After serving as staff assistant to Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) at his district office in Overland Park, Kan., Glen Sears is not in Kansas anymore.

No, it wasn’t a tornado that swept him away, but a call from Moore’s Washington, D.C., office, where he will now serve as an executive assistant, responsible for scheduling meetings between the Congressman and his constituents. [IMGCAP(1)]

Moore said he’s happy about Sears’ relocation to the nation’s capital. “My staff is made up of very talented and dedicated people,” Moore said. “I am grateful that Glen has accepted this new responsibility and will continue his service to the people of Kansas.”

Sears said “it’s an honor to work with Congressman Moore and the entire Moore team. I’m excited about taking on these new responsibilities and look forward to continuing my work as a part of the D.C. staff.”

A native of Olathe, Kan., Sears graduated from the University of Kansas in 2003 with degrees in political science and economics.

Hagel Staffer Returns. Tom Janssen, who stepped down as state director for Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) in the fall of 2003, will return to Hagel’s staff as deputy chief of staff. In his new role, operating out of Hagel’s district office in Omaha,

Neb., Janssen will be responsible for managing all policy and administrative issues.

Before relinquishing his state director title, Janssen had been a key player on Hagel’s team since 1996, when he served as organizational director for Hagel’s Senate campaign. Janssen then served as state director from 1997 to 2003, and in 2002 he was the campaign manager for Hagel’s re-election bid. During his two-year hiatus, Janssen was director of corporate development for the Kiewit Corp. in Omaha.

A native of Crofton, Neb., Janssen is also an Air Force veteran who served in the Persian Gulf War in 2001.

“Tom is a trusted adviser who has been with me since I first ran for the Senate,” Hagel said. “One of the most important responsibilities I have as a Senator is to provide constituent services to Nebraskans. Tom brings a deep base of leadership, experience and judgment to the job of connecting Nebraskans with their government.”

“I believe in what Sen. Hagel and his staff are doing for Nebraska and America,” Janssen said. “He has an unwavering integrity and a true honesty that is hard to find in politics. I missed being a part of his team. I’m honored to be back serving Sen. Hagel and Nebraska.”

In another staff change for Hagel’s office, the state director who replaced Janssen in 2003, Bill Protexter, announced his intention to step down earlier this month. Protexter aims to start his own government affairs consulting business in Omaha.

“I am grateful for Bill Protexter’s two years of service and proud of the work we did together,” Hagel said. “Bill is a respected public servant and a friend. I wish him well in his upcoming endeavors and look forward to working with him in the future.”

“Working for Nebraska on behalf of Sen. Hagel was very rewarding,” Protexter said. “It was an honor to bring the services and assistance of Sen. Hagel’s Nebraska offices to countless citizens over the past two years.”