Kenneth Wolfe, longtime speechwriter for then-House Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts (Okla.), has been tapped by Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Wade Horn to serve as speechwriter.

Wolfe also spent three years as press secretary to New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith (R).

The 29-year-old Trenton, N.J., native holds a 1995 bachelor’s in political science from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Wonking for Weldon. Sunshine State Rep. Dave Weldon (R) gave the nod to Senior Legislative Assistant Paul Webster, who has become legislative director.

Previously of the Institute for Youth Development, Webster has also served stints as executive director of the Congressional Family Caucus, as legislative director for Rep. Jim Ryun (R-Kan.) and as legislative assistant to then-Rep. Steve Largent (R-Okla.).

The 40-year-old Webster has a bachelor’s in communication from California State University at Long Beach and a master’s in public administration from the University of Southern California.

Financial Adviser. House Financial Services Committee Senior Counsel Greg Zerzan arrives at the Treasury Department this week to take over as deputy assistant secretary for financial institution policy.

During his three-year tenure at the committee, Zerzan worked on key legislative initiatives such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley financial services modernization act and the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate accountability act.

As a staffer for the former Banking Committee, he was also part of the team that implemented the transfer of securities and insurance jurisdiction to the nascent Financial Services Committee.

The one-time general counsel for the House Agriculture Committee holds both a bachelor’s and a law degree from Oregon’s Willamette University.

Coyote Catches. Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) recently promoted a pair of staffers.

New Legislative Director Susan Hansen steps in for Dwight Fettig, who has left the office to join Freddie Mac’s office of governmental affairs.

Hansen earlier served as Johnson’s legislative assistant for health care, education and senior issues and completed a stint as a member of his state outreach staff.

An alumna of Sen. Herb Kohl’s (D-Wis.) office, Hansen hails from Random Lake, Wis.

Bob Martin moves up a notch from communications director to administrative assistant.

He earlier worked as communications director for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and for Sen. Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.). Originally from Pierre, S.D., Martin has also served as then-Rep. Dan Glickman’s (D-Kan.) press secretary and state director.

He replaces Greg Billings, who will leave at the end of the month to pursue a career in the private sector.