Special Report CAPITAL CONN Beltway from page 12 Eric Feldman with Congressman Gary Peters Chief of Staff At the age of 29, Eric Feldman of Farmington Hills is wowing his peers as one of the youngest chiefs of staff on Capitol Hill. He runs the office of Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills, who rep- resents most of Oakland County including many of Feldman's family members and friends. Another U-M graduate, Feldman also started out in Washington, D.C., in 2000 as an intern for Sen. Levin along with Simon and Tronstein (Simon was the best man at his wedding). From there, he went on to work for several House leader- ship offices over several years including the office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. who is now Speaker of the House of Representatives. "Working for the congressman repre- senting my home district was always a dream of mine says Feldman. "Shortly after Gary's victory, I was planning to travel home for my birthday. I asked if he'd be willing to meet with me to discuss the possibility of joining his staff. We met, we hit it off and he offered me the opportu- nity to serve as his chief of staff' Feldman traces his passion for politics back to his days in the Farmington Public School District. When he was just 10 years old, he remembers a school funding millage being narrowly defeated. When it passed years later, he took notice. "The new lab equipment began to arrive, the new computers and tech- nologies were installed and the building expansions began just as I was graduating from high school;' Feldman said. "For me, there was a clear realization of the direct impact elections can have on all of our lives:' While his rise to success has been mete- 14 November 19 = 200 Ai Bryce Sandler, right, with political donor David Trott of Birmingham oric, Feldman says he plans to stay in his current position for a while. "It's an honor and a job I take very seri- ously," he says. "What we're working on has a direct impact on people and places close to my heart. It's very rewarding." Michigan Focus Ilana Levinson, 25, of Farmington Hills and Bryce Sandler, 38, of Royal Oak work with a handful of Michigan lawmak- ers. Sandler is president of Sandler & Associates, a Bingham Farms-based firm he started in 2001 specializing in politi- cal fundraising and campaign manage- ment. Last year, he was a senior finance consultant for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Now, he's providing financial consulting for Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia, Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, and the Rick Snyder for Governor Committee. Snyder, an Ann Arbor businessman, is running in Michigan's 2010 gubernatorial election. "A typical day for me consists of meet- ing with donors, soliciting them, organiz- liana Levinson with Sen. Debbie Stabenow ing fundraising events and implementing communication strategies for my clients:' Sandler says. "I really don't have a dream job nor do I want to be president. I'm focused on ensuring my candidates are well positioned for election victories:' Levinson, a graduate of Michigan State, is a legislative assistant for Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., advising her in areas including education, labor, budget, agri- culture and transportation. "My job involves meeting with constitu- ents, research, writing issue memos, draft- ing the senator's plans into legislation and building coalitions among other things:' Levinson explained. "I've been focused on issues that really hit home for people in Michigan, like extending unemployment benefits. This job has renewed my appreciation for my home state. Though I'm not there geo- graphically for my day-to-day work, at times I feel more connected to Michigan than ever before. "After several years in Sen. Stabenow's office, I'm still learning new things about this state every day." Bright Future So what's next for these young Michigan- made stars? The future is wide open. None said they aspire to launch their own presi- dential campaign. But you can bet they will all play influential roles in the politi- cal process for years to come. "I definitely see myself working in pub- lic service in the long term:' Levinson said. "I'm passionate about empowering disad- vantaged populations through workforce development. I believe one of the best things you can do in public policy is give people the tools and resources for success and self-sufficiency." Michael Simon shared these observa- tions after his years in Washington, D.C. "Government is filled with passionate people who care deeply about their mis- sions and agencies:' he said. "I quickly came to realize people here are incred- ibly smart and committed. They could be making a lot more money with less frus- tration and responsibility elsewhere. They specifically chose public service because it lines up with their values." Zack Schram explained what continues to inspire him. "It is a job with the awesome respon- sibility to effect the change you've fought foe Schram said. "It is a chance to per- form tikkun olam [repair of the world] for a living." And while Ellman has found great suc- cess in our nation's capital, she says she thinks about moving back to Michigan often. "That's a very real possibility for me she said. "The important thing for me is to be working on issues I feel passionately about and to make a difference." Wherever the future leads, Sandler also says he's certain he'll continue to play a role in politics. "I encourage everyone to get involved with the political process:' Sandler adds. "Whether its a candidate you support or an issue that motivates you — get involved." To e-dialog about this story — as well as the theme of young adults who have successfully planted roots elsewhere and what Jewish Detroit is doing to keep more young professionals here — log on to: www.thejewishnews.com/community.