Climbers

A Peaceful Endeavor. Rep. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) bids farewell to his chief of staff, Marie Wheat, who moves to the Peace Corps to be director of Congressional relations.

Wheat was appointed to the post by President Bush.

The Mauldin, S.C., native made her Capitol Hill debut in 1993 as budget analyst for then-Rep. John Kasich (R-Ohio).

She went on to spend three years as legislative director to then-Rep. Steve Largent (R-Okla.) before moving across the Capitol in 1998 to serve as staff director of the Senate Governmental Affairs subcommittee on oversight of government management, restructuring and the District of Columbia under Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.).

Wheat became chief of staff in the Palmetto State lawmaker’s office in 1999.

Before coming to the Hill, Wheat worked for both the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs at Clemson University and Citizens for a Sound Economy.

Wheat, a 1991 alumna of Clemson University, has a bachelor’s in economics and political science.

Taking the helm as chief of staff is Matt Hoskins, who became legislative director earlier this year.

Hoskins has steadily moved through the ranks in DeMint’s office since joining the staff in 1999 as a legislative assistant and systems administrator. He advanced to senior legislative assistant in 2001.

The Visalia, Calif., native is a 1997 graduate of the Golden State’s Westmont College. He has a bachelor’s in economics.

Hitting the Jackpot. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) has added five new staffers to his office.

Stepping in as legislative assistant is Glendale, Ariz., native Shelly Camacho.

Camacho, 24, spent the past two years in Sen. Orrin Hatch’s (R-Utah) office, where she served as legislative assistant and legislative correspondent.

She will work on energy and natural resources issues in her new post.

A 2000 alumna of Brigham Young University, Camacho has a bachelor’s in American studies. She is currently working toward her master’s in legislative affairs from George Washington University.

Military veteran Brett Rota is the office’s new military legislative assistant.

Rota, 31, served a combined total of nine years in the Army and Air Force as a Blackhawk and H-60 “Pavehawk” helicopter pilot. He also was a platoon leader and executive officer.

The Las Vegas, Nev., native earned his bachelor’s in political science from theUniversity of California at Santa Barbara in 1993.

In the fall, Rota will pursue his master’s in business administration from Harvard University.

Another Las Vegas native joining the legislative staff is Mike McCarlie, who will be assistant to the legislative director and a legislative correspondent.

He is a familiar face in the office after completing an internship last summer.

McCarlie, 24, earned his bachelor’s in economics from Brigham Young University this spring.

Bountiful, Utah, native Cody Johnson comes on board as special assistant to the Silver State Senator.

Previously, Johnson served as district manager for the Charlottesville, Va.-based NeighborhoodFind.com.

Johnson, 28, received his degree in finance from the University of Utah in 1999.

Rounding out the new additions is Janna Austin, who is staff assistant.

Austin, 23, is a member of BYU’s class of 2001. The Las Vegas native has a bachelor’s in history and French studies.

Switching Sides. After serving two and a half years in the office of Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), Michelle Burks-Rollins has jumped to Republican Sen. Arlen Specter’s (Pa.) staff.

Burks-Rollins will be a legislative assistant for health care issues in the Keystone State lawmaker’s office.

During her stint on Hastings’ staff, Burks-Rollins held the titles of press aide, legislative assistant and scheduler.

She received her bachelor’s from the University of Central Arkansas and went on to earn her law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law.

Burks-Rollins takes the place of Alli DeKosky, who had served in the post for five years and leaves the office to become a private consultant.