Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) has hired a new legislative assistant for the issues of agriculture, energy and natural resources.

Mike Ference interned for several politicians before graduating in 1997 from St. Joseph’s University with a degree in political science. He spent time in the offices of Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.). He also interned for the Joint Economic Committee under then-Sen. Connie Mack (R-Fla.).

Upon graduation, Ference worked for the House’s Conservative Action Team, which is now known as the Republican Study Committee and headed by Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.). He then started Sunrise Energy Inc., which he sold for a tidy profit.

Chafee Adds Staff. Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R) has made a number of changes around the office, hiring and promoting several staffers.

Allison Sugarman, 28, was hired in May and is Chafee’s new legislative assistant for foreign affairs. Before coming to Chafee’s office, Sugarman served as a legislative assistant in the office of Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa). A native of Richmond, Va., Sugarman received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Iowa in 1999.

Also brought on board as legislative assistant to the Senator is Lindsey Brill, a native of Columbia, S.C. Brill has been in the office since 2003, when she came on as Chafee’s legislative assistant for health care.

The 29-year-old received a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1996 and graduated from the South Carolina School of Law in 1999. Before working for Chafee, Brill served as counsel and legislative assistant for health care, education and the judiciary for Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (R-N.C.).

William Ralph, 24, was hired in March to serve as legislative correspondent and legislative coordinator. Before coming to Washington, Ralph graduated from Yale in 2002 with a degree in history and spent a year in Colorado as a ski instructor. Ralph hails from Radnor, Pa.

Anna Krieger, 23, has been promoted from staff assistant to legislative correspondent. Originally from Barrington, R.I., Krieger graduated from Haverford College in 2002 with a degree in philosophy.

Matt Endreny, 26, has also been promoted from staff assistant to legislative correspondent. Hailing from Providence, R.I., Endreny received a degree in history from Boston College in 2001.

Replacing Krieger and Endreny as staff assistants in Chafee’s office are Katherine Marusin and Christopher Spina.

Marusin, 24, graduated from the University of Granville in Ohio, where she majored in history. She is a native of Great Falls, Va. Her new responsibilities include handling constituent services and leading tours of the White House.

Spina, 23, is a native of Smithfield, R.I. Prior to being hired by the Senator, Spina served as an intern in the office. His responsibilities will include writing press releases, giving tours of the Capitol and handling constituent services.