MaryAnne, Chief of Staff and Adam, DC Chief of Staff 

My Chief of Staff is based in San Diego because that’s where CA50's constituents are! MaryAnne has a background as a communications director and Chief of Staff for Mayor Susan Golding and has worked with me since she was my last City Council chief in 2008. With MaryAnne leading the charge, she and Adam work together to manage all District Office and D.C. operations, legislative affairs, communications, and overall strategy.

Dillon, Legislative Director and Ashley, Field Representative 

Dillon oversees the legislative team and executes my office’s legislative strategy and priorities. He also manages my healthcare, science policy, which is critical for me since San Diego is one of the leading biotechnology clusters in the country.  He also supports my budget work as a member of the Budget Committee and in my role as Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum in Congress. Ashley handles Social Security and Medicare related casework matters in San Diego and manages the healthcare, science, and seniors’ policy portfolio. Ashley and Dillon work together to ensure the legislation I’m offering and what’s happening in healthcare or science in Washington remains rooted in San Diego’s best interests and priorities.

Jason, District Director and Jack, Legislative Assistant 

Jason oversees District Office operations; handles IRS, Small Business Administration (SBA), and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) casework matters; and manages the foreign affairs, small business, budget, immigration, and faith policy portfolios. Jack manages the immigration, labor, and veterans' policy portfolio in D.C. In San Diego, we understand that our international border is an opportunity, not a threat. Jason and Jack work together to make sure the foreign affairs, immigration, and related legislation I work on reflects that truth and the perspective of local stakeholders is always valued in D.C.

Cesar, Director of Constituent Services; Ziyan, Senior Legislative Assistant - Energy and Permitting, and Evan, Climate Solutions Fellow 

Cesar oversees all incoming casework in my District Office and supports the casework team in their work. He also handles passport casework and manages the environment (including cross-border sewage pollution), energy, tourism, and LGBTQ+ policy portfolios. Ziyan and Evan manage the energy and environment policy portfolio in D.C., including natural resources, ocean and coastal matters, agriculture, and nuclear energy. Ziyan and Evan also work together to craft legislation to build out our national energy structure to meet rising demand and keep costs down, and to protect the environment.

Jackie, Senior Legislative Assistant and Liane, Field Representative 

Jackie manages an expansive policy portfolio in my D.C. office, including technology, education, housing and homelessness, public safety, childcare, and LGBTQ+ matters. Liane handles immigration and housing related casework in San Diego, and manages the housing, immigration, and agriculture policy portfolios. The cost of housing remains the greatest barrier to prosperity in San Diego, and Jackie and Liane work together to make sure that San Diego’s housing needs are met with commonsense legislative solutions.

William, Defense/Veterans Field Representative and Anya, Defense/Veterans Congressional Aide 

William and Anya co-manage all defense, military families, and veterans’ casework matters in San Diego. William also assists with the public safety and LGBTQ+ policy portfolios. CA50 is a proud military community with more veterans residing here than almost any other congressional district in the country. It’s important to me to have dedicated casework staff to help veterans and active-duty military families access their hard-earned benefits.

Lena, Communications Director; Shaina, Press Secretary; and Maya, Legislative Correspondent  

Lena oversees my office’s communications strategy and handles all D.C. press matters. Shaina handles our San Diego press matters. They work together to make sure that you are well-informed on what’s happening in Washington and what I'm doing to address the challenges and opportunities facing San Diego, including through this newsletter, 72 & Sunny, social media, press releases and press conferences, my website, and more. Maya oversees my office’s robust mail program. She ensures that each opinion, question, or concern shared with my office is recorded and each request for response is met with more about what I think or am doing to address it.

Allison, District Scheduler/Staff Assistant; Nicole, Director of Operations; and Isabella, Staff Assistant 

Allison manages my schedule in San Diego, oversees the District Office internship program; handles education, postal, and federal employee retirement casework matters; and manages the education, childcare, and nutrition policy portfolios. Nicole manages my schedule in D.C. and manages the infrastructure (including border water infrastructure), small business, and financial policy portfolios. Izzy oversees the D.C. internship program and all D.C. tour and ticket requests. Together, they all keep the CA50 offices running smoothly and make sure I’m on time and well-prepared for meetings and events!

Team Peters and alumni at the 2026 staff development event

One important job of a leader is to create new leaders.  I consider it part of my service to support my staff and help them develop into roles – whether it be in my office or elsewhere – where they can make positive changes for San Diego and the country. When people leave my office, they feel they’ve been treated professionally, learned a lot, they’ve had some fun and made valuable contributions. I also want them to be supported by their experience working for me as they continue their career paths.

And our team alumni have been very successful – going on to White House and Senate, think tanks and advocacy organizations, local government agencies, elected office, Democratic Party leadership, and more. You may be off the payroll, but you’re never off the team – and I’m gratified for our alums’ success and leadership of all these bright public servants who have served San Diego over the years with passion and dedication!

• Voice of San Diego gave San Marcos a shout out and detailed the work they're doing to meet crucial housing goals.  

• NBC7 San Diego wrote about how DACA renewal delays under the Trump Administration have caused fear, chaos, and economic pain for everyone as some are unable to work while they wait.