Jaime Lizarraga

Senior Adviser to Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi

Jaime Lizarraga serves as Director of Member Services and Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.

Editor: Please tell me about your current line of work.

Lizarraga: As the highest officer in the House, the Speaker decides the legislative agenda and presides over the House, and, under the U.S. Constitution, is third in line to succeed the President. Speaker Pelosi also leads the Members of the Democratic Party in the House in advancing the party's agenda. As her senior adviser for finance and housing issues, I assist the Speaker in advancing this agenda.

I have been the Speaker's point person on legislation to address the foreclosure crisis, the financial markets crisis, and the rescue package for the automobile industry. This has meant crafting and negotiating legislation with the Bush Administration, with Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, and with interest groups - all the while building consensus so that key priorities of the Democratic Party and the American people (such as protecting taxpayer investments, and ensuring openness and accountability) are included in the legislation that becomes law.

As member services director, I also advise a diverse set of freshman Democratic Members in becoming effective legislators in the House. I am also the most senior Latino staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Editor: What are some of the highlights of working for the government?

Lizarraga: It's personally fulfilling to be in a position to shape the outcome of national issues that have such enormous significance. The decisions being made in Congress to address the financial crisis, for instance, are affecting, and will continue to affect for some time to come, our economy, our financial markets, and world markets -these decisions, in fact, affect the economic well-being of millions of people. Being a part of decisions involving billions, or even trillions, of dollars, and being aware of their significance makes my work challenging, and even a little scary, but in the end, it's very rewarding.

Editor: How did you get to this point in your successful career?

Lizarraga: Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd make it this far. I am humbled but feel fortunate and privileged, while owing much of my success to my parents' and my grandmother's early encouragement and advice. When I was born, my parents were Mexican migrant farm workers in California's Central Valley and did not have much of a formal education. Despite this, they always told me that they wanted me to get as much education as I could so that I could have a better, or at least more financially stable, life than they did.

When I was 4, my parents moved our family to Mexico because my father could not bear my sister and me responding to him in English when he spoke to us in Spanish. We later moved back to the U.S. when I was in sixth grade. By the time it was time to start high school, we returned again to Mexico, where I ended up attending high school for three years.

I consider myself fully bilingual and bicultural, having grown up in the U.S. and Mexico. I'm grateful to have access to two rich cultures, but the transitions between two such different education systems posed a challenge for me, and in some ways still has an effect on my daily work-life.

I constantly had to adjust to different styles of learning, not to mention absorbing information in two different languages. I ended up applying to UC San Diego, where I later graduated with high honors and a bachelor's degree in political science and Latin American studies. Later I attended graduate school at the University of Texas' Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, where I obtained a master's degree in public affairs.

Editor: What advice do you have for students interested in a career in politics?

Lizarraga: Whatever career you pursue, it's essential that you master basic skills, such as writing, speaking, working in teams, and networking. These skills play a dramatic role in your success, especially in politics. Also, a persistent personality can go a long way.

I also think as a community, we need to turn the word ambicioso, which literally translates into English as "overly ambitious," into something positive within Latino culture. Many of our parents have raised us to not be ambiciosos, but I think it's time we embrace ambition because the Latino community as a whole will thrive as we continue to see a rise in lawyers, doctors, and engineers.

Editor: Finally, the 2008 Presidential Election saw a record turnout of voters. Please briefly discuss the importance of casting your vote.

Lizarraga: As the recent election demonstrated, voting can make a huge difference in the nation and has the power to transform the political landscape and the lives of millions of people. Higher turnout among Latinos makes elected officials pay more attention to the critical issues that face the Latino community, and can help us gain and maintain a strong voice.

Whether you're a Democrat, a Republican, or an Independent, during the next local, state, or national election, take the time to vote. It matters for our future, our children's future, and the Latino community's future! As the Speaker likes to say, Su Voto es Su Voz, your vote is your voice.

To learn more about careers in government, visit: www.usajobs.gov

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