Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.) has hired Thaddeus Hoffmeister as his legislative director.

Prior to joining Filner’s office, Hoffmeister worked for D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) as a legislative assistant. He is also a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves.

A native of San Diego, Hoffmeister received a bachelor’s from Morgan State University in 1995 and a law degree from Northeastern University’s School of Law. In 2002 he received an advanced law degree from Georgetown University.

Hoffmeister is not the only member of his family working on the Hill; his wife serves as legislative counsel to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Neb.). “Having your spouse work in the other body is awesome,” Hoffmeister says. “When I tell her I have to work until 10 to get a post office bill passed, she doesn’t immediately think I am making up another excuse to stay at ‘happy hour’ a little longer.”

Kuhl Brings in Familiar Faces. Rep.-elect Randy Kuhl (R-N.Y.) has brought on board two key staffers from his district’s previous administration to get his office started.

Brian Fitzpatrick has been hired as Kuhl’s chief of staff. Fitzpatrick served in several capacities in Rep. Amo Houghton’s (R-N.Y.) office, first as press secretary, then district director, and finally chief of staff. Kuhl replaces Houghton as the Representative of New York’s 29th district.

After leaving Houghton’s office in 1999, Fitzpatrick went to work in the private sector for Northrop Grumman. The 42-year-old graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1985 with a bachelor’s in communications. He hails from Cuba, N.Y.

Bob Van Wicklin, 34, has been hired as deputy chief of staff for Kuhl’s Washington, D.C., office. Another longtime Houghton staffer, Van Wicklin first joined the retiring Member’s office in 1991 as an intern and worked his way up the ladder. He served as Houghton’s final chief of staff.

Van Wicklin graduated from Houghton College, in his hometown of Houghton, N.Y., with a bachelor’s in international relations and political science in 1992. Earlier this month he received a master’s in national security from the Naval War College. In addition to assisting Fitzpatrick with management of the office, Van Wicklin will serve as Kuhl’s spokesman and will oversee the legislative and communications program.

Reid Adds to Staff. [IMGCAP(1)]Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), recently chosen by his party to replace Sen. Tom Daschle (D-N.D.) as Minority Leader, has made two additions to his office.

Kevin Kayes, previously Democratic staff director for the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, will come on board as chief counsel. His duties will include helping guide the Senator on legislation and overseeing interoffice and committee outreach. In addition to his work on the Commerce Committee, Kayes spent 13 years as Assistant Parliamentarian in the Senate.

Kayes attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., and received a bachelor’s in political science and sociology in 1978. He went on to receive his law degree from DePaul College of Law in 1985.

Randy DeValk comes on board as senior policy adviser to the Senator. Currently, DeValk works for the man Reid is succeeding. DeValk handles a wide range of issues for Daschle, including appropriations, budget, foreign policy and intelligence. Before joining Daschle’s office, DeValk worked for the Senate Budget Committee.