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Schmidt aides get used to D.C. life |
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By The Hill Staff
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Posted: 09/06/05 12:00 AM [ET] |
It pays to be the driver for a would-be congresswoman. That is what Andrew Willis, 22, learned when he drove for Rep.-elect Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) during her recent campaign for the special election in the 2nd Congressional District of Ohio.
Schmidt replaces former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who was appointed U.S. trade representative.
Willis, a recent Colgate University graduate, is Schmidt’s staff assistant. The Cincinnati native is new to Capitol Hill and never planned on moving to Washington.
“It all happened very fast,” he said. “I didn’t plan on getting into politics. The volunteering turned into another job, [which] turned in this.”
Matt Perin, 22, is a new legislative correspondent. A Cincinnati native, he graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a major in political science and a minor in security, terrorism and governance. In 2003, he interned for Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio).
Perin said he’s pleased to be in Washington, calling it the “heart of the political action. It is just very appealing to be up here and be around all the decisionmakers and seeing politics at its finest.” He’s less pleased with the first apartment he moved into, which was roach infested. Fortunately, he already has a new place.
In his spare time, Perin plays guitar and saxophone and attends Philadelphia Eagles football games.
John Ashbrook, of Cincinnati is the congresswoman’s deputy chief of staff. The 24-year-old is not new to politics; he worked as a field representative in Portman’s district office. “I wanted an opportunity to help out in a different capacity than I was in the district,” Ashbrook said.
What’s the toughest aspect of setting up a new congressional office? “Everything happens at once,” he said.
Ashbrook’s biggest frustration is Washington’s heavy traffic. He commutes from Annapolis, where he is temporarily sleeping in the spare bedroom of a friend’s home. “I’ve been leaving for work early and leaving late at night because the traffic at rush hour is unbearable,” he said.
Ben LaRocco, 24, is the congresswoman’s legislative assistant. He is from Cleveland and graduated from the University of Toledo with a major in political science. This is his first job on Capitol Hill. He worked as Schmidt’s sole aide when she served in the Ohio state House and did advance work for Gov. Bob Taft (R).
Since moving to Washington, LaRocco has noticed how expensive the beer is compared with the $2.25 he pays for the drink in the Buckeye State. Aside from that, the aide is pretty jazzed about his new digs in Alexandria, Va., where he lives with some longtime male friends from Ohio.
What does LaRocca do in his spare time? “Who’s got spare time?” he asked. “I spend a lot of time driving around trying to find stuff. I tried to find Chipotle the other day. It was 10 blocks away, and it took me an hour and a half.”
Other new aides in the office include Jan Oliver, the legislative director and counsel, and Justin Louchheim, 28, the senior legislative aide. Originally from Cincinnati, Oliver earned her law degree from Northern Kentucky University, her master’s degree from Ohio State University and her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. She spent 12 years working for Portman, first as legislative counsel and later as his deputy chief of staff. Louchheim graduated from Gettysburg College, majoring in philosophy, and worked for Portman for five years. He is a Ligonier, Pa., native. So far, the congresswoman has not hired a press secretary.
Schmidt has chosen Barry Bennett, a Washington strategist, as her chief of staff. A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, Bennett, 41, has played key roles in the successful campaigns of other Ohio races, such as Portman’s first special election to Congress in 1993. More recently, Bennett was the communications director for the 2004 G8 summit. A press release on Schmidt’s new staff states, “The 2004 G8 summit has been regarded as the most successful Summit ever held.”
Bennett, who could not be reached for comment, graduated from Ohio State University with a finance degree. He lives with his wife, Melissa, in Old Town Alexandria. |
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