Tester Taps Former DSCC Aide as New Chief of Staff
Updated: 3:43 p.m.Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) has tapped Tom Lopach, a former finance director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, to serve as his new chief of staff.Lopach, who holds a post at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, replaces outgoing chief of staff Stephanie Schriock. Schriock was named president of EMILY’s List last week. Lopach worked as finance director at the DSCC from 2007 to 2009 under then-Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and formerly served as a legislative aide and campaign finance director for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). “Tom is a Montanan who brings a great deal of experience and know-how to my office, and he’s a dedicated public servant who knows and understands our state and the challenges we face,— Tester said in a release. “Tom’s a smart guy with an impressive record of working hard in the Senate and in Montana.—Lopach will oversee Tester’s 42-member staff in Montana and Washington. Tester also announced a new press team last week after communications director Patrick Devlin left to become deputy chief of staff for Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.). Aaron Murphy, who served as Tester’s press secretary, was named communications director, and Andrea Helling became press secretary.