Ask anyone in town how they got their start in politics, and most will fondly recall memories of their time on legislative staff. The camaraderie of a workforce dominated largely by 20-somethings at the dawn of their careers is a shared experience that has bonded Lansing for decades. For those looking at a career in politics, working on legislative staff is an essential jumping-off point for a reason. Whether it be in the Senate, the House, or even on a nonpartisan team, the state legislature is the best crash course Michigan has to offer. From there, staffers can easily leap into lobbying, campaign work, DC, or even to their own elected position.
My story is no different. Straight out of college, I took a position as the Legislative Director (LD) for a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. From day one, I learned to sink or swim in a role that was commonly reserved for more senior staffers. Every House member is unique in how they structure and manage their office, but very generally, the duties are divided between two full-time staffers and sometimes an intern. The LD manages all things policy, press, and communications, while the Constituent Services Director handles scheduling, phones, constituent casework, and district events.
Although I was officially the Legislative Director, during my time I regularly performed both office jobs. My desire to do whatever it took to succeed led me to become a jack of all trades. By the end of my time in the legislature, I’d not only developed an understanding of the legislative process but had also become something of a Swiss Army knife that was able to take over any role on a given day. That flexibility and determination have turned me into a quick learner, which has proven invaluable to my development as a lobbyist.
The most impactful lesson was one I wouldn’t truly realize until years later: the importance of bipartisanship. Fresh out of college, I was immediately humbled on my first day of work in the House when my new boss sent me to receive training from a staffer on the opposite side of the aisle. The legislator I worked for had a motto that wasn’t just in her email signature – it was something she lived by: “People over politics.” Little did I know, over the next three years, I would come to live by that too.
I watched as my boss worked regularly with her colleagues on the other side of the aisle to get real results for the people in her district. When she introduced legislation, it was of utmost importance that she had co-sponsorship from members of both caucuses. Hanging in her office was a framed selfie of her and a colleague from the other side of the aisle, who had been the first to give her the opportunity to sponsor a bill in a bipartisan legislative package.
Looking back, I realize just how impactful the legislator’s “People over politics” motto was, and I’ve gladly adopted it as my own. As I come up on my third anniversary as part of the MLC team, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity I had to develop a bipartisan approach to my work, which has made me a more effective lobbyist.
