Brewsterconnections - Brewster Academy

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HOOPLATodd Willens ’89Congressional Chief of StaffTodd Willens is the chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce of New Mexico,a Republican who represents southern New Mexico. Todd works in Pearce’sWashington office and lives in D.C. with his wife Morna and their childrenMaxwell, Chase, Genevieve, and Honore.Hoopes: You attended Brewster for just one year as a PG, but did anyexperience you had while at the Academy influence your choice ofprofession?Todd: Well, not a particular course or teacher, but Brewster certainly prepared mefor the discipline to organize and work independently. Those skills have certainlyaffected the way I work as a chief of staff. Brewster is a lot like Washington, withlots of different personalities. The majority of people in Washington are“transplants” from other places around the world, again somewhat like Brewster.Hoopes: What is your educational background, any ties with the politicalscene?Todd: Well, I got my bachelors in history at UCLA, but no, no real connectionsthere.Hoopes: What steered you toward politics? Had you worked in other fieldsearlier?Todd: Actually it all started with an internship I received in 1991. I got bit by thepolicy and political bug, and since then I have worked in various rolls, both in thefederal government and in the private sector.Hoopes: Describe a typical day.Todd: No day is typical, other than drinking from the end of a fire hose. Each daybrings it’s own set of challenges, along with some unexpected outcomes. We’reconstantly dealing with policies and strategies, and depending on what comes upconcerning our state, we have to be able to cover things quickly.Hoopes: Do you consider yourself a public servant?Todd: Yes, but I never forget that I am “staff”.Hoopes: Did the campaign and the election change the focus of your ownactivities or those of your office?Todd: No changes, really, our activities basically remain the same. The Houseof Representatives is up for reelection every two years, so unfortunately, thecampaigning never stops.Todd Willens ’89 with his family.Hoopes: If you could change one thing about the country’s election process,what would that be?Todd: I’d make the congressional term four years rather than the two we nowhave, and I’d have it run off cycle to the presidential election cycle.Hoopes: Do you feel what you do changes or improves the direction in whichthe country is going?Todd: Yes, but then again, not all change is good. I hope to be able to improve thefuture my children will have.32 BrewsterConnections – Fall 2012
John Mautz ’89Legislative Director, U.S. House of RepresentativesJohn Mautz is the legislative director for Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C), whorepresents North Carolina’s 6th congressional district, in the central portion ofthe state. John works in Coble’s Washington, DC, office but lives in St. Michael’s,Maryland, with his family and near his brother and parents.John still helps with the family business, the Carpenter Street Saloon restaurant.He relocated from Edgewater, just south of Annapolis, in May. While his commuteto Capitol Hill is 90 minutes each way, John claims it’s heaven living in an areawhere he can hunt, fish, sail, and be with family and friends.John’s path to politics began during the summer months while attending theClaude W. Pettit School of Law at Ohio Northern University. He interned withthe House Judiciary Committee, which led to a full-time position after hisgraduation. Here he served under Chairmen Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.) and F. JamesSensebrenner Jr. (R.-Wis.). John then served in the office of Governor Robert L.Ehrlich in Annapolis, Maryland before joining Rep. Coble’s staff.John’s first political experience, however, actual came at Brewster when senioryear he was elected president of the Student Council. He quickly points out,however, that was before California voters discovered the recall ballot, or hewouldn’t have lasted a month!John Mautz ‘89committee staff to help prepare legislative initiatives and coordinate two orthree congressional caucuses chaired by Coble. Evenings might include receptionsand meetings. Every day is different. Some days he is in committee for the entireday, or he can be in meetings all day. John and the staff also have to respond toall those constituent e-mails as well as traditional letters.Actually, his tenure was popular as he made arrangements to have pizza deliveredon campus, worked toward getting student discounts at local merchants, andwas even successful at making some adjustments to study hall hours.“Brewster was a terrific experience, filled with real people, sharing real ideas, andwhile it may not have been directly linked to my pursuing law school or workingin politics, it certainly had a lasting effect on me.”Today, when Congress is in session, it’s not unusual for John to receive morethan 200 e-mails a day and participate in three or four 30-minute meetings withconstituents and industry leaders. He also has to track all floor votes, rangingfrom as few as four a day to as many as 30 a day. He is responsible for makingcertain that the staff in both the Washington and North Carolina offices havethe information they need to brief the congressman.He works directly with Coble to make sure the congressman has informationneeded for meetings, votes, and committee work. John also works withJohn considers himself a public servant. Working in Congress, unlike someother sectors of the federal government, is refreshing because the job must berenewed every two years and employees in the legislature realize and appreciateaccountability, he said. There is a sense of responsibility and urgency in thelegislature, which makes work challenging and enjoyable, he added.Given his direct experience as a legislative aid, John does not think thegerrymandering process is good for democracy. It usually does not produce aresult that reflects the people who are drawn into the newly contorted districts.He also believes that the two-year term for members of the House is too short.Every day that a congressman votes on bills, responds to constituent letters, andplaces calls is a day that drives the government in the right direction, John said.Constituent service is the top priority and every step possible to represent theconstituents effectively must be taken, he added.www.brewsteracademy.org33
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