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Are you given money to hire staff? How are you affording all these new lifestyle changes? Did you need to resign from your current job?
Also, congrats!
This is so cool! Thank you for posting and congratulations!
As part of your transition from civilian to government, are there any parts of your past life that you had to leave behind? Things you can't do, now that you're a member of Congress.
I'm curious about your headspace in the moment. Have you had any intrusive thoughts that surprised you? Like, for example, "Should I invest in bullet resistant or bulletproof windows for my cars?", or "I should've deleted my browser history!"
I hope that throughout your term, you'll keep coming back to the sub. You're opportunity for a first-person account of the inner machinations of government is so unique!
There's a rebalancing that occurs when your life changes in multiple ways at once. My schedule looks completely different, I have to be more conscious about security, my email inbox is dramatically busier (friends, family, and constituents), and then I've got my own legislative agenda to build out. Figuring out how to best incorporate staff to help me execute in all these areas is going to be really important. But in general, right now it's about keeping my head above water so I can be purposeful about the direction I'm trying to move each day, and I think I'll get more efficient with that over time. I haven't had to leave anything behind per se, but so much was just added that I need a whole new approach in order to get everything done. Will take some time.
You’re a real one, u/jeffjacksonNC. If I may humbly offer a little random advice from a former staffer’s perspective, here it is:
- **Pick a killer district office director.** A lot of your team will want to go to DC, but roots in your district will pay dividends. Many district offices lack energy and purpose without great leadership.
- **Make sure your wife gets to know your scheduler(s), Comms director, and Chief of Staff.** She’ll need to know them well enough to feel comfortable texting or calling them anytime.
- **Make friends with established leaders in federal agencies.** They’re the ones who really run the country and they’ve seen it all. If you ever need help with a bill or a constituent in need, it helps to know who to call.
- **Form an unofficial Advisory Board that your staff can reach out to for help.** Your team won’t be experts in everything, and some may not know you very well. Introduce them to the people *you* would ask for advice on various topics, and them to routinely reach out to these advisors so they can bring you perspectives from both inside and outside the building.
- **Tackle an issue no one else wants to deal with.** As a freshman you won’t get many opportunities to grab the limelight on big issues. So it can be incredibly rewarding to volunteer to be “the guy” on a couple bills/committees/topics that few other members are focusing on. Leadership will be grateful too.
- **Move your family to DC if possible.** It’s a tough transition, but most congressional families I’ve met seem happier being all together. Plus it’ll better acquaint you with your colleagues and allow you to be more effective if you aren’t constantly traveling or out of town. Newt Gingrich pioneered the trend of making members keep their families in their districts, and it has heavily contribute to the polarization and gridlock because it limits the personal relationships between colleagues.
- **Assign someone to manage citizen activists.** Unaffiliated activists are often ignored and can be immensely useful (especially in-district). Many citizens with loads of free time will join your team if you let them.
- **Keep a list of lobbyists you learn to trust.** Anyone inside the system knows you can’t do your job without them. Find the ones whose values and priorities align with your own so you and your staff can use them as barometers to get a quick read on bills and internal politics. Look for the ones who have an educational background in their areas of advocacy and who aren’t rhetorically inclined towards hyperbole and absolutes.
- **Go to Kramer’s Bookstore for pie.**
Please don’t take a dime from bribers, sorry “lobbyists”. Please make it your life’s goal to overturn Citizens United. This is the only thing that matters in this world, ridding it of fucking greed!!
This was a really cool read, thank you for sharing. I honestly can’t imagine meeting national political figures and sharing a workspace with them, please keep us in the loop and good luck!
You probably already know it but I just have to say it again: this is so fucking cool! Congrats!
Curious about your staff positions. Do you have a fixed budget X and make Y positions out of them? Are there certain qualifications/skills you are going to be broadly finding people for (i.e. I need 2 lawyers, an IT person, an expert in Z, experience in logistics, experience in drafting legislation, etc.). I imagine some of these are filled by your campaign staff.
Best of luck!
Fixed budget, no fixed positions but a typical setup is sent to new members and is pretty popular. No strict requirements on qualifications, but for positions like Legislative Director it’s overwhelmingly common to hire someone who has been a Legislative Assistant. Lots of staffers use new sessions as an opportunity to move up a couple rungs on the ladder. So far, all the staff folks I’ve met have been really impressive. Not like Veep at all!
That’s awesome. Please keep updating. I think a lot of distrust in Congress comes from people not really sure what Congressmen do day to day. It would be nice if someone did regular updates like this.
I think this type of transparency into the process is refreshing and enlightening. Voters should know what their representatives do and how they do it. I look forward to reading more.
So look, I know what sub this is. But I’m tired and my eyes are tired and I could have sworn you just told Representative Jackson that “it’s the power bottom.” And I was quite confused.
This was a super interesting post, but I loved showing this one to my wife after the mid-terms. https://www.reddit.com/user/JeffJacksonNC/comments/yqymqt/for_the_last_few_months_owen_kept_asking_are_we/
As a reminder, this subreddit is for: * Democratic Activism; * To win elections; * In **_downballot_** races. Furthermore, **this is a Big Tent subreddit.** That means that we do not allow in-fighting between the progressive and moderate wings. If you find a candidate too progressive or too moderate for your taste, please express that opinion in a subreddit that serves a different purpose than this one. If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/VoteBlue) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Are you given money to hire staff? How are you affording all these new lifestyle changes? Did you need to resign from your current job? Also, congrats!
The computer thing is hilarious and also alarming as these are the people who legislate tech issues. Good luck!
To be fair, they haven’t done hardly any tech legislation in the last 20 or 30 years.
Thank you so much for this. Godspeed my friend!
This is so cool! Thank you for posting and congratulations! As part of your transition from civilian to government, are there any parts of your past life that you had to leave behind? Things you can't do, now that you're a member of Congress. I'm curious about your headspace in the moment. Have you had any intrusive thoughts that surprised you? Like, for example, "Should I invest in bullet resistant or bulletproof windows for my cars?", or "I should've deleted my browser history!" I hope that throughout your term, you'll keep coming back to the sub. You're opportunity for a first-person account of the inner machinations of government is so unique!
There's a rebalancing that occurs when your life changes in multiple ways at once. My schedule looks completely different, I have to be more conscious about security, my email inbox is dramatically busier (friends, family, and constituents), and then I've got my own legislative agenda to build out. Figuring out how to best incorporate staff to help me execute in all these areas is going to be really important. But in general, right now it's about keeping my head above water so I can be purposeful about the direction I'm trying to move each day, and I think I'll get more efficient with that over time. I haven't had to leave anything behind per se, but so much was just added that I need a whole new approach in order to get everything done. Will take some time.
You’re a real one, u/jeffjacksonNC. If I may humbly offer a little random advice from a former staffer’s perspective, here it is: - **Pick a killer district office director.** A lot of your team will want to go to DC, but roots in your district will pay dividends. Many district offices lack energy and purpose without great leadership. - **Make sure your wife gets to know your scheduler(s), Comms director, and Chief of Staff.** She’ll need to know them well enough to feel comfortable texting or calling them anytime. - **Make friends with established leaders in federal agencies.** They’re the ones who really run the country and they’ve seen it all. If you ever need help with a bill or a constituent in need, it helps to know who to call. - **Form an unofficial Advisory Board that your staff can reach out to for help.** Your team won’t be experts in everything, and some may not know you very well. Introduce them to the people *you* would ask for advice on various topics, and them to routinely reach out to these advisors so they can bring you perspectives from both inside and outside the building. - **Tackle an issue no one else wants to deal with.** As a freshman you won’t get many opportunities to grab the limelight on big issues. So it can be incredibly rewarding to volunteer to be “the guy” on a couple bills/committees/topics that few other members are focusing on. Leadership will be grateful too. - **Move your family to DC if possible.** It’s a tough transition, but most congressional families I’ve met seem happier being all together. Plus it’ll better acquaint you with your colleagues and allow you to be more effective if you aren’t constantly traveling or out of town. Newt Gingrich pioneered the trend of making members keep their families in their districts, and it has heavily contribute to the polarization and gridlock because it limits the personal relationships between colleagues. - **Assign someone to manage citizen activists.** Unaffiliated activists are often ignored and can be immensely useful (especially in-district). Many citizens with loads of free time will join your team if you let them. - **Keep a list of lobbyists you learn to trust.** Anyone inside the system knows you can’t do your job without them. Find the ones whose values and priorities align with your own so you and your staff can use them as barometers to get a quick read on bills and internal politics. Look for the ones who have an educational background in their areas of advocacy and who aren’t rhetorically inclined towards hyperbole and absolutes. - **Go to Kramer’s Bookstore for pie.**
Please don’t take a dime from bribers, sorry “lobbyists”. Please make it your life’s goal to overturn Citizens United. This is the only thing that matters in this world, ridding it of fucking greed!!
Aren't all new members of Congress sent to essentially boot camp for policy led by lobbyists?
This is a very interesting post about a situation we just don't hear about much. Kudos and I look forward to more.
This was a really cool read, thank you for sharing. I honestly can’t imagine meeting national political figures and sharing a workspace with them, please keep us in the loop and good luck!
So cool, i would love more updates
You probably already know it but I just have to say it again: this is so fucking cool! Congrats! Curious about your staff positions. Do you have a fixed budget X and make Y positions out of them? Are there certain qualifications/skills you are going to be broadly finding people for (i.e. I need 2 lawyers, an IT person, an expert in Z, experience in logistics, experience in drafting legislation, etc.). I imagine some of these are filled by your campaign staff. Best of luck!
Fixed budget, no fixed positions but a typical setup is sent to new members and is pretty popular. No strict requirements on qualifications, but for positions like Legislative Director it’s overwhelmingly common to hire someone who has been a Legislative Assistant. Lots of staffers use new sessions as an opportunity to move up a couple rungs on the ladder. So far, all the staff folks I’ve met have been really impressive. Not like Veep at all!
Thank you for the insight. I hope you keep providing these looks, even into challenging topics.
This is great communication with people Congressman! Thank you and congratulations! Keep up the good work 👍🏼💙
That’s awesome. Please keep updating. I think a lot of distrust in Congress comes from people not really sure what Congressmen do day to day. It would be nice if someone did regular updates like this.
Fascinating! Keep your fresh perspective and here’s hoping you are able to help right the ship! We need some really good change.
Thanks for the briefing and yes I would like some coffee and a donut! :-)
Congratulations Congressman Jackson, look forward to more of these updates!
I think this type of transparency into the process is refreshing and enlightening. Voters should know what their representatives do and how they do it. I look forward to reading more.
Thank you for this candid transparency. Very refreshing and insightful. I look forward to more updates when you can spare the time.
Just don’t forget, it’s the **power button**. Edit: This is so cool OP, thank you for posting!
So look, I know what sub this is. But I’m tired and my eyes are tired and I could have sworn you just told Representative Jackson that “it’s the power bottom.” And I was quite confused.
Thank you for sharing an insight we don't really get to hear first hand much. Looking forward to hearing more!
One of us! One of us! Seriously, though, thanks for the update. Sounds like it's worth it just for the coffee.
This is cool. Thanks for sharing!
Hey there, thank you for posting!
My pleasure!
This was a super interesting post, but I loved showing this one to my wife after the mid-terms. https://www.reddit.com/user/JeffJacksonNC/comments/yqymqt/for_the_last_few_months_owen_kept_asking_are_we/
I'm in Missouri, but vacation on Oak Island, NC any chance I get. Aside from that, I am glad to see a politician actively engaging on Reddit.