Janelle Irwin Taylor
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is shuffling some of her key staff, she announced Monday.
Clay Phillips, Castor’s longtime chief of staff, will take on a senior advisory role at the start of the 117th Congress, based in the Tampa Bay area district. Castor’s deputy chief of staff, Lara Hopkins, will be elevated to chief of staff.
Phillips has worked with Castor since before she was elected, first working on her campaign and then being appointed Castor’s first and, up until now, only chief of staff since she was elected to Florida’s 14th Congressional District in 2006.
He has served in Florida for his entire career in public service, including as former Congressman Jim Davis’ District Director in Florida’s 11th Congressional District. Beginning in January, Phillips will serve in a dual-role as senior counsel in an official capacity and senior campaign adviser for Castor’s reelection efforts.
“There are few people in the Tampa area who haven’t worked with Clay, and I am grateful for the work he has done to strengthen our community and shore up federal aid through his long tenure as my chief of staff,” Castor said. “From the economic downturn and housing crisis to the fights for affordable health care and social justice, he has used his deep Florida roots to tirelessly serve our neighbors, and I know that he will continue to be a valuable member of my team in his new positions.”
Hopkins is a Florida native and University of Florida graduate who has served Castor since her first campaign for Congress. Hopkins has served Castor in multiple roles, including finance director for her campaign, scheduler and office manager, administrative director, and in her current role as deputy chief of staff. She’s been part of the management team since 2012. In this position, she advises the congresswoman on all critical issues and specifically on Cuba, foreign affairs, travel and tourism issues.
“Lara has been an invaluable member of my team from the very first day of my very first campaign and I look forward to her seamless transition into her role as chief of staff. As a native Floridian and trusted adviser on the issues that matter to our Tampa neighbors, she is the ideal person to serve in this position. I look forward to local partners and our neighbors getting to know her even better in the days ahead,” Castor said.
