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Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus Fills Senior Staff Positions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04), released the following statement announcing several senior staff roles in the Congressional Western Caucus and his official office:

For Immediate Release

Date: December 16, 2016

Contact: Steven D. Smith

Steven.Smith@mail.house.gov

 Today, Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04), released the following statement announcing several senior staff roles in the Congressional Western Caucus and his official office: 

“President Reagan once said, ‘Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out.’ I couldn’t be more proud of the team we have put together to lead and deliver on Western priorities. We have high expectations and will hit the ground running. Rest assured, the Congressional Western Caucus will be a force in the 115th Congress.”

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Jeff Small will lead the Congressional Western Caucus and serve as its Executive Director. He has served as Legislative Director in Chairman Gosar’s personal office and handled his Natural Resources Committee portfolio for the past three years. Jeff previously worked for several other Western Caucus Members including caucus Vice-Chairman Scott Tipton and caucus members Ken Buck and Mike Coffman. Jeff played college football and graduated cum laude from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He was born and raised in Lakewood, Colorado where he grew up hunting and fishing. Jeff and his wife Kristie attend St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill. They are expecting their first child in January.

Kelly Roberson will join the Congressional Western Caucus in the 115th Congress as Policy Analyst and Press Secretary. Formerly a part of caucus member Congressman David Schweikert’s office, she managed the energy, environment and natural resources portfolio as the Congressman’s Policy Advisor for the past several years. A native of Scottsdale, Arizona she grew up witnessing firsthand the beauty and amazing resources our federal lands offer. Kelly graduated summa cum laude from the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University with a degree in Spanish Linguistics and International Business and Management. She is the President of the State Society of Arizona.

Tom Van Flein, Chairman Gosar’s Chief of Staff, will assume the role of General Counsel for the Congressional Western Caucus. A graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, where he studied mineral law and water rights, he is an avid user of federal lands and the great outdoors in general. He will continue to serve as Chairman Gosar’s Chief of Staff and Chief Legal Counsel in his personal office. 

Leslie Foti will serve as the Financial Advisor for the Congressional Western Caucus. She will continue to serve as the Director of Scheduling & Administration in the Chairman’s personal office, a position she has held for nearly 5 years.  Mrs. Foti is also the Executive Director for Arizona Congressional Chiefs of Staff Organization.  A citrus grower and 7th generation Floridian, Leslie attended Florida Southern College where she obtained a degree in Political Science and a minor in History.  Leslie and her husband Anthony are proud parents to two wonderful boys, Grant and Phillip.

Trevor Pearson has been promoted to serve as Chairman Gosar’s new Legislative Director in his personal office. Trevor previously served as the Chairmans’s Senior Legislative Assistant, managing his Oversight and Government Reform Committee and Interior Subcommittee portfolio. He has also managed healthcare, defense, transportation and infrastructure and other legislative issues. He graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science-Foreign Affairs. Trevor attended graduate school in Saint Petersburg, Russia where he earned a master’s degree in Russian and Eurasian Studies with an emphasis in energy security from European University at Saint Petersburg. Trevor is a 6th generation Arizonan and grew up near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.