Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) recently announced the hiring of her key staffers.

Daniel McElhatton has been brought on board as chief of staff. McElhatton previously served as the deputy campaign manager for Schwartz’s Congressional campaign. He has also worked for the campaign of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and in his administration as special assistant for work force development at the state’s Labor and Industry Department.

A native of Philadelphia, McElhatton received a bachelor’s from Syracuse University in 1994 and a master’s of fine arts from Rutgers University in 2002.

Kate Winkler, 28, has been hired as Schwartz’s legislative director. Winkler previously worked for Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) as her appropriations associate. In that role, she advised Lowey on her work in the House Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Winkler hails from West Windsor, N.J., and received a bachelor’s in anthropology from the University of Rochester in the spring of 1998.

Julie Slavet comes on board as Schwartz’s district director. Slavet previously worked as executive vice president of the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. At the EMCCC, Slavet oversaw chamber outreach and

communications, and was responsible for the development of new initiatives.

Originally from Boston, Slavet received a bachelor’s in environmental studies from Smith College in 1979, and a master’s in public affairs from the University of Massachusetts at Boston in 1986.

Rachel Leed, 26, has been hired as Schwartz’s communications director; she previously worked on Schwartz’s campaign staff as press secretary. Before joining her campaign, Leed was an account executive with Spitfire Strategies.

A Lancaster, Pa., native, Leed graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s in communications in 2000. [IMGCAP(1)]

Cole Promotes Two. Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole (R) has promoted two staffers in his Washington, D.C., office.

Chris Caron, 34, has been promoted from senior policy adviser to legislative director. Caron has worked for Cole on military issues since April 2003, and has previously worked for Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.), Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa), Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) and then-Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage (R-Idaho).

Caron graduated from Catholic University with a bachelor’s in political science. He is a native of Madison, Conn.

Keegan Drake, 23, has been promoted from staff assistant to legislative correspondent. Drake was hired in July 2004, two months after graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s in history and letters. He calls Arlington, Texas home.