Ok, I'll just take these in order.
I was there from 1998-2001 (left just about a month before 9/11 and was there right at 3 yrs.)

Now, I'm involved w/ local politics and am working on getting picked up by another official office here in the State. It definitely did help me in that I have a pretty large network because of it and am now one of those guys who can usually "make a call or two" and either find something out or get something done.

Some Senators definitely did have reputations, some good and some bad.

My boss did have a private office in the Capitol. They are referred to as "hideaways." I knew where my boss's was, but never actually went there myself. They are usually just one fairly small room for them to get away to if they don't feel like coming back to their official office between votes, or if they want to get away. They are reserved for fairly senior members. Funny story about the hideaway: Apparently during the Anthrax scares following 9/11 they were evacuated from the building and the senior staff of 7-8 people (junior staff was sent home) all crammed into the 1 room hideaway. While they were in there, one of the staffers brought in some powdered donuts, apparently not thinking about it. I guess the powder on the carpet caused another minor stir when the cleaning people came through that night, but it was quickly discovered to be sugar.

I had climbed as high as I could go in that office and the people above me weren't leaving anytime soon. I tried to make a lateral move to another office, either on the Senate or House side, but was offered a private sector job back home before anything materialized. Because of the low pay on the Hill and taking into account the high standard of living in DC, I would make the equivilent of over 3x what I was making if I moved home. Coupled with the opportunity to get involved in local politics, it was a no brainer.

Okay you mentioned that senate staff checks the mail and compiles stats based on what they read. Does the senator ever recieve the actual letter itself or even a post-anthrax facsimile thereof? Are there ever letters important enough that the senator is given the verbatim text? Excluding personal/private mail of course.

Good for you. Local politics are important and often overlooked in the media frenzy that surrounds Washington; or any capital city for that matter.


Mr Mephisto

Could you describe the path you took to become a Hill staffer? Not just how you got the specific job, but what things did you do that led up to you being able to get it?

Edit: Oops--already been there.

It varies by the member. Some Senators rarely see any constituent letters. Some ask to see a certain number per week to personally respond to. Usually the only letters that make it to the Senators themselves are from other dignitaries or business/industry leaders. It's not that they don't want to read the actual words of their constituents, it's just a matter of time management. Most Senators talk to constituents at personal appearances in their home states, so they stay connected and in touch. They just don't have time to read the mail.

I'm one of the lucky few that was in the right place at the right time. I didn't have any close friends or relatives in the Senator's office. To prepare myself for the line of work, though, I minored in political science in college. I also volunteered on a few different campaigns during high school and college. That gave me some specific insight into politics and relevant experience that I could put on my resume. I would highly recommend volunteering either on campaigns or in offices. If you happen to volunteer in the same geographic area as the member you are trying to get in with, you will make valuable contacts that can help you get ahead. Unfortunately for me, the majority of my volunteer work was in another state, so my contacts weren't as valuable initially.

Excellent first-person-account thread, Sen.
Thanks for the good inside info...

Thanks for all your answers Sen, very interesting thread.

No problem at all. It's always fulfilling to be able to add insight and contribute something unique. Thanks for the encouragement.