ST. PAUL (WJON News) -- Governor Tim Walz will soon have a new head of his staff. The Governor announced that his Chief of Staff, Chris Schmitter, is stepping down at the end of October. Schmitter will continue to work with Governor Walz as a senior advisor on his reelection campaign in a political capacity. Governor Walz has named Patrick Tanis as his new Chief of Staff, starting in November. Tanis is a long-time aide to Governor Walz, working for him during Walz's first run for Congress in 2005.