Westerman Announces New Hires For Arkansas Offices

Cong.-elect Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, revealed a slew of new hires to serve in the Fourth District’s Arkansas-based offices on Thursday (Dec. 18).

In addition to his Washington, D.C. office, Westerman is planning to maintain two locations for offices that Cong. Tom Cotton currently has established in El Dorado and Pine Bluff. Westerman is considering different office space in Hot Springs where a Fourth District office currently exists in the federal building. An office in Clarksville will move, but a new location has yet to be determined.

From a press release from Westerman’s transition office, he said his Arkansas staff will include:

Jason D. McGehee of Little Rock, District Director. A native of Pine Bluff, McGehee currently serves in the same position for Congressman Tim Griffin. He started as a District Representative in Griffin’s office, and was promoted to Senior District Director prior to his current position. McGehee has also served as an Emergency Management Duty Officer in the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and as a Communications Officer in the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management. McGehee will work out of Westerman’s Hot Springs office.

David Witte of Little Rock, Field Representative for Military and Veterans Affairs. A graduate of Concordia University, Witte currently serves in a similar position with Congressman Tim Griffin. He is a Captain in the Arkansas Army National Guard where he serves as a Chaplain and holds masters degrees from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Liberty University. Witte will be based in Hot Springs.

Tracy Cross of Bryant, Field Representative and Constituent Service Representative. Cross has served in similar positions in the offices of Reps. Tom Cotton and Mike Ross. Cross will work out of Westerman’s Pine Bluff office.

Cara Cox of Benton, Field Representative and Constituent Service Representative. A graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, Cox currently serves as a HIPAA and compliance officer for a Little Rock medical records service. She will office in Hot Springs.

Jordan R. Garcia of Van Buren, Field Representative and Constituent Service Representative. A graduate of Arkansas Tech University, Garcia has previously interned in the Arkansas and Washington offices of Sen. John Boozman. Garcia will be based in Hot Springs.

Robert A. Ballinger, Jr., of Hindsville, Field Representative and Constituent Service Representative. Ballinger recently served as a Field Director for the Westerman campaign and is currently a member of the Goshen and St. Paul volunteer fire departments. Ballinger will work in a field office in the northern part of the district in a location to be determined.

Ben Gilmore of Crossett, Field Representative and Constituent Service Representative. Gilmore will work in Westerman’s El Dorado office. Gilmore currently handles marketing and public relations duties for the Crossett Public Library.

These hires join Westerman’s Washington-based staff located in room 130 of the Cannon House Office Building.

Washington Staff
Chief of Staff: Kenneth Ryan James of Little Rock
Administrative Director/Executive Assistant: Megan P. Dornan of Washington, DC
Press Secretary: Ryan Saylor of Van Buren
Legislative Director: Jonathan Shuffield of Washington, D.C.
Sr. Legislative Assistant: Michael A. Lambert of Conway
Legislative Assistant: Jefferson D. Deming of El Dorado
Legislative Correspondents: J. Cody Burkham of Hope; Victoria L. Bell of Mena
Staff Assistant: Hailey Jade Ghee of Washington, D.C.