Ensign announces more staff appointments

Aides say they reflect ethnic diversity just as did the first three appointments announced Nov. 17.

John Lopez, who was with Ensign for four years in the House as senior legislative assistant, is the new deputy chief of staff for policy. His father is Hispanic.

Verita Protho, former director of media relations for the National Judicial College in Reno, is the Ensign's Northern Nevada district director. She is black.

Fortino Martinez, a Democrat and Hispanic, will be the Reno community outreach director. He filed to run against Assemblyman John Marvel, R-Battle Mountain, but dropped out of the race to work on Ensign's campaign.

Bret Mulligan, a longtime worker for former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev., will be Ensign's senior case worker in Reno.

The Las Vegas office has been filled with many of the same people who worked with Ensign during his two terms in the House or in his campaign.

Sari Mann will be the Nevada media contact based in Las Vegas. Using her maiden name Sari Greenberg, she served the same position during the campaign.

Other staff members include scheduler Kathy Page and case workers Margo Allen, Paulette Simpson and Christy Guidry.

archive