Chief of Staff

David Ramseur

As a youngster, the word “chief” didn’t hold the same weight as it does now. I'll thank Pocahontas for that. Living and working on the Hill, it retains the same power, but much more conservative costuming. The person holding this title is well- connected, well-informed, and highly valued in the eyes of those they mentor -- members of Congress.

David Ramseur (Far Left)

David Ramseur serves as the Chief of Staff for US Senator Mark Begich from Alaska. My encounters with him before this interview were few and far between, but nonetheless, engaging and personable. Most were outside the office environment, at receptions or events of that nature. I was curious to learn more about his day-to-day happenings.

David has the chameleon-esque ability to captivate an audience or blend flawlessly into the crowd, dependent on the situation. How did he rise to this respected position and acquire the skills necessary to advise Senator Begich? Naturally, I pushed to his story, hoping to internalize any bits of wisdom he had to offer.

Despite his father’s ranking in the Marines, his parents were moderate democrats. He grew up in a household where politics and policy were common topics were common over-dinner discussion.  David’s largest influence to dive into the pool of public service came from his grandmother, “a little old lady from North Carolina- a rare democrat for her part of the state.” She would make a point of engaging him in politics, critically discussing current events and breaking down public affairs, challenging his thoughts and broadening his views. 

His decision to earn is Bachelor’s degree in political science seemed like a no- brainer, but when it came time for a graduate program, the decision was more politically calculated. David knew that to fully utilize his vast skills and interests, he needed a more well-rounded degree and background. This led him to the Journalism department at the University of Missouri. The graduate program allowed for four months in Washington DC. The University had informal affiliations with smaller newspapers around the country, allowing the newspapers to have on- location “real- life correspondents” they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford. David fondly recalled his experience working for a Hawaiian business newspaper and another in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Journalism brought him back to our nation’s Capitol in 1983 until 1985. He was hired by The News Miner, a paper based in Fairbanks, Alaska, to “chase around the congressional delegation” and write daily stories about what’s going on in Washington DC. He later worked for the Anchorage Times, which is now insolvant. After his long distance reporting, he still had a lingering interest in returning back to DC in one capacity or another, but he knew the transition from press to whatever the future held wouldn’t be a simple one.  It was pretty painful at first, “I think many press people consider themselves pure, and they don’t want to get involved in the dirty world of government and politics,” he said with a smirk on his face, acknowledging that he had been in that majority.

In 1985, David traveled back to Alaska. He made the difficult jump from reporter to pseudo- politico. His first gig was for Steve Cooper, a candidate for Governor in 1986.  After his hard work on the campaign, he was hired a press secretary for the following four years.

“I’ve been on the dark side ever since,” he laughed. “I certainly see the importance of being involved in politics and government.”

I asked him exactly how he began working for Senator Begich. “For Senator Begich, or Mark Begich?” From his response, I knew his loyalties went back further than I had originally suspected.

Their history goes back about twenty years, meeting through the Alaska political scene, which David has deeply involved in since 80’s. According to his quick summary, he started in Alaska, working for a few papers, then a few Governors, and finally Mayor Tony Knowles before helping Senator Begich successfully run for Mayor of Anchorage in 2004. Because of his previous experience and efforts for the campaign, Mark Begich offered David the role of Chief of Staff during his term as Mayor. While Mark Begich was serving the Municipality of Anchorage, he heard his calling to serve the state as a whole, as a US Senator for Alaska. David continued with his support, helping the campaign tirelessly on nights and weekends.

David’s favorite part about living in DC and working for the Senator are the numerous opportunities to interact with the best and brightest people in the country. “They tend to gravitate towards Washington, DC.” He also enjoys the access to expansive academics resources and big named political figures. The whole experience is intellectually stimulating.

David’s typical day starts with exercise and an early review of Alaska’s news to understand the state’s affairs, followed by previewing the Senator’s calendar. He separates what the hot issues are in Alaska from the hustle and bustle of DC politics. He works through the legislative agenda, offering the Senator political advice on positioning and whether or not to engage on a particular issue. He works primarily with the Senator, other senior staff members, and makes an effort to communicate with all of Senator Begich’s offices.

With all of his experience, I knew that he had much to offer, and I wasn’t disappointed. As anticipated, David has worked diligently to achieve his status of influence and rightful respect.  

With my future in mind, I asked what he believed to be the most logical steps to a successful political career:

“Get a broad education and background. It’s a very political environment, so participate in as many internships and campaigns as possible. Capitalizing on any connections you may have, as that’s what this city is based off of. ”