Teague man named chief of D.C. staff

Accepting a position as a congressional chief of staff in Washington, D.C., is Ken Nealy, son of Fonzell Nealy of Teague.

Nealy has joined the staff of U.S. Rep. Andre Carson as chief of staff and counsel.

A native of Texas, Nealy earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science at Texas Southern University and a doctor of jurisprudence degree at Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston.

After his first year of law school, Nealy clerked for U.S. Judge Calvin Botley in Houston and after his second year interned in the Office of Legislative Affairs in the White House.

He moved to Shanghai, China, in 2003 to work as the congressional affairs advisor for a U.S.-based company and also serve as the congressional affairs advisor to Maryland trade office in China.

Nealy joined the international law firm of Simmons and Simmons and then worked for Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson, serving as the firms marketing and communications director and opening its first office in China.

Most recently, he served as senior appropriations counsel for U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee of California.

Fonzell Nealy serves as veterans service officer in Freestone county.