Hidalgo on departing chief of staff: 'I'm so proud [and] grateful for him'

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s chief of staff announced that he intends to vacate the position until a little after the start of next year, Houston-based media outlets reported. 

Alex Triantaphyllis said he’ll take on a new role within the county, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported. 

A member of Hidalgo’s administration since 2019, Triantaphyllis was among the trio of senior staffers issued felony indictments last April for alleged misuse of official information and tampering with records in connection with a controversial $11 million COVID-19 vaccine outreach agreement county leaders approved then rescinded.

Hidalgo, a Democrat, refused to dismiss Triantaphyllis, but instead, stood up for him and the two other staffers: Aaron Dunn, an ex-senior advisor; and Wallis Nader, the county judge's deputy policy director. 

She took to Twitter to commend Triantaphyllis for his work during her first term. 

“After [four] years of tireless dedication, Alex Triantaphyllis, my chief of staff, is moving on … I'm so proud [and] grateful for him,” Hidalgo tweeted, adding she’s “excited” to begin a nationwide search for his replacement.

Houston Daily reported in April that the Texas Rangers executed search warrants that allege Triantaphyllis, Dunn and Nader were the county employees who told Elevate Strategies, the firm that was awarded the contract, and its owner Felicity Pereyra, about the agreement. 

Both Hidalgo and Marla Poirot, an attorney representing Triantaphyllis, asserted his innocence, per the publication. 

Citing county records, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that Triantaphyllis’ case is slated to go before a court in May 2023.

Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported that it’s unknown whether the indictment of Triantaphyllis factored into his decision to step down. 

Per his LinkedIn profile, he has worked for the county for three years and 10 months, starting out as a managing director and policy chair for the county judge’s office before she elevated him as her chief of staff in April 2021. 

His page also shows that he ran an unsuccessful congressional campaign from 2017 to 2018 as a Democrat.