By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Thursday, December 18, Congressman-elect Palmer announced the hiring of his District Director, Field Director and Constituent Service Liaison.
Palmer announced that former Birmingham Post-Herald lead sports columnist, radio and television personality, Ray Melick will join as District Director. Melick has spent 27 years writing and talking about sports in Birmingham.
Melick left Birmingham media in 2010 to be the Director of Communication for BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organization in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon incident. Since 2013, Melick has been the Public Affairs Manager for Georgia-Pacific in Mississippi. Melick and his wife, Mary Grace, have three children and live in Vestavia. They are members of Mountain Brook Community Church, where Melick has been an Elder and Community Group leader.
Congressman-elect Palmer said, “Ray Melick is a highly respected and tremendously talented individual who will do a tremendous job for the people in the 6th Congressional District. I have known Ray for almost 20 years. He not has great people skills and organizational ability, he has great character and a great desire to serve people.”
Ethan Vice brings considerable experience to Gary’s District Office as Field Director. Vice held the same position for the past two years serving on former Congressman Spencer Bachus’ (R-Vestavia) staff. Vice also spent five years with Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), where he served as both a Field Representative and a Legislative Assistant in Aderholt’s Washington, D.C. office. Vice is originally from Gadsden, is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He and his wife, Kim live in Hoover and attend Briarwood Presbyterian Church.
Palmer said, “I’m excited that Ethan has agreed to continue his current role as Field Director for the 6th District. He has earned the trust of the people of the Sixth District over the past two years and will provide a measure of continuity during the transition. Beyond that, I know Ethan will continue to expand his role within the District.”
Denise Weaver will work in Gary Palmer’s District Office in constituent services. Weaver has a Bachelors degree in Education from UAB and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. She is the mother of three adult children and has been involved in a number of volunteer programs around the Birmingham area. Previously, she worked at Enrollment Advisers, helping individuals with insurance questions and issues. She is a member of Hunter Street Baptist Church.
Palmer said, “I am blessed to have such an exceptional group of people working with me for the people of the 6th District.”
Citizens from the Sixth District who need help from their Congressional office are in a little bit of limbo as the District is in the process of changing over each individual staff. Citizens who need assistance are advised to either wait until Palmer’s office is up and running in January or to contact one of their US Senators (Jeff Sessions or Richard Shelby).
The following transition contact guidance was released from the office of Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL-6):
“Departing Members of the House must vacate their office spaces at the adjournment of the 113th Congress. The office space of Congressman Spencer Bachus is now closed. For help with a Federal agency, please contact Senator Jeff Sessions or Senator Richard Shelby for assistance. If you would like to contact a member of the Bachus staff, please email BachusOffice@mail.house.gov. For emergency assistance, please contact Janelle Relfe at 202-308-0313. This email address, phone number and website will be available until January 2, 2015.”
William Smith, Congressman-elect Palmer’s Chief of Staff told the Alabama Political Reporter, “We’ll be provided access to the office on Saturday, January 3 (when we get the keys). The phone remains in Spencer’s service until December 31. The official swearing in date is January 6 and we’ll be answering the phones on January 5. The main phone line will remain the same- 202.225.4921.”
