Staff of Congressman Jason Chaffetz

Utah is overflowing with smart, talented and principled people.  I have never needed to look beyond the talent pool of our own state to hire my staff.  Each and every member of my staff has ties to Utah and understands what is important to you.

Washington, D.C. Staff

Justin Harding, Chief of Staff

Justin Harding was born and raised in Southern Utah.  He received his B.S. in Political Science from Southern Utah University and has spent the past 12 years working for different members of Utah’s Congressional Delegation.  Justin and his wife, Bridgette, have five beautiful children.

Mike Jerman, Legislative Director

Mike Jerman received an MBA from Brigham Young University and worked twelve years in international sales management and five years as vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association. Before moving to Washington in January 2009 to work for Rep. Chaffetz, Mike lived in Draper, Spanish Fork, and Provo and worked in Springville, American Fork, and Salt Lake.

Troy D. Stock, Counsel

Troy Stock received his B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law.  Troy has worked for Congressman Chaffetz since 2010 handling Judiciary Committee issues.

Fred Ferguson, Senior Legislative Assistant

Fred Ferguson grew up in Summit County, attended high school at Skyline High and later attended Dixie State College and the University of Utah on baseball scholarships.  In 2008, Fred graduated from “The U” as a member of the Mountain West Conference All-Academic team.  He holds a B.S. in Political Science and is getting his Master’s Degree at Drexel University.  His responsibilities include the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; the Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense, and Foreign Operations; and energy, environmental, and natural resources issues.  He enjoys golf, slowpitch softball, and visiting family and friends back in Utah.  Fred has worked for Congressman Chaffetz since January 2009.

John Hadlock, Manager of Media Relations/Legislative Aide

John Hadlock was born and raised in Spanish Fork, Utah.  He received his B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University.  He is currently a graduate student at George Mason University, working towards his Masters of Public Administration.  John enjoys volleyball, baseball, running, the performing arts, and traveling.  John has worked for Congressman Chaffetz since August 2009.

Tanner Mitchell, Legislative Aide/Scheduler

Tanner Mitchell was born in Farmington, Utah.  He recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.A. in American Studies and a dual minor in Political Science and Gerontology.  Tanner has worked for Congressman Chaffetz since January 2011.

Cindy Blackburn, Staff Assistant

Cindy was born and raised in Utah County.  She recently graduated from Utah Valley University with a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations.  While at Utah Valley University she received an award for Club Excellency as the President of the Foreign Affairs Club and Head of Operations for the Utah International Mountain Forum.  Cindy has worked for Congressman Chaffetz since August 2011.

Provo, Utah Staff

Dell Smith, District Director

Dell Smith was born and raised in northern Utah.  In 1971 he joined the Utah National Guard and served  for 37 years, his last assignment being the State Command Sergeant Major.  His hobbies are travel, spending time with family and church activities.  He is married to Connie Smith and has five children and 21 grand children.

Wade Garrett, Policy Advisor

Emily Ellsworth, Office Manager/Caseworker

Emily was born and raised in Utah.  She handles Social Security, Medicare, Postal Service, Federal Employees, and other miscellaneous casework issues.  Emily is a graduate of Utah Valley University.  She has worked for Congressman Chaffetz since January 2009.

West Jordan, Utah Staff

Jennifer Scott, District Director/Communications Director

Jennifer Scott has a long history of grass roots activism.  She has spent a decade working on municipal campaigns and issues in West Jordan, Utah, where she served as campaign manager to Mayor David Newton.  Jennifer began developing her grass roots organizing skills in 2005 while serving as the General Coordinator for the Wild West Jordan Playground, a community-built project in which organizers raised over $400,000 and pulled together more than 6,000 volunteers to build a playground over a 10-day period.  Jennifer earned a degree in public relations with a minor in political science from Brigham Young University in 1995.  She is married to Rusty Scott and they are the parents of three children.

Jennifer Andelin, Immigration and International Outreach Specialist

Jennifer Andelin is a native Utahn and has a passion for international work.  She received a B.A. from BYU in Latin American Studies with a minor in Music Performance.  Jennifer serves as the chair of the Utah Sister Cities Coalition and also chairs the West Jordan Sister City Committee (partnered with Votkinsk, Russia-the birthplace of Tchaikovsky).  Jennifer and her husband Nathan have 5 children and 5 grandchildren.  She enjoys meeting people, hiking, singing, sewing, reading, gardening and traveling. She began working for Congressman Chaffetz January 2009.

Ian Allen, Caseworker

Ian is a caseworker and a field representative for the West Jordan office.  He handles housing, IRS, grant, passport and education issues for our district.  Ian is close to completing his B.S. in Economics from the University of Utah.  He and his wife have been married for two years and just had their first child, a baby girl.  Ian’s hobbies include all sports, reading, beekeeping and fly fishing. Ian served as an intern in the West Jordan office in the Summer of 2011 and was hired on full time in the beginning of 2012.