Kaine Announces Additional Members Of Senate Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today announced additional members of his Virginia based Senate staff.

“I’m proud to announce additional members of my Virginia-based team.  This diverse group of very talented individuals performs important casework, constituent services and outreach to individuals and groups around the state,” said Kaine. “The appointment of two new regional directors will allow our Danville office to open immediately and a Roanoke office to open soon.  I am pleased to have this team on board to help me serve constituents across the state more effectively.”

The Danville office is located at 308 Craghead Street, Suite 102A, Danville, VA, 24541. The office can be reached by phone at 434-792-0976. 

Chris Collins, Regional Director (Southside Virginia) – Chris served as a regional field director for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign during the 2012 election cycle and has experience working in leadership positions for other campaigns both statewide and in the Richmond area.  He served for more than two years as grassroots coordinator for the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) and worked for the League of Conservation Voters during the 2013 General Assembly.  Chris is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a degree in political science. 

Gwen Mason, Regional Director (Roanoke and Valley) – Gwen joins Senator Kaine’s office from the office of the U. S. Attorney, Western District of Virginia, where she served for nearly three years as the Community Outreach Coordinator.  She is a former member of the Roanoke City Council and her career includes work in the non-profit and consulting fields in addition to service in the federal government at the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Interior, and Government Services Administration.  Gwen is a graduate of Smith College and holds a master’s degree in public administration from UVA. 

Debby Burroughs, Senior Caseworker (Richmond) -  Debby brings extensive case management experience to the Senator’s office after handling veterans, defense, healthcare and visa issues in Senator Jim Webb’s office for 6 years.  Debby is a registered nurse with 29 years of experience in both clinical and administrative positions.  She has also been a sixth-grade school teacher.  Debby is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in education and earned her nursing degree from MCV.

Emily Mazich, Caseworker (Virginia Beach) – Emily joins Senator Kaine’s office after serving in a similar role on Senator Webb’s staff for two years doing casework in a variety of areas, including veterans services and defense.  During the 2013 General Assembly, she served as the Legislative Assistant to State Senator John Miller.  Emily is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in political science.

Paula Sherman, Caseworker (Richmond) – Paula has more than 18 years of case management experience, including 16 years working on housing issues at Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) in Richmond.  She was previously the principal of The Sherman Group providing technical assistance and consulting to housing counseling agencies and advocacy groups in the Virginia and Washington, D.C. areas.  Paula is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University with a degree in finance. 

Mecca Hall, Staff Assistant (Virginia Beach) – Mecca worked as a field organizer for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign during the 2012 election cycle.  Additionally, Mecca brings experience working on other campaigns and in retail customer service. She is a graduate of Saint Paul’s College with a degree in political science.

Karen Harris, Staff Assistant (Richmond) – Karen comes from a business background with experience in customer service and as a senior business analyst.  She has worked in state government as a tax examiner and has served as Virginia State Chair of the National Patient Advocate Foundation.  She is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and State University with a degree in business administration.

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