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Two Chiefs for Hastings

A man of many roles, Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) has recently appointed two new chiefs of staff. Sort of. [IMGCAP(1)]

Fred Turner, who has served as Hastings’ chief of staff since 2000, is moving offices but not leaving Hastings’ team. Turner, 35, is now the chief of staff of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, an organization of which Hastings was recently appointed as chairman.

Turner wrote in an e-mail that in his new role he will be responsible for “oversight of an independent government agency with 18 staff and a budget of more than $2.3 million.” He continues by noting that he will be working “with government officials and NGOs from more than 50 countries spanning the geographic area between Vancouver and Vladivostok.” Vladi-where?

Prior to starting as Hastings’ chief of staff, Turner worked for a short period in 1999 as legislative director for then-Rep. Karen McCarthy (D-Mo.). Before that, he was a legislative assistant for Hastings from 1995 to 1998.

He also has served as an adjunct professor of government at American University since 2001.

Turner, who wrote in an e-mail that he once biked from Vancouver, Canada to San Francisco, earned his undergraduate degree in political science from American in 1993. The South Orange, N.J., native earned a master’s degree in political science from the institution in 1995.

Replacing Turner as Hastings’ personal chief of staff will be former longtime Hastings staffer David Goldenberg, 28. Prior to becoming Turner’s successor, Goldenberg was the deputy executive director for the National Jewish Democratic Council since June 2006. Before that, he worked as a legislative assistant, senior legislative assistant and ultimately legislative director for Hastings from 2001 to 2006. He started his career on Capitol Hill as staff assistant to Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) in early 2001.

Off the Hill, Goldenberg worked for a Michigan state Senator and was involved in campaigns in Florida, Michigan and the District of Columbia.

Tough skinned, Goldenberg wrote in an e-mail that he is “a die-hard Detroit sports fan” and that he “had no problem cheering for the Pistons last year against the Miami Heat [in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals] — even amongst the Florida delegation’s sea of Miami Heat Mardi Gras beads.”

While Goldenberg’s allegiance to Detroit’s sports franchises may not necessarily jibe with most of Hastings’ constituents, his devotion to his favorite hobby may placate many of the South Floridians.

“If you are looking for me on the weekend,” Goldenberg wrote, “the odds are that I’m on the golf course.”

The Huntington Woods, Mich., native earned his bachelor’s degree in international studies from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 2000. He hopes to finish a master’s degree in international commerce and policy at George Mason University this year.

Rising Through Rogers’ Ranks. If you see Andy Keiser, 28, on your way to pick up lunch at Cannon Carry-out, give him a pat on the back. The longtime staffer for Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) has recently been promoted to chief of staff in the office.

“Andy is well-respected, experienced and dedicated to the people of the 8th district,” Rogers said in a statement. “We have worked together for most of the past 10 years and I know that Andy understands and shares my beliefs in the value of public service. His background and knowledge of Michigan make him a great asset for the citizens we both continue to serve.”

Prior to getting the big bump up, Keiser had served as legislative assistant and legislative director for Rogers since 2001. Before that, he worked for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan from 1999 to 2000.

From Marcellus, Mich., Keiser graduated from James Madison College at Michigan State University with a degree in political science in 1997. He earned a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in 2005.

Feeney’s Farewell. Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) recently said goodbye to Tonnie Wybensinger, 28, who served as both his legislative director and deputy chief of staff.

Wybensinger, who started in Feeney’s office back in 2004 as a financial services legislative assistant, is now director in the corporate client group at Nasdaq. Prior to joining Feeney’s office, she worked for then-Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) as a legislative correspondent and a legislative assistant.

A native of New London, Ohio, Wybensinger earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics from Ohio State University in 2000.

Replacing Wybensinger as legislative director in the office is Erin Kanoy, 30. Kanoy previously worked as the manager of government relations for the Independent Community Bankers of America since 2005. [IMGCAP(2)]

Prior to that, Kanoy worked as political action committee director and senior legislative analyst for KPMG from 2003 to 2005. In 2002, she worked as acting finance director for the California Republican Party, and in 2001 she worked as a Bush administration appointee at the Department of Health and Human Services. She also worked for President Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign.

A 1998 history graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, Kanoy is from San Clemente, Calif.

Team Diaz-Balart Updates. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) recently made some changes in his office, promoting three staffers and hiring a fourth.

Being promoted to chief of staff is Thomas Bean, 29. Previously, Bean worked as communications director in the office since April 2006 and press secretary since 2003.

Prior to joining Team Diaz-Balart, Bean worked as staff assistant and then legislative correspondent for Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), then a Member of the House, from 2002 to 2003.

From West Columbia, S.C., Bean graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1999 and earned a master’s degree in religion from Trinity International University in 2001.

Going from staff assistant to deputy press secretary is Adriana Pereira, 23, who has been with the office since May 2006.

Prior to joining the office, Pereira worked as a commission aide to the Miami-Dade County government in her hometown of Miami.

Pereira, who says that she first saw snow when she moved to the District last year, is a 2005 communications graduate of Florida International University. She is currently working toward a master’s degree in public administration from American University.

Also moving up in the office to become executive assistant is Kathleen Hennessey, 23. She formerly served as scheduler in the office.

Previously, Hennessey worked as an intern and then staff assistant in the executive department of the National Republican Congressional Committee from 2004 to 2005.

A 2004 political science and psychology graduate of The State University of New York at Buffalo, Hennessey is from Rochester, N.Y.

Finally, new to the office as a staff assistant is Justin Kimbler, 23.

Prior to accepting his new post, Kimbler was an intern for then-Rep. Anne Northup (R-Ky.) at the end of 2006. He also has interned for G.O. Ministries in the Dominican Republic during the summer of 2005 and worked as an events staff member for the Southeast Christian Church from 1999 to 2006, as an investigative assistant at the Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control from 2003 to 2004, and as an investigative assistant for the Jefferson County Police Department from 2002 to 2003.

Kimbler wrote in an e-mail that he “still work[s] a few nights a week at a bookstore in Old Town Alexandria.”

A 2005 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Louisville, Kimbler wrote that he has a “goal of reading a biography of every Secretary of State.” He is from Louisville, Ky.

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