LegiStorm has added permanent staff and transition aides for most of the new sitting members, representatives-elect and senators-elect of Congress.
The personnel of new offices ranges from those who can boast nine fulltime hires such as special election winner Rep. Dave Curson (D-Mich.) to those with only an orientation or transition aide. Among the individuals confirmed by LegiStorm as incoming staff are a nationally recognized angler, an amateur film and book critic, a chief of staff self-described as an "arch right winger" in college and a former candidate for his boss's seat in Congress.
Kat Cammack, Rep.-elect Ted Yoho (R-Fla.)'s incoming chief of staff, founded a bass fishing club in college and competed in the Association of Collegiate Anglers Tournament Series. To boot, she was also named Miss Monument, Colo. in 2009.
Kirk McPike an orientation aide to Rep.-elect Mark Takano (D-Calif.), maintains a website where he reviews books, movies and other items. While he was fond of The Avengers, he found Meryl Streep's turn in The Iron Lady only above average.
Rob Wasinger finished his undergrad in 1994 at Harvard where he was a prominent campus conservative, writing for Peninsula, the campus conservative magazine, and a vocal critic of liberal causes. He spent nearly a decade in the Senate with Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) before running for Congress in 2010. He is now Rep.-elect Kerry Bentivolio (R-Mich.)'s chief of staff.
One incoming chief of staff, Kenny West, even ran against his new boss, Rep.-elect Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), in the 11th district GOP primary. "The reason I'm running is very simple," West wrote in the Hickory Daily Record during the primary,"I had not ever planned on running for Congress again... but then I went out and I met the candidates and ... there was no fight for this country in them. We've got to send somebody to Washington that's ready to fight."
West apparently changed his mind.
