Crapo Makes Staff Changes

Washington, DC â?? With the New Year, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has named a new Administrative Assistant and Legislative Director as well as a number of other staff changes.Peter Fischer, who has been serving as Legislative Director since August 2001, has been promoted to Administrative Assistant and will oversee office operations in Washington, D.C. Fischer also worked for Crapo in Boise as the State Director of Business, Education, Labor and Technology. Prior to his service for Crapo, Fischer worked for the State of Idaho as Economic Development Specialist; Managing Director of software development firm in India; and as Account Executive with AT&T. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara; Nicholls State University, Thibodeaux, LA; and the Economic Development Institute, University of Oklahoma.Kenneth W. Flanz will serve as Legislative Director, moving up from Deputy Legislative Director. Flanz joined Crapoâ??s legislative staff in 1997 when Crapo was serving in the House. He will oversee legislative activities on the office. A native of Colorado, Flanz holds a Master of Public Administration from Cornell, awarded 1993, and a B.A. in Government/Foreign Affairs and History from Claremont McKenna College, awarded 1990. He also held legislative positions for two House membersâ??former Representatives Martin Hoke (R-Ohio) and Bill McCollum (R-Florida).Lindsey Masterton joins the D.C. staff as a legislative correspondent. She has been working as a staff assistant in the Boise office, and served as an intern in Crapoâ??s D.C. office during the summer of 2001. Masterton, a native of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, graduated with High Distinction from Hastings College in Spring 2002 with a Bachelorâ??s in International Business and Political Science. She was an exchange student to the University of Twente, The Netherlands, and co-authored and presented a paper for the Citadel Symposium on Southern Politics in 2001.Bob Ford joins the Senatorâ??s state staff as the State Director for Business, Economic and Rural Development. Previously, Ford was the State manager of Rural Development for the Idaho Department of Commerce, and worked at the Commerce Department for 17 years in various capacities. He is originally from Caldwell and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho and a Masterâ??s degree in management from the University of Southern California.Margaret Ballard, who has worked for Crapo since 1996, will be serving as Administrative Officer, working out of the Boise office. She will take responsibility for project coordination and office management. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Ballard holds a Masterâ??s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelorâ??s degree in Political Science, both from Boise State University. Previously she worked for the State of Idaho as the Chief of Staff for the Emergency Response Commission.# # #