Although Mask, the new press secretary, did not need to leave her home in Austin, Texas, she shared the same values as Franks, and that compelled her to move to Washington.
After graduating from Texas State University with a degree in mass communications and speech communications, Mask, 29, anchored the late-night news for an ABC affiliate in Michigan. As she reported on national news, Mask discovered that she had a flair for politics. Seeking a larger market, Mask relocated to Austin to pursue politics. She worked for a few years in the Texas state Senate and House, performing legislative and press duties. She is also a former speechwriter for the commissioner of education in Texas.
Although she left Texas, Mask says that she feels as though she never left home. She was told from the beginning, she said, “You know this is a family thing.” And she has found the statement to be true; staff members bake each other birthday cakes and help move each other into new apartments.
Mask is active in her church and attends a Bible study. She also volunteers at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Once a month, she dines with other women as part of a young professional women’s dining club that she organized. “We have 21 members so far,” she said. “We get to try a lot of new restaurants.”
Another staff member who felt a common calling with Franks is Connie Hair. She teamed up with Franks as his senior speechwriter because, she says, of his commitment to upholding the principles laid down by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution.
“It’s easy to write for somebody when you agree on almost everything,” Hair said.
For much of her professional career, Hair, a graduate of Louisiana State University, worked in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. She dabbled in a bit of everything, from film editing to script writing for Paramount Pictures. Hair also produced a now-defunct Alan Keyes show on MSNBC.
The entire atmosphere of D.C. stimulates Hair, she says: With all the monuments and museums, “it screams Americana.” Despite the dominance of Redskins fans, Hair is a proud follower of the Dallas Cowboys, their NFC East rival.
A former intern for Franks, Justin Olson, 26, proudly recounts the history of D.C. on tours he gives to Arizona constituents. Other than giving tours, Olson manages administrative tasks. He has written letters explaining legislation to constituents. In the future, he would like to participate more in policy initiatives. Olson, originally from Mesa, Ariz., graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in biology.
At home, Olson is a family man. He, his wife and their two children visit national parks and historic sites in Virginia. Olson teaches Sunday school at his church.
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