STAFFER

This is a compilation episode of all the stories our guests have shared about their mothers and how they raised them into being successful staffers. Here is to all the mothers out there on this Mother's Day.

These stories were shared on the STAFFER Hotline. To share your story, call the number 1-888-416-2132.

Casey Aden-Wansbury was recently appointed VP of Policy and Government Affairs for Instacart, where she leads the company’s growing public policy team on deepening relationships and collaboration with policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels across North America. Casey has also worked as the Director of Federal Affairs for Airbnb after spending two decades in Washington working in federal government, campaigns, and advocacy, most recently as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Al Franken.

Nancy-Ann DeParle served as the Director of White House Office of Health Reform from 2009-2011 and spearheaded the effort to enact the Affordable Care Act for President Obama. In this episode she shares her experiences working in government and politics, how she got her start, and gives advice to others working to create positive change.

These stories were shared on the STAFFER Hotline. To share your story, call the number 1-888-416-2132.

Jaime Harrison is the new Chairman of the DNC and former staffer who got his start working for legendary South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn. In 2018, he co-authored a book about staffers called “Climbing the Hill: How to Build a Career in Politics and Make a Difference”. Jaime ran for a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in 2020 and is said to represent the future of the Democratic Party.

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Chris Lu has served in all three branches of the government, including as the Deputy Secretary of Labor in the Obama Administration. He shares stories about getting his start in government and what it was like being Chief Operating Officer of a 17,000 employee agency.

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Felda Looper became the first female page in 1973 working for Democratic Whip Carl Albert (OK). Hear how she blazed the trail for young women to work on the Hill and what it was like working in Washington.

Scott Fairchild, Executive Director of the DSCC, catches up with Jim about his career in politics. They discuss how he got into the industry, navigating the present day partisanship, and shares advice for success as a staffer. 

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Scott Fairchild grew up in Long Island, NY and earned a Bachelor’s degree in government and history from Wesleyan University in 2000. After graduation, in 2002, he worked on Matt Dunne’s campaign for Vermont State Senate, and during John Kerry’s 2004 run for president, Scott worked in the field offices in New Hampshire and Toledo, OH.

In 2005, Scott Fairchild worked on Tim Kaine’s campaign for governor of Virginia, and in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles, Scott served as Campaign Manager for Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), and subsequently served as his Chief of Staff in Congress. This victory of Murphy in 2006 in a conservative-leaning district helped Democrats take control of the House in 2006. Scott is credited with leading a skilled get-out-the-vote effort that put Murphy over the top to win the seat. He eventually took a leave of absence from Murphy’s office to run Bill Foster’s campaign for Congress in the Illinois special election in 2008.

From November 2010 until election day, he managed Rahm Emanuel’s successful Chicago Mayoral campaign in 2011 and beginning in June 2011, he served as the National Campaigns Director for the League of Conservation Voters. He led the efforts for the victory of Catherine Cortez Masto’s (D-NV) 2016 Senate race as her campaign manager, and subsequently served for two years as her Chief of Staff, and ahead of the 2020 election cycle, Scott was named Executive Director of the DSCC by then-Chairwoman and him former boss Sen. Cortez Masto.

Scott is now the former Executive Director of the DSCC and is returning to his role as Sen. Cortez Masto’s Chief of Staff.

In this two part episode of STAFFER, we hear from historian and author Tevi Troy who got his start in politics as a staffer, working in Congress and the White House. Jim and Tevi discuss his latest book, Fight House: Rivalries in the White House from Truman to Trump. Additionally, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we get to meet Jim’s better half, Katie Papa, a 17-year veteran of the House of Representatives. 

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