Schatz Names Andy Winer Chief of Staff

US Senator Brian Schatz. Photo courtesy US Senate.

By Wendy Osher

US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai`i has named Andy Winer as his chief of staff in Washington, DC.

Winer served as the director of external affairs in the Obama administration, and director of strategic initiatives and partnerships at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

He practiced law in Honolulu for nearly 25 years, and served as the managing partner at the firm of Winer, Meheula & Devens for 15 years.

“Andy is a leader who knows Washington well and whose working roots are in Hawai`i,” said Sen. Schatz.  “He has excellent contacts within President Obama’s administration, deep familiarity with what’s happening back home and will serve the people of our state with distinction,” said Schatz upon making the announcement today.

Sen. Schatz also encouraged the public to call, email, write, or visit his new office in DC in person at: Dirksen Senate Building G-11 Washington, DC 20510.  Phone number: (202) 224-3123.

“We’ve got a great office,” he said, “I know we are a fair distance from Hawai`i in terms of miles, but aloha goes a long way and this office belongs to the people of Hawai`i,” he added.

Schatz was selected to fill the vacancy created by the unexpected passing of US Sen. Daniel Inouye in December.