I enjoy helping people learn more about the legislative process and trying to ensure that their voices are heard,” she said. “More voices usually end up with a better product.”
Cordova’s LIO office, one of 23 LIOs throughout Alaska, is open seasonally from December to May, covering the regular session of the Alaska Legislature.
The Cordova LIO newsletter, started by Briggs and O’Leary, provides weekly legislative information and updates. To subscribe to the online newsletter email lio.cordova@akleg.gov
