Patrick Devlin is leaving his job with one former farmer to work for another.

[IMGCAP(1)]That’s because Devlin, who spent 11 years working in the office of Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.), chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, has taken a new job with Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Both lawmakers farmed before they ran for office.

“One thing I’ve learned is that farmers are just very kind and down-to-earth people,” Devlin said. “It’s a very easy fit for me.”

Devlin, 41, is Tester’s new communications director.

He has also worked in the offices of former Rep. Jim Chapman (D-Texas) and former Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wis.) while Aspin served as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. And Devlin has served Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.).

“I’ve been lucky to have a great variety of bosses and great bosses at every stage of my career,” Devlin said.

He started college at Carroll College in Helena, Mont., but transferred to Virginia Tech, graduating in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

[IMGCAP(2)]Devlin is a proud father of two; his oldest child is in first grade. In his spare time, he enjoys saltwater fishing and growing organic vegetables in his garden.

“With 11 years under his belt working for another farmer in Congress, Pat understands that rural America is full of honest, hard-working folks who want their leaders to do right by working families,” Tester said.

Hip-Hopping to Matsui’s Office. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) has two Climbers in her office. Erin Robbins is the Congresswoman’s new scheduler and executive assistant, and Robbins’ new responsibilities are, in her words, “countless.”

Robbins, 30, is from San Francisco and has a bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

She has experience at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, an agency managing the state’s $3 billion stem-cell research project. She also worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and helped to coordinate the East Bay Walk to Cure Diabetes, which raised more than $1 million for research.

Robbins also once served as the assistant producer on “Debate Team.” This exciting documentary “takes you into the strange and exciting world of competitive college debate,” she said.

Climbers asked Robbins what her most embarrassing moment on the Hill has been to date. She had an optimistic answer: “This is only my second day. I’m sure I’ll have a bucketful by next week.”

At least Robbins won’t be alone as a newbie.

Gabe Horwitz is Matsui’s new legislative director.

“I toss the BS flag that sits on my desk as needed,” he said of his new position.

Horwitz, 28, earned a bachelor’s degree in 2001 from Dartmouth College, and is from Lincolnwood, Ill.

“Go Cubs. Boo White Sox,” Horwitz told Climbers in an e-mail.

His past experience includes a job at the marketing firm Dewey Square Group. He also has worked for Reps. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) and Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.)

His goal is to see “Dartmouth’s mascot, Keggy the Keg, cheer the team on at the Rose Bowl.”

Horwitz starts his mornings with a heavy dose of hip-hop music videos.

Work it!

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