The new Republican Senate leadership team announced its staff Wednesday, including some familiar faces in conservative Republican circles.
Among those joining the Senate staff is former state Sen. Eric Rucker, who will become the chief of staff for new Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop of Wichita.
Rucker, who previously worked for former Attorney General Phill Kline and former Secretary of State Kris Kobach, lost his primary bid against Republican Sen.-elect Brenda Dietrich.
Over in the Senate president’s office, Michelle Schroeder will go to work for incoming President Ty Masterson.
She will serve as Masterson’s chief of policy and communications and senior adviser.
Schroeder is a veteran of conservative Republican politics and has been at Masterson’s side as co-director for the Kansas Truth Caucus. Masterson chaired the Truth Caucus.
She also worked in former Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration, serving in the governor’s early years as the policy director for what was then named the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
She later worked as legislative liaison for the budget office.
She also served as communications director for former Congressman Jim Ryun and communications director for former Congressman Todd Tiahrt’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign against Jerry Moran.
Chase Blasi, who served as outgoing Senate President Susan Wagle’s chief of staff, will be Masterson’s chief of operations.
He previously worked as Wagle’s legislative director and as the legislative liaison for the Department of Revenue before moving over to the Senate.
Johnson County political consultant Mike Pirner will join Masterson’s staff as communications director.
Pirner has worked as co-director and communications coordinator for the Kansas
Truth Caucus and as principal of Bold Lines Grassroots, where he provided political consulting services to conservative candidates.
Darren Beckham will be leaving the Senate president’s office to the new Senate Vice President Rick Wilborn.
He is a graduate of Wichita State University, where he interned for Senator Jerry Moran and later served as student body president.
He earned bachelor’s degrees in political science, international area studies and philosophy. Most recently he served as Wagle’s executive assistant.
Mary Sabatini, who served as communications director for outgoing Majority Leader Jim Denning, will serve as director of policy and communications for Suellentrop.
Sabatini, a Topeka native, is a 2017 graduate of Kansas State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Sabatini served as assistant director of appointments under former Gov. Jeff Colyer.
She previously worked as a communications specialist for Jobs for America’s Graduates.
