Byron Donalds staffs up in Washington and Southwest Florida offices

Byron Donalds
Washington veteran Tyler Haymore will serve as Congressman's chief of staff.

Rep. Byron Donalds announced hires for his new offices in Washington and in his Southwest Florida offices. The personnel moves were released days after the Naples Republican was sworn in to his first term in Congress.

“Since being elected the next Congressman of Florida’s 19th Congressional District, I have worked tirelessly to establish a staff dedicated to my steadfast commitment to serving my constituents with honor and distinction,” Donalds said. “I am confident this diverse and talented group of professionals will follow in my promise to ensure our governments remains of, by, and for the people.”

The roster of hires means a number of new faces will serve Southwest Florida constituents, but most bring experience in Florida or on the Hill.

In the Capitol, Tyler Haymore will serve as Donalds’ chief of staff. He previously held the same position in North Carolina Republican Rep. Ted Budd’s office.

Adam Farris will serve as Donalds’ legislative director. He previously worked in the State Department as a deputy assistant secretary and as Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford’s foreign policy advisor. He earned a master’s degree from the United States War College.

Alexandria Smith, former deputy legislative assistant for South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott, will come on board as Donalds’ legislative assistant. She worked on banking, commerce, energy and environmental issues under Scott.

Harrison Fields will serve as the Congressman’s communications director. He previously worked both as an assistant press secretary under President Donald Trump and as the communications coordinator for Pam Bondi while she served as Florida’s Attorney General. From West Palm Beach, Fields earned a master’s degree from Florida State University in American politics and public policy. Madeline Dawson, Donalds’ campaign finance director and a Florida State University junior, will serve as press assistant.

Abigail Delahoyde will serve as director of scheduling and operations for Donalds. The Furman University graduate previously served as executive director for operations at the Housing and Urban Development Department under HUD Secretary Ben Carson.

Jalen Johnson, an analyst for Trump’s 2020 campaign, will serve as a legislative correspondent for Donalds. The Valdosta State University graduate previously worked for Illinois Republican Rep. Rodney Davis.

And Javon Price, a former White House liaison to the Labor Department and an International Politics student at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, will join Donalds’ team as a staff assistant.

In the district, Bonita Springs City Councilman Jesse Purdon will serve as district director, overseeing the Congressman’s Lee and Collier county offices. He previously worked for Rep. Curt Clawson serving the district.

Lara McKeever will serve as district representative. She previously worked in the private sector for companies including eight years in the fashion industry, including as manager for Tiffany & Company, Carlisle Etcetera and as a market analyst for Louis Vitton Flagship. She worked as a policy consultant in Washington beginning in 2019, working as director of operations for McCarthy Advanced Consulting.

Former business owner Mercedes Price Harry will also serve as a district representative.

So will Katie Larsen, who previously worked as a campaign manager for Dane Eagle’s congressional campaign leading into the primary last year. Larsen later worked as a field director for Donalds. Before last year’s high-profile campaign, she worked as a district director for Sen. Rick Scott, also a Naples Republican, and as regional field director for Scott’s Senate campaign. She also worked as an aide for Eagle in the Florida House.

Pembroke Pines nation and longtime education professional Helen Pferdehirt will work as a case worker in the district office.

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].


3 comments

  • Sonja Fitch

    January 6, 2021 at 5:21 am

    Another black man suckered by white folks! Sir you are only a token! There is no Republican Party! There is only the goptrump death cult sociopaths and racist racist sexist liars!!You will be used and abused by the goptrump death cult! Pity you don’t get “it”!

  • crystal graf

    January 11, 2021 at 4:58 pm

    Thank you Mr. Donald for having integrity, grit, core values, and a backbone! You represent what a politician should be. We all look forward to your representation of this great State of Florida. Mr. DeSantis has been doing it alone and we welcome you to the team.

  • crystal graf

    January 11, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    Thank you Mr. Donald for having integrity, grit, core values, and a backbone! You represent what a politician should be. We all look forward to your representation of this great State of Florida. Mr. DeSantis has been doing it alone and we welcome you to the team.

Comments are closed.


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