House Speaker-elect Ben Toma announced several changes to the House Majority Staff in preparation for the 56th Legislature. Toma is the Speaker-elect for the Arizona House of Representatives and serves Legislative District 27, which includes portions of Glendale, Peoria, and Phoenix.
“We’ve assembled an excellent Majority Staff team for the 56th Legislature that will carry on the tradition of providing trusted guidance and professionalism to our Republican Caucus Members and help them succeed in the sessions ahead,” said Speaker-elect Toma.
Kelsey Jahntz will rejoin the Majority Policy team to serve as the Senior Policy Advisor for the Appropriations Committee. Kelsey comes to the House from Horizon Strategies where she has recently served as its Legislative Director. She previously served as Senior Policy Advisor for the House Education Committee and brings extensive and valued experience to the team.
Linley Wilson has been hired as General Counsel. Linley comes to the House from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, where she served as a Deputy Solicitor General and the Chief Counsel of the Criminal Appeals Section. She received her J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and her B.A. from Arizona State University.
Daniel Schwiebert has been hired as Senior Policy Advisor and Staff Attorney for the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee and the House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. Daniel comes to the House from the Arizona Corporation Commission, where he has served as Policy Advisor to Chairwoman Lea Márquez Peterson and, prior to that, as Deputy Policy Advisor to former Commissioner Andy Tobin. He also served as the Chairwoman’s designee to the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee. He received his J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and his B.S. from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona.
Matt Sifert, who joined Majority Staff earlier this year as Communications Advisor, will add Policy Advisor duties for the House Government Committee in the 56th Legislature.
Austin Correa has been hired as Policy Advisor for the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Austin previously served as a Legislative Research Analyst for the House and also served four years in the United States Marine Corps. He received his B.A. from Arizona State University.
Lastly, after serving 26 legislative sessions on Senate Majority Staff, Monica Meyers will work as Senior Executive Assistant to the Majority Staff.
Below is an updated list of House Majority Staff titles and committee assignments:
Michael Hunter – Chief of Staff
Matthew Specht – Deputy Chief of Staff
Linley Wilson – General Counsel (House Rules Committee and House Ethics Committee)
Andrew Wilder – Director of Communications
Linsey Goodwin – Senior Policy Advisor (House Commerce Committee, House Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee)
Kelsey Jahntz – Senior Policy Advisor (House Appropriations Committee)
Emily Mercado – Senior Policy Advisor (House Health & Human Services Committee and House Regulatory Affairs Committee)
Ric Blazquez – Senior Policy Advisor (House Judiciary Committee and House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee)
Sean McCarthy – Senior Policy Advisor (House Education Committee and House Ways & Means Committee)
Daniel Schwiebert – Senior Policy Advisor & Staff Attorney (House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee)
Matt Sifert – Communications & Policy Advisor (House Government Committee)
Austin Correa – Policy Advisor (House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee)
Monica Meyers – Senior Executive Assistant for House Majority Staff
