Scott Baker, who once worked as a radio talk-show host and news reporter in the Show Me State, was selected as Rep. Kenny Hulshof’s (R) new communications director early last month.

Baker, 32, comes to Hulshof’s office from the Missouri Republican Party, where he worked as communications director for the past two years. Baker, who resides in Columbia, Mo., is Hulshof’s first district-based communications director. He replaces Ianthe Jackson, who recently accepted a position with the National Federation of Independent Business.

“This is a considerable change for us, but I think it’s one that will benefit the people of the 9th District,” Hulshof said in a statement. “A district-based communications operation will put us in a better position to quickly respond to the needs and requests of local media outlets.”

Baker is a 1996 graduate of Southwest Missouri State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications management.

From the Heights to the Hill. Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) welcomed Kara Stencel, 23, to his full-time staff early last month as his newest staff assistant. The former pharmacy technician at CVS pharmacy in Columbia Heights has previous Hill experience as an intern for Rep. Ken Lucas (D-Ky.).

Stencel, a native of Versailles, Ky., graduated in May 2002 from the University of Dayton with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She replaces Eric Powers, who was recently hired in the office of Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) as a legislative assistant for foreign affairs.

Moving Up, In and Over in Johnson’s Office. Prairie State Rep. Timothy Johnson (R-Ill.) began the fall on Capitol Hill with a promotion, a transfer and an addition to his D.C. office.

Therése Rios, 23, has recently moved up from staff assistant and scheduler to legislative assistant handling transportation, environment and labor, among other issues. Rios has been working for Johnson since 2000, when she volunteered to help his open-seat bid for Congress. After his election victory, Rios went on to serve as an intern in Johnson’s D.C. office before being hired full-time by the Congressman.

A native of Lake Zurich, Ill., Rios is a 2002 graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a degree in political science and communications.

New to Johnson’s D.C. staff is Matthew Jones, 22, who transferred from Johnson’s Bloomington, Ill., office where he served as a part-time district

aide handling casework involving Social Security and Medicare. Jones, who hails from Arthur, Ill., will now take on the duties of staff assistant and systems administrator in Johnson’s Capitol Hill office. His new duties will consist of helping with tours, intern coordination and Web site management. Jones graduated in May from Illinois State University with a degree in public relations.

The newest face in Johnson’s office is Jennifer Boak, 22, who has taken on the role of scheduler and office manager. Boak, who calls Plymouth, Mich., her home, graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in December 2002 with a degree in political science.