Press release: Marino appointments

Rep.-Elect Tom Marino
10TH District of Pennsylvania
　
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Renita Fennick 570-239-8851 Dec. 21, 2010
rfennick@verizon.net
　
REP.-ELECT MARINO FILLS TOP 4 STAFF POSITIONS

WILLIAMSPORT -- U.S. Rep.-Elect Tom Marino has announced the appointment of the four individuals who will fill his top congressional staff positions.

The appointments are effective Jan. 3 and will ensure the freshman congressman "hits the ground running" when the 112th Congress is sworn into office on Jan. 5, Marino said.

Lackawanna County natives Bill Tighe and David Weber will head Marino’s Washington and district operations, respectively. Tighe, formerly of Newton Township, was named chief of staff while Weber, who had served as Marino’s campaign manager, was appointed district director.
Drew Kent of Arlington, Va., was tabbed as legislative director, and Renita Fennick, Wilkes-Barre Township, will serve as Marino’s communications director.

"This is a solid team with a lot of energy and a good synergy," Marino said. "I have the utmost confidence in each one of them and also am certain they have the skills and mindset to work together as a team.

"Most importantly, each of them knows that our mission is to serve the constituents of the 10th District," Marino said. "The four of them share my sentiment -- and that is, that we must never forget who we are and why the good people of Pennsylvania sent us to Washington in the first place. We will work together with our varied backgrounds and experiences to make sure the voices of the people in the 10th District are heard in D.C."

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As chief of staff, Tighe, of Burke, Va., will oversee Marino’s Washington, D.C., and 10th District operations and personnel. Tighe is currently serving as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, a Republican from Pennsylvania’s 6th District, and also worked for former Congressman George W. Gekas. Tighe will focus on leadership and overall management responsibilities including policy analysis, strategic planning, budgeting and development of communications and outreach strategies.

He is a graduate of Bucknell University with a bachelor of arts degree in international relations with a concentration in European affairs and is expected to earn a master’s degree in public policy in 2011 from George Mason University. He and his wife Erica have three sons. Tighe is the son of Bill and Nancy Tighe, Newton Township.

"This is a dream of mine, to be able to work for my hometown district, for people who are friends and family," Tighe said.

Weber, 29, of Clarks Green, will serve as district director and will oversee the staffing and operation of all constituent service centers throughout the 10th District. Locations for the district offices have not been determined though Weber said he expects announcements to be made before Marino takes office. A graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Weber has been active as a political consultant in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Kent, 30, of Arlington, Va., earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Boston College and a juris doctorate from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University. He previously served as legislative director for J.C. White Consulting, Washington, D.C., and worked on the staff of U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas. He and his wife Laura have an infant daughter.

As legislative director, Kent will manage the congressman’s legislative priorities and staff, advise him on all legislative issues, House floor procedures and will implement the legislative goals of Marino on both the House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees. Marino learned last week that he was assigned to the two key committees.

Fennick, 50, is the current executive director of the Luzerne County Republican Party and will leave that position on Dec. 31. A longtime journalist, she is a graduate of King’s College with a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications. She has two children, Ken, 25, and Chrissy, 22. She will work out of the district and will coordinate the communications outreach to the constituents and the media.

"I am excited to see my staff take shape and am confident that we will hit the ground running when I take office on Jan. 5," Marino said.