During the 60 days of the legislative session in Richmond, you can find me somewhere between the Capitol and the General Assembly Building. For up to 12 hours a day (with most weekends off for good behavior), my office in Room 711 of the GAB is where the progress of legislation is planned and tracked, advocates for and against bills are heard out, visitors from Arlington and McLean are greeted, and floor statements and position papers are drafted.  Room 711 is also where I record my weekly report from Richmond (Richmond Report #3).   Because a big chunk of my time is spent on the floor or in committee meetings, my two staff people are the ones who keep the wheels turning.

Daniel Broder is serving as my Legislative Assistant for this year’s session. He was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut and is a 2011 graduate of the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio with a B.A. in Communication Studies and a double minor in English and Political Science. Since moving to Arlington last year, Daniel has become heavily involved in the Arlington County Democratic Committee.

Paul Tindall is my Legislative Analyst for the session. Paul is currently a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University here in Richmond, where he is earning a degree in Political Science. He is part of the Virginia Capital Semester program run by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU, and I chose him from a pool of highly qualified applicants to intern in my office this session. He helps me put out my weekly Report from Richmond, which can be found on YouTube every Friday, and assists Dan in the daily tasks around the General Assembly building.

My GAB neighbors are Arlington colleague Patrick Hope and Charnielle Herring of Alexandria. Our corner of the 7th floor has been brightened this session by a display of artwork from Yorktown High School students: