Since his return from recess, Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) has been working with a new director of communications, Demetrios Karoutsos. Karoutsos replaces Kevin Madden, who has moved on to work as spokesman for President Bush’s re-election team.

Before joining Sweeney’s staff, Karoutsos served as press secretary for New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson (R). Karoutsos spent two years on Benson’s staff and served him in various roles such as field manager and press secretary for Benson’s governor campaign.

Karoutsos, 31, is a native of Manchester, N.H., and graduated in 1994 from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance.

Fresh Crop of Staffers in Sunshine State Office. With four new hires and two new promotions, Sen. Bob Graham’s (D-Fla.) office was full of activity over the recess break.

Sharon Liggett has returned to her roots in public service as the Senator’s senior executive assistant. Liggett, a Deland, Fla., native, has extensive public policy and political campaign experience. After a stint in the public sector, Liggett, a 15-year veteran of political work in Washington and Florida, returns to work for Graham who she worked for from 1982 to 1983 when he was governor.

Liggett, 43, holds a master’s of public administration from Florida State University and graduated in 1980 from Eckerd College with a bachelor’s degree in international relations.

Graham’s newest policy analyst on

social issues, education and appropriations is Rufus Caine, 21. Caine, a finalist for a Rhodes scholarship, is a native of Hackensack, N.J. The 2003 honors graduate of Boston College holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and philosophy.

John Dickas, 25, is also a new policy analyst, but his concentration will be national security. Hailing from Beaverton, Ore., Dickas holds a master’s in international affairs from George Washington University and a bachelor’s in government from Notre Dame.

The offices third new policy analyst is Natane Singleton. Singleton, who will concentrate on health issues, is 23 years old and calls Detroit her hometown. Singleton graduated from the University of Michigan in 2003 with a master’s in health management and policy. She also graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 2001 with a bachelor’s in history and science.

Graham’s two recent promotions are Beth Powers and Lisa Kanarek.

Powers, who is completing her master’s in political management from George Washington University this semester, will move up from her role as special assistant to project coordinator for the office. Her new assignments will include database mailing list updates, proclamation requests, Congressional Record statements and other projects determined by the office chief of staff and administrative director.

Powers, 23, hails from Coral Springs, Fla., and graduated with a bachelor’s in journalism from Methodist University in 2002.

Kanarek has been bumped up from her role as staff assistant to senior staff assistant. She will now be responsible for training and overseeing reception office coverage. Kanarek, 23, is a native of Vero Beach, Fla., and graduated in 2002 from Smith College.