Crapo Announces Staff Changes in Idaho and Washington

Washington, DC -Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's Washington, D.C., office is undergoing several personnel changes, with four current staff members being promoted following the retirement of his D.C. Chief of Staff Peter Fischer.  All of the promotions are effective June 1, 2011.

Susan Wheeler, who has worked for Senator Crapo in various capacities since 1992 predating his congressional service, will take Fischer's place as Chief of Staff in the Washington, D.C., office; she is presently his Communications Director.  An Idaho native, Wheeler graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1979 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Brigham Young University in 1984.  Before she began her tenure with Crapo, Wheeler worked as a TV reporter and news manager in Idaho Falls and Boise.  Wheeler has previously served as Crapo's Communications Director in the U.S. Senate and Press Secretary in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Lindsay Nothern will be promoted to Communications Director; he is currently the Senator's Press Secretary.  Nothern, who has lived in Idaho for more than 25 years, was raised in the upper Midwest, graduating from Moorhead State University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications.  Prior to joining the Crapo team, Nothern worked in television news as news director at two Boise stations and produced a statewide TV program on outdoor issues.  He also served as Press Secretary for Governor Phil Batt before joining Senator Crapo's office as Press Secretary in 1999. 

Mandi Critchfield, currently Deputy Press Secretary, is being promoted to Press Secretary.  Originally from Oakley, Critchfield graduated from Oakley High School in 2003 and received her degree in Political Science from Brigham Young University.  She previously served as Staff Assistant and as an intern for Senator Crapo. 

Peter Stegner, who has served as Regional Director and a Staff Assistant at the North-Central Regional Office in Lewiston for more than three years, becomes Senator Crapo's new Media Director, and will relocate to work out of the Washington, D.C., office.  Stegner, a native of northern Idaho, holds a Master's in English Literature and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Idaho.