Vice Chair welcomes new legislative director, broadens member services and outreach program 

MAY 20, 2019, Washington, D.C.- Today, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus Congresswoman Katherine Clark (MA-5) announced a number of new staff hires in both her personal and Democratic Caucus offices in Washington, DC. She has infused her legislative team with policy experts who offer a variety of hill, advocacy, and executive experiences. To support her leadership role in the Democratic Caucus, Vice Chair Clark has brought on a team to facilitate member outreach and support services on behalf of the entire House Democratic Caucus.

“I’m incredibly proud to welcome the newest members of Team Clark who bring a breadth of personal and professional experience to my work on behalf of Massachusetts families and the entire Democratic Caucus,” said Vice Chair Clark. “House Democrats are making a real difference for the people by lowering health care costs, raising wages, protecting the right to vote, rebuilding our infrastructure, and combating climate change. This team will elevate that work.”

DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS OFFICE:

Xenia Ruiz is Director of Outreach for the Vice Chair team. She was most recently Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) and previously served with Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Rep. Pete Gallego (D-TX). She is the founder of the Dreamers Congressional Staff Association.

 
Diana Rudd is the Director of Member Services and Counsel to Vice Chair Katherine Clark. Diana has served on Team Clark for three years, previously as the Legislative Counsel in the Vice Chair’s personal office. Before joining Rep. Clark, Diana was a Legal Fellow at the Energy and Commerce Committee and served former Chairman John Larson at the Democratic Caucus. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the University of Texas School of Law.
 
Wendy Hamilton serves as Outreach Associate for Vice Chair Clark. She previously worked with The Internet and Television Association, Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) and Kathy Castor (D-FL). A graduate of the University of South Florida, she was raised in a military family with roots in Tampa, FL, Panama City, Panama and Kalama, WA. She is a former officer and remains active in the Congressional Black Associates.
 
MEMBER OFFICE:
Steve Thornton recently began serving as Vice Chair Clark’s Legislative Director after serving on the legislative team since 2014, spearheading the Congresswoman’s groundbreaking work on online harassment and violence against women. He began working on Capitol Hill in 2011 in the office of Congresswoman Betty Sutton. Steve holds a J.D. from Tulane Law School and a B.A. from The George Washington University.
Yvonne Hsu is the Senior Advisor to Vice Chair Clark, handling Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations for her personal office and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) outreach for the Democratic Caucus. She previously worked for Rep. Adam Schiff (CA) and served as an Obama appointee at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Danielle Fulfs joins Team Clark as a Senior Legislative Assistant working on labor and workers’ rights, foreign policy, government reform, and environmental issues. Previously, she served as a Legislative Assistant for Representative Pramila Jayapal and before coming to Washington, D.C., managed a statewide non-profit in Washington State working on criminal justice reform. Danielle received her MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago.
Frannie Einterz is the new Legislative Assistant handling Health and Education for Representative Clark. Prior to joining the office, she worked in the office of Representative Doris Matsui as a Congressional Fellow on Women and Public Policy with the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute. She has an M.S. in Community Development from the University of California, Davis.
Chai Karve joins the staff as the Constituent and Digital Outreach Coordinator. He oversees the constituent mail program and supports the work of the Communications Department. Previously, he worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) during the 2018 midterms and interned for Speaker Pelosi. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California.

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