Gov. Jeb Bush on Friday hired a former St. Petersburg resident as his deputy chief of staff, one of the top positions in the governor's office.
Simone Marstiller, most recently general counsel to the state Department of Management Services, will replace Laura Branker, who is leaving to join a health care company in Washington.
Marstiller, 39, is a native of Liberia who moved to St. Petersburg at age 9. She is a graduate of Stetson University in DeLand and Stetson's College of Law in St. Petersburg. She is a former assistant general counsel for the governor.
Bush also hired Alberto Martinez, 24, of Miami, as a deputy speechwriter, and Gail Campbell, 53, as a special assistant to first lady Columba Bush.
