Pitts’ Pals
Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Joe Pitts recently made some changes in his office lineup.
Longtime aide Gabe Neville moves up a notch from communications director to chief of staff.
Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, Neville worked as an aide to Pennsylvania state Rep. Ray Bunt (R) and for several state and local campaigns.
The former weekly newspaper editor holds a bachelor’s in government from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa.
Neville, 35, is from Chester County, Pa.
Taking over for Neville is Press Secretary Derek Karchner, who was recently snagged from Rep. Mike Pence’s (R-Ind.) staff, where he served as communications assistant.
The 24-year-old University of Richmond graduate hails from Collegeville, Pa.
Former Staff Assistant Eric Naus ascends to the position of legislative correspondent. A member of Wheaton College’s class of 2002, Naus earned a bachelor’s in international relations.
The Prescott, Ariz., native is 23 years old.
Finally, longtime intern Benjamin Gehl has been promoted to staff assistant.
Originally from Akron, N.Y., Gehl previously spent time working for family services and support organizations.
Gehl, who holds a bachelor’s in psychology and social work from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, is a former Heritage Foundation social science intern.
Green’s Gang. Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) rounds up his herd with a passel of promotions and additions.
Longtime Green Legislative Assistant Sharon Scribner has been bumped up to legislative director.
Scribner, who has also worked for then-Reps. Thomas Sawyer (D-Ohio) and Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.), earned a bachelor’s from Gettysburg College in 1994. The Wurtzburo, N.Y., native is 30 years old.
After a year and a half as staff assistant and then scheduler to Green, Celinda Gonzalez has become communications director.
Gonzalez, 24, also interned for Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas) after graduating from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in political science in 2001. She is from Laredo, Texas.
New Legislative Assistant Andrew Wallace has been picked up from the office of former Rep. Ken Bentsen (D-Texas), where he worked in the same position.
Hailing from Houston, the 24-year-old
Wallace holds a bachelor’s in political science from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.
Lantie Ferguson has also become a legislative assistant, responsible for environment, budget and tax issues, among others.
The one-time deputy press secretary to Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.) previously worked for Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.) and Congressional Quarterly.
A member of Davidson College’s class of 1998, Ferguson earned a bachelor’s in political science and German.
The 26-year-old is from Rock Hill, S.C.
Former intern for Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas) Abigail Pinkele, 22, has joined the office as staff assistant.
Pinkele, who received a bachelor’s in political science in 2002 from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., is an Ohio native.
She has also interned for Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.).
Rounding out the list is Vince Jesaitis, a 24-year-old Missourian who has moved over from the office of Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) to serve as staff assistant.
The 24-year-old Jesaitis is an alumnus of William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., where he majored in political science.