Fellowships Available At State Capitol

State will hire 18 new staffers by May for full-time positions

Humboldt Sentinel
1/8/09
By Sentinel Staff

SACRAMENTO -- Despite an unparalleled state budget crisis and the handing out of IOUs instead of state tax rebates, the California Legislature is still hiring.

State senator Pat Wiggins (Dem. – Santa Rosa) announced Tuesday that she was now accepting applications for the 2009-2010 California Senate Fellows program, with 18 spots available for local college graduates to gain on-the-job experience at the State Capitol.

“Being a Fellow provides an excellent opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the legislative process,” Wiggins stated in a release. “Whether your career goals are in the public or private sector, the Senate Fellows program provides valuable training.”

Former Senate Fellows include current members of Congress and the California Legislature, judges, and numerous other elected officials and community leaders. Current Wiggins legislative aide Ana Rodriguez is a former Fellow.

Fellows are assigned to the personal or committee staff of a Senator and also participate in academic seminars with Senators, senior staff, journalists, lobbyists and state government officials. Fellows are paid a stipend of $1,972 per month plus health, vision, and dental benefits.

Wiggins said Fellows experience the broad range of activities conducted in busy Senate offices which includes researching public policy issues, helping develop legislative proposals, analyzing and staffing legislation, assisting with constituent inquiries and casework, participating in meetings as the Senator’s representative, writing press releases and speeches, and performing other delegated tasks. A five-week orientation at the beginning of the program provides background on state government, the legislative process, and major policy issues.

Anyone who will be at least 20 years of age and a graduate of a four-year college or university by Sept. 1, 2009, is eligible to apply. There is no preferred major. Individuals with advanced degrees and those in mid-career are encouraged to apply.

Applications may be requested by calling the Fellows program office at (916) 278-7693, or through Senator Wiggins’ capitol office at (916) 651-4002 or Humboldt County district office (707) 445-6508.

Applications and brochures are also available on the Senate’s Web site (www.sen.ca.gov/ftp/sen/fellows/_home/) and the program Web site (www.csus.edu/calst/senate).

The deadline for submitting applications is February 25, 2009. Eighteen Fellows will be selected in May after an initial screening of applications and a subsequent panel interview of finalists.