Labrador announces staff for legislative offices

COEUR d'ALENE - Congressman-elect Raul Labrador has hired two permanent staff members for his Coeur d'Alene office, among other staff appointments throughout Idaho, according to a Friday press release.

Hayden Lake native Judith Morbeck was named staff assistant, the release said. She is a graduate of the University of Idaho, where she received a doctorate in education administration/special education.

Morbeck has lived in Hayden Lake for more than 30 years, and has been very active in the community, the release said. She is the former executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Coeur d'Alene.

Aaron Calkins, hired as regional director for North Idaho, will be working with Morbeck in the Coeur d'Alene office, the release said. He graduated from Boise State University before moving to Washington, D.C., to work on Capitol Hill. His time there included a posting on the staff of Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio).

Calkins returned to Idaho, the release said, and earned a degree from the University of Idaho College of Law.

For his Lewiston office, Labrador has hired Scott Carlton as regional director. Carlton, who attended the University of Idaho, served in a similar position for the late U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth, the release said.

In his Meridian office, Kitty Kunz has been appointed constituent services specialist, the release said. Kunz, from Pocatello, has served on the Congressional staff of both Congressman Mike Simpson as well as former Congressman Bill Sali. In addition, she was a previous director of the Idaho Women's Commission.

Also added to the Meridian office are Lisa Anderson and Tori Shockey, the release said. Anderson, an ISU graduate, will be constituent services manager. She first attended BYU, where she worked on the campaign of longtime Republican Sen. Bob Bennett. She most recently worked as a legislative assistant in the Idaho Senate and was constituent services director for Congressman Walt Minnick, the release said.

Tori Shockey will be staff assistant and was most recently volunteer coordinator for the Labrador for Idaho campaign team, the release said. She is a cum laude graduate of Boise State University with a degree in political science.

For his Washington, D.C., office, Labrador hired Alex Etchen and Kyle Smith, the release said. Etchen will serve as legislative assistant/legislative correspondent, while Smith will be staff assistant.

Etchen is a graduate of Penn State University and most recently served as a legislative assistant for the National Rifle Association, the release said. Smith graduated from BYU-Idaho and served as an intern for both the Heritage Foundation and Idaho Sen. Jim Risch.

"This latest group of individuals brings unique talents and experience to our team," Labrador said. "The people of the First Congressional District will benefit greatly by their efforts in providing constituent service."