Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) has made a number of changes in his Washington, D.C., office.

John Doty has been promoted to director of the Washington office. He takes over for Brett Heimov, who is leaving Nadler’s office to work for the Dutko group. A 10-year veteran of the Nadler office, Doty started as an intern and worked his way up the ranks. He served as a legislative correspondent, legislative assistant and legislative director before his promotion to director of the office.

Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., the 33-year-old received a bachelor’s degree in history from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1993.

Replacing Doty as legislative director is Lisette Morton, 28. Morton is another longtime Nadler staffer, having served with the New York Congressman since 2000. Before accepting this promotion, she served as a senior legislative assistant, handling issues involving transportation and infrastructure, the environment, energy, labor, and economic development for the Representative.

Prior to joining Nadler’s staff, Morton was legislative assistant to then-Rep. Bruce Vento (D-Minn.). She handled issues involving the environment, energy, agriculture, American Indians and animal rights for Vento.

Morton did her undergraduate work at the University of California at Los Angeles, receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. She also has a master’s degree in legislative affairs from George Washington University.

Daniel Penchina, 26, has been promoted to legislative assistant. For the past two years, he has served the Representative as a staff assistant, systems administrator and legislative aide.

Before coming on with Nadler, Penchina worked for the Montel Williams MS Foundation for a year, and

in Rep. Nita Lowey’s (D-N.Y.) office as a staff assistant. A native of New York City, Penchina graduated from New York University’s film school in December 2000.

Lelaine Valdez, 25, was hired as Nadler’s legislative correspondent. Prior to joining Nadler’s staff, Valdez worked for the Agriculture Department as a legislative analyst, for the European-American Business Council as external relations manager and for the Credit Union National Association as a political assistant.

Valdez is a native of Pensacola, Fla. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and George Washington University in 2004 with a master’s degree in political management.

Nadler’s new staff assistant/systems administrator is Michael Hurlbut. Previously serving as an intern in the office during the summer of 2002, Hurlbut worked for the 2004 Democratic National Convention as the assistant to the director of convention planning. During the convention, he was part of the team that rotated press credentials.

Hurlbut, 23, graduated from Cornell University in the spring of 2003 with a degree in industrial and labor relations. In addition to interning with Nadler, Hurlbut interned with Sen. Joe Lieberman’s (D-Conn.) presidential campaign in Manchester, N.H.