Staff Is Key When Entering House

WASHINGTON — You’re a freshman congressman with only trace levels of cynicism. The campaign promises you made, probably something about “change,” still seem utterly reasonable. You’re itching to get things done. You need to know everything--right away. Then, wham, you run headlong into the web of rules, procedures and traditions that bind up the House of Representatives like a Christmas goose.

That’s why choosing key staff members is one of the most critical decisions new members make. Finding the right mix of experience, loyalty and karma is critical to getting off to a smooth start.

“When the freshmen first get here, they are at the mercy of a system that shows no quarter,” said the veteran chief of staff for a California congressman.

Redistricting, retirements and good campaigning sent 17 new California congressmen here, and all are trying to impose their personal order on the complexities of running a congressional office. There is no perfect way to do it.

Members are free to structure and staff their offices any way they see fit--as long as the fundamental constituent and legislative work gets done.

Rep. Steve Horn (R-Long Beach) took a traditional approach. “I was up here 5 1/2 half years (as administrative assistant to a senator) and one thing I learned is that experience means a lot. I wanted to hire people who could boil down the information to its essence, not just send along a lot of gibberish to the boss.”

Horn hired Jim Dykstra as his administrative aide, usually the title of the most senior adviser. Dykstra, with an impressive resume showing tours with Sen. William S. Cohen (R-Maine), the Defense Department and former Wisconsin Rep. William Steiger, brought the deep Washington knowledge that many members find comforting.

By contrast, there’s the vaguely holistic approach of Rep. Dan Hamburg (D-Ukiah). “He’s very inclusive and likes to discuss issues in a free and open setting,” said Meg O’Donnell, one of three top aides. Precise titles and rigid job descriptions are, in a Northern California way, avoided in favor of an office ethic emphasizing teamwork. “The main thing is that we all can work together with Dan and (wife) Carrie,” who will be “very active” in the decision-making process, said O’Donnell.

All members get the same $557,400 to spend on staff salaries, but they can allocate that money as they choose, a condition that allows for considerable variation among staff salaries.

In general, those with the fatter resumes cost more. The energetic neophytes can be had for less. Horn’s press secretary, Alexandra Pratt, who falls into the energetic category, will make $20,000 this year. Horn’s administrative assistant, Dykstra, will pull down $99,500.

In Rep. Richard W. Pombo’s office, the emphasis is on political harmony.

“This staff reflects Congressman Pombo’s views,” said Mike Hardiman, press secretary for the Tracy Republican. “We have a conservative staff. Our administrative assistant, Matt Miller (at $65,000 a year), used to work as a policy analyst for the (conservative think tank) Heritage Foundation. It’s important to have a similar outlook but it’s not like a litmus test or anything.”

For Rep. Walter R. Tucker III (D-Compton), “first and foremost . . . it’s loyalty and confidence,” according to a statement passed along by his press secretary, Kim Shearing. “The employee must be extremely loyal to me and hold matters of my office in extreme confidence.”

Marcus Mason, Tucker’s top aide, had no Washington background but did run Tucker’s successful California campaign that strolled away with 86% of the vote. Such successful campaign efforts are sometimes rewarded with top jobs in Washington, although many members try to strike a balance between deserving campaigners and those with more Washington experience.

With such an overwhelming victory, Tucker can afford to take some chances on hiring less experienced aides. “He wanted to give some younger guys a chance,” said Mason, who declined to divulge his salary even though eventually it will be a matter of public record.

Jane Harman, the Democrat from Marina del Rey, won with 49% of the vote and could face a tough reelection fight from a moderate Republican.

Harman worked as chief counsel for former California Sen. John Tunney’s judiciary subcommittee and knows the importance of sharp, able assistants. “My philosophy is the smarter the staff, the smarter the member.” Bill Black, whose office experience with Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and computer wonkishness caught Harman’s eye, got the administrative assistant’s job, at $85,000 a year.

Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) thought she was off to a good start by hiring Bill Andresen, former Congressman Mel Levine’s longtime administrative assistant. But an offer in late January to join the staff of Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) was too good for Andresen to pass up. More money, more prestige and a commodity sorely lacking in freshman offices. “The senator is very close to the President,” Andresen said.