Mikie Sherrill Picks Senior Staff, Readies For Congress

Former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy pilot Mikie Sherrill, the first Democrat to represent New Jersey's 11th Congressional District in nearly three decades, has officially chosen her senior staff.

On Tuesday, Sherrill – who defeated her main challenger, Republican Jay Webber in November’s general election – named the following members of her senior staff:

• Chief of Staff – Ethan Saxon
• District Directors – Kellie Doucette and Jill Hirsch
• Communications Director – Jackie Burns

The 11th district covers most of Morris County, and parts of Sussex, Essex, and Passaic counties.

“We’re building a team of skilled, passionate, and committed people who are dedicated to serving the people of our community,” Congresswoman-Elect Sherrill said. “I’m thrilled to have Ethan join our team and to have Jill, Kellie and Jackie, who played such vital roles during our campaign, continue their work on behalf of the 11th District.”

Sherrill recently announced her first “town hall” will be held shortly after she takes office in January. Sherrill will be sworn in on Jan. 3.

• See related article: Sherrill Announces First Town Hall Of Her Congressional Term

Sherrill provided the following biographies of each senior staff member:

Ethan Saxon (Chief of Staff) the former Deputy Chief of Staff to Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), brings experience, knowledge, and expertise to the Congresswoman-Elect’s office. Saxon previously served as Democratic Staff Director of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and as senior advisor to two former members of the House Armed Services Committee. His work as an Analyst on the BRAC Commission supports the Congresswoman-elect’s commitment to protecting Picatinny Arsenal.

Kellie Doucette (Morris and Sussex Counties; office outreach) served as the campaign’s Constituency Director, coordinating outreach to various groups across the district. In 2017, Doucette served as the campaign manager for three Democratic candidates for Chatham Township Committee, and prior to entering the political sphere, she spent over 15 years working as both a healthcare policy analyst and as an healthcare actuary.

Jill Hirsch (Essex and Passaic Counties; casework and constituent services) helped launch the Sherrill campaign in May 2017 and served as the Political and Outreach Director. Hirsch holds a joint degree in Law and Social Work and worked as a Law Guardian at the Legal Aid Society in New York City, bringing her years of experience helping others to oversee the office’s constituent services.

Jackie Burns (Communications Director) joined the Sherrill campaign in the fall of 2017 and will join the Congresswoman in her D.C. office. Burns spent five years on Capitol Hill at the House of Representatives’ Office of the Historian.

With previous reporting by Katie Kausch, Patch staff

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File Photo: Mikie Sherrill for Congress