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In Cantorland, Lots of Staff Moves | Hill Climbers

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced several staff moves Monday.

The Virginia Republican named Katie Patru to be his director of member services. The position is a familiar one for Patru. She most recently served in the same position for the House Republican Conference.

“An experienced Member services and special events professional, she has longtime working relationships with hundreds of GOP Chiefs of Staff, schedulers, communicators and district staff,” read a statement from Cantor’s office.

Patru, who is a member of Roll Call’s Fabulous 50 list of leading Capitol Hill staffers, has served five consecutive House Republican Conference chairmen since 2005. She is a 2002 graduate of Wingate University in North Carolina.

Cantor also announced he was elevating Connor Walsh, his current deputy director of digital media, to director of digital media for the majority leader. Walsh joined Cantor’s office in June 2012 and is a 2010 graduate of George Washington University.

Taking Walsh’s deputy position is Nick Marcelli, who comes from the National Republican Congressional Committee, where he most recently served as the digital press secretary. Marcelli is a 2011 graduate of American University.

Also joining Cantor’s office is Gena Villari, who will serve as deputy press secretary. Villari comes from fellow Virginia Republican Robert Hurt’s office, where she was communications director.

“While in Hurt’s office, Gena served as the official spokesperson for the office, directed website redesign, and developed strategy for both digital and traditional communications,” the statement said.

Villari is a 2008 graduate of Furman University in South Carolina.

Also joining the Cantor communications shop is John Stapleton, who will serve as a speechwriter. Stapleton, who has actually served in Cantor’s office since March, most recently worked on the Romney/Ryan 2012 presidential campaign and has worked a number of GOP political campaigns. He has also written for a number of publications, including Examiner.com.

Stapleton graduated from American University in 2005 and got his master’s degree in political science in 2009.

Cantor also announced that Tim Pataki will become a floor assistant. Pataki comes from the whip office of Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., where he served as the special assistant to the chief deputy whip.

“Tim is a graduate of The Ohio State University,” the statement said, making known on which side of the Ohio State definite article/indefinite article debate the majority leader’s office comes down on.

Cantor also announced the hire of two staff assistants: Molly Edwards and Lawson Kluttz. Both are 2012 graduates of the University of North Carolina.

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