Hill staffer’s journey from pizza to policy

Occupation: Legislative director for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas

Age: 27

Alma mater: Duke University

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Washington Examiner: What brought you to Washington, D.C.?

Chartan: I always had an interest in government and politics. The first time I think that I really experienced D.C., I interned at the American Enterprise Institute in the summer of 2009 before I was a senior in college. That’s basically where I, you know, became very interested in policy — came back from the experience definitely wanting to come back and work here.

And so after I graduated, I came to D.C. and eventually found myself working in Sen. Pat Toomey’s office as a junior legislative staffer. [After Toomey took over as Steering Committee chairman], I was a policy adviser. I handled a large range of issue areas. There are actually only two policy staffers on the Steering Committee, so I handled a range of issues — judiciary, budget, defense, foreign relations; it was a very broad portfolio.

Examiner: You moved to the Steering Committee, but then, obviously, you ended up taking a detour over to the House side [as executive director of the Freedom Caucus]. How did you end up going that route?

Chartan: I had worked or interacted with a number of House offices before. I had obviously never worked in the House myself. When HFC was started they reached out, I believe, to people looking for staff. I had not really met Congressman [Jim] Jordan or any of the House members before that, but was interested in learning some more about it. They ended up wanting me to do it, which was a great honor to work for them.

I really enjoyed my time there. Every day was different over there. You hear that cliche a lot, obviously, for folks who work on the Hill, but it really was true here. I mean, one day I’m working on policy issues primarily, the next day, my big project is getting a room for the members or getting pizza for them if they’re having a meeting. So, it’s a small shop over there so all of the staff has to pitch in really on whatever is needed all the time.

Examiner: You were a junior legislative staffer for Toomey, then you were executive director of the House Freedom Caucus through a year when they took some pretty high-profile policy positions, like on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and some other things. Then House Speaker John Boehner stepped down. So how did your time with the Freedom Caucus influence how you do your job now that you’re back on the Senate side?

Chartan: I think that working for the Freedom Caucus and more specifically, working in the House, gave me a good window into understanding how the two different chambers function and how the members within each chamber try to do their job of representing their districts and their states. Previously, I had only worked in the Senate. I really think it’s been a very valuable experience for me, from a House perspective and understanding how that chamber works and how the rules work. Also, from interacting with press more often at HFC as the executive director, in addition to the policy and administrative responsibilities. It gave me a good perspective in general, and I think helps me do my job here as the legislative director.

Examiner: What does your day look like as Cruz’s legislative director?

Chartan: I am ultimately responsible for all policy-related matters in the Senate office. That includes managing the legislative staff, developing policy proposals for Sen. Cruz and advising him on votes, maintaining relationships with stakeholder groups and monitoring the Senate floor and committees.

Examiner: What do you do in your free time — any hobbies?

Chartan: Right now, my biggest job is helping my fiance plan our wedding in August, so that takes up most of my free time, which I’m very happy about.

Examiner: Congratulations! Is she a Hill staffer or is she out of the game?

Chartan: She works in public relations.