Sen. Coleman names chief of staff;
other changes follow By Stephanie Dornschneider
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) has announced
that Eric Mische, who has been the senator’s state director,
will assume the post of chief of staff.
“I’ve been fortunate to have his skills and talents,”
said Coleman. “His organizational skills, understanding of
public policy and enthusiasm for getting things done are important
assets that I depend upon for my Senate office.”
JOHN SHINKLE
Staffers in Sen. Norm Coleman’s office,
back row, from left: Karen Seifert, Tony Williams, Andy Brehm,
John Denning, Eric Mische, Alicia Long, Lucia Lebens and Amy
Gibbs. Front row, from left: Dave Lewis, Lisa Lyttle, Mollie
Shearen and Andrew Siracuse.
Coleman has announced other changes
to his staff:
• John Denning, formerly the administrative director, will
serve as the deputy chief of staff.
• Lucia Lebens has been promoted to administrative director.
• Ben Anderson has been promoted to legislative assistant.
• Andrew Siracuse has been hired as legislative assistant.
• Andy Brehm has been elevated to press secretary.
• Amy Gibbs will serve as the executive assistant.
• Alicia Long will be the scheduler.
• Lisa Lyttle will join the Washington office.
• Antonio Williams will be a legislative correspondent.
Murkowski’s new chief of staff
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has announced two
new hires: George Lowe will serve as her new chief of staff, and Isaac
Edwards will be the new legislative director.
Lowe served as legislative director for Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
most recently. Before assuming that post, he worked as a legislative
counsel, a legislative assistant and a legislative correspondent for
Stevens.
His responsibilities included handling issues such as terrorism, natural
resources, the judiciary and veterans and foreign affairs, as well
as amateur sports and Olympic issues.
Before his service in Washington, Lowe was an assistant sergeant at
arms for the Alaska state Senate.
Having earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from
the University of Oregon, Lowe attended law school at the University
of San Diego, graduating in 2000. Lowe is a member of the Alaska Bar.
Edwards will help create Murkowski’s legislative policy. He
has worked as a legislative assistant specializing in international
trade, foreign policy and homeland security, as well as in immigration
and international aviation issues. In addition, he has served as a
legislative correspondent and staff assistant to former Alaska Sen.
Frank Murkowski (R).
Edwards is working toward a law degree from George Mason University
with a focus on international trade law. Born in Homer, Alaska, he
graduated from Homer High School in 1992 and received a bachelor’s
degree in political science from California Lutheran University in
1997.
Heller Harman’s comm. director
Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) has named Risa Heller
to be her new communications director. Heller is a former associate
of Rabinowitz Media Strategies, a Washington media consulting and
public-affairs firm.
Prior to joining the firm, Heller worked for the Hadassah Washington
Action Office as a legislative assistant. In that position, she
lobbied Congress and the White House on topics including Israel,
medical privacy and women’s issues.
Before that, Heller was a legislative assistant for the Anti-Defamation
League and compiled and edited a nationwide publication on hate
crimes.
Heller graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s
degree in psychology, Hebrew and Jewish cultural studies. She was
born in West Bloomfield, Mich.
