LegiStorm

A legislative assistant for Sen. John Walsh (D-Mont.) has found a new home outside the closing office and on the other side of the revolving door.

Katie Cordingley became government affairs specialist this month at Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, a lobbying firm. She first came to the Hill as a Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) staffer, beginning as staff assistant in 2010 and rising to legislative correspondent until her departure in 2012.

Between her congressional jobs, Cordingley worked in Boston and Helena, Mont. In Helena, she was an education assistant at the Montana Office of Public Instruction, dealing with issues including public outreach on Common Core.

For Walsh beginning in February, Cordingley handled issues ranging from education to banking and consumer protection. She has a journalism degree from the University of Washington and a master of education from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education.

Lewis-Burke is a longtime lobbying firm with universities across the country among its clients.  

Republican members of Congress have participated in nearly twice as many town hall events with constituents than their Democratic counterparts this year.

Federal lawmakers have held more than 2,700 town halls so far in 2014, according to LegiStorm's tracking of such events that members take part in directly, either in person or via phone or video.

Republican town halls consistently outnumber events hosted by Democrats, with 1,712 by Republicans and 977 by Democrats in 2014. The overall number of town halls since the start of August, 1,078, was lower in the election period compared to the same time frame last year when both parties hosted 1,578. LegiStorm began tracking town halls in August 2013.

Since August this year, Democrats hosted 327 of the events compared to 738 for Republicans. Republicans also hosted double the number of town halls in the August-December period of 2013, with 1,075 compared to 492. 

Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) participated in the most town halls in 2014 with 81 events, most of which were conducted weekly on the radio, with the opportunity for constituents to call in to talk to him. In the Senate, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) led the pack with 68 town hall events mostly during his "Kansas Listening Tour."

For the Democrats, Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley participated in the most with 37 and 36, respectively. Outgoing Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) led House Democrats with 31 events in 2014.

The lower numbers in the second part of this year came as members hit the campaign trail during the midterm season. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who was in a heated race with former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), was called out by one New Hampshire voter for not hosting enough town halls. Since Aug. 2013, she has held five events, four of which were conducted over the telephone.

Shaheen defended her decision by saying that out-of-state interest groups have taken over events that are planned for state residents.

One California field representative brings unusual talents to his new congressional job - film-making and musical satire.

Michael Kimbrew helped produce a Funny Or Die video called, "Wire: The Musical" that won a 2013 Webby award. Kimbrew started this month in Rep Janice Hahn's (D-Calif.) San Pedro office.

The four-minute video is a lighter take on the acclaimed and often grim show, with several of its original actors.

"Experience The Wire's realistic portrayal of America's decaying inner cities through the magic of song," the narrator boasts in the video.

Kimbrew has a bachelor's degree in political science and government from Texas Southern University and has also worked as a political consultant.

Retiring Rep. Bill Owens' (D-N.Y.) legislative director has taken a new government affairs job with Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Andrew Fitzpatrick made the jump in the final weeks of Owens' tenure, leaving an office where he began as a legislative assistant in 2013. He serves now as senior manager for state and local policy, public affairs and government relations at the retailing behemoth.

Fitzpatrick was a research consultant at the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in 2011 and 2012 before coming to the Hill. He earned a bachelor's degree at Colby College in 2006 and a master's in public policy, international and global affairs, from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2012.

Wal-Mart invests extensively in lobbying, advocating on issues including immigration reform, labor and trade.

As a recount continues to determine whether Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) will overcome his Republican challenger, two staffers have already jumped ship.

A military legislative assistant and legislative correspondent and press assistant have departed this month. Republican Martha McSally leads the race with Barber, the former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) staffer injured in the attack that nearly killed her.

Jeremy Wilson-Simerman served as military legislative assistant beginning in 2012 after a stint as a registered lobbyist for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. He also was a staff assistant and legislative correspondent for Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) between 2006 and 2008.

Julia T. Nash worked for Barber as legislative correspondent and press assistant from 2013 until this month. She started as a legislative correspondent for Barber in 2012 after coming from Sen. Al Franken's (D-Minn.) office.