{"id":103489,"date":"2021-08-24T00:45:45","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T07:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/?p=103489"},"modified":"2021-10-11T17:08:16","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T00:08:16","slug":"the-role-of-gubernatorial-chief-of-staff-in-the-us-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2021\/08\/24\/the-role-of-gubernatorial-chief-of-staff-in-the-us-government\/","title":{"rendered":"The role of Gubernatorial Chief of Staff in the US Government"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

By Nick Hamilton<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Governors’ offices across America vary greatly \u2014 sometimes reflecting external factors such as what authority has been assigned to them via constitutional or statutory law, sometimes based on custom and tradition within each specific region. However, it’s worth considering not only these differences when assessing a governor’s performance as an executive officer but also the personal style with which he or she chooses to govern.<\/p>\n

Staff members are the backbone of any office. They help to get things done, provide support for the boss’s decisions, and act as a voice in meetings with other staff or legislators. But one position is arguably more important than all others: chief of staff. Chiefs oversee operations across departments and agencies; they manage crises large and small; they shepherd legislation through committee hearings into law – there simply isn’t anything that can happen without them knowing about it first. Most recently, an advertising campaign<\/a> named “Tell Your Story<\/em>” <\/em>launched by The California Department of Public Health had to be approved through the Chief of Staff’s office.<\/p>\n

One iconic chief of staff, Susan Kennedy<\/a>, served in the office of Governor Schwarzenegger. She is an expert at connecting people with power across many sectors and organizations and has a long and illustrious career in the government. \u00a0She also has an extensive background as a lawyer and environmental activist.<\/p>\n

Ms. Kennedy has been involved in nearly every major project to protect the environment, including slowing global climate change from pollution caused by fossil fuels like coal or natural gas for energy production. The most notable example is what many consider to be the State’s most extensive efficiency program- called Renewables Portfolio Standard<\/a>– explicitly designed to reduce carbon emissions.<\/p>\n

Here are some critical roles of a chief of staff in the governor’s office:<\/p>\n

1. Managing time<\/strong><\/p>\n

Time is a governor’s most precious resource. Many people compete for the governor’s time, including family members, friends of the administration, and constituency members needing help. Agency heads from various departments within government organizations, including party leaders and interest groups looking into how legislation gets passed through state law, may also need some time with the governor. There must be clarity around priorities to manage this responsibility \u2013 knowing when certain tasks should take precedence over others based on different criteria such as the level of importance vs. deadline date.<\/p>\n

2. Managing policy agendas<\/strong><\/p>\n

The chief of staff must devote substantial attention to ensure the governor’s staffers and administration officials focus on priorities. The role of a Chief’s assistant is administrative and an important political position as they provide insight into how state employees can best advance their Governor’s vision through implementation.<\/p>\n

The chief of staff’s role in this regard includes:<\/p>\n