Jayne Jones and Alicia Long, Expert Congressional Staffers Turned Authors of Capitol Hell!

Jayne Jones and Alicia Long Guest Jayne Jones and Alicia Long, co-authors of Capitol Hell, began their political careers working for former Senator Norm Coleman (MN) as staffers in both his St. Paul, MN and Washington, D.C. offices. Fast friends, the two stuck together through thick and thin, recently joining forces to write a novel about life as a Capitol Hill staffer. Jayne Jones, a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, worked for US Senator Norm Coleman from 2002-2006, then headed to the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she was the Executive Assistant to the Speaker of the House, Steve Sviggum. Jayne loves reality television, funky jewelry and skirts under $20. She thrives on meeting current and former United States Presidents, cheering for the University of North Dakota Sioux hockey team, catching Alaskan halibut, and aiming to win her family's salsa making contest! On her bucket list: being on the Wheel of Fortune, going to happy hour with Kelly Ripa, and figuring out how to boil corn-on-the-cob for that oh-so-darn-good buttery taste. Following her passion to teach others about the legislative process, Jayne is starting a summer academic program for teens to master public policy. She also teaches political science at Concordia University, where her students have gained national attention for their legislative activities. Her students drafted, advocated for, and passed the Kyle Herman Bill of 2010 and worked hand-in-hand with state and federal elected officials on legislation to curb child abuse in the classroom. This year, Jayne's students drafted the controversial "No Boozin' and Cruzin" legislation to eliminate state legislator immunity from impaired driving. The bill soared through committee hearings, passed deadlines, but got tanked for floor action. Jayne is a member of the Concordia University Advancement Committee, and a former inner city Girl Scout troop leader and live-in nanny. She is proud of her work with Margaret's Missions, ensuring travelers with disabilities get access to see the world and enjoy life's greatest adventures! Jayne is currently planning her wedding on a shoestring budget, and resides in St. Paul, Minnesota. Alicia Long, a South Dakota native and graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law, worked for the United States Senate from 2002-2007 for Senators Norm Coleman (MN), John Thune (SD), and George Allen (VA) as a scheduler, caseworker, intern coordinator, legislative correspondent, and legislative aide. In her spare time, Alicia loves cheering on the Green Bay Packers, working on her golf swing, and reading everything from In Touch magazine to The Great Gatsby to Supreme Court opinions. She also loves finding deals on fashion, funky high heels, and opts for wearing Calvin Klein dresses and a blazer in lieu of a suit any day. By day, Alicia fights the good fight at her current job in the Chief Counsel's office of the Drug Enforcement Agency. By night you can find her scoping out happy hours, playing co-ed sports, or hitting up any of the endless social activities going on in D.C. Her bucket list includes sky diving, traveling the world, mastering the New York Times crossword puzzle, and marrying Green Bay Packer Quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Alicia is originally from Hartford, South Dakota, a small town outside of Sioux Falls. In 2003, she received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and then moved to Washington, D.C. to work on Capitol Hill, where she mastered the metro system, became proficient at crashing receptions, and acted as a tour guide for friends and family. In 2007, Alicia returned to the Twin Cities to pursue her law degree at the University of St. Thomas. During law school, she worked as a law clerk in the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Minneapolis City Attorney's Office. After graduating from law school, Alicia was selected to be a Presidential Management Fellow in the Department of Justice where she worked as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) in the criminal division of the United States Attorney's Office. As a SAUSA, Alicia brought 31 matters to trial, resulting in 26 convictions. Alicia is a board member of the D.C. Chapter of University of Minnesota Alumni Association, a member of the University of St. Thomas School of Law's Annual Giving Committee, and a former inner city Girl Scout troop leader. Alicia currently resides in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia with her German Shepherd/Black Lab mix, Sarge.

Date Recorded: 12/5/2012

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