The head of the Alaska Division of Elections will step down at the end of the week. As first reported by the Anchorage Daily News, division director Gail Fenumiai will step down Friday. The announcement comes at the end of a year that saw Alaska’s first ranked choice general election and open-choice primary.

Alaska Division of Elections Public Relations Manager Tiffany Montemayor said in an email shared with media Tuesday that Fenumiai’s last day with the division will be Friday. Montemayor said her email came ahead of a news story in which Fenumiai’s retirement would be mentioned.

“Well, unfortunately one of the news outlets believes it is their place to share that our Director, Gail Fenumiai, is retiring, before Gail had the opportunity to make that announcement,” Montemayor said.

She went on to say that Fenumiai made the decision to retire in September and believes her retirement is “a non-story.”

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.