Why He Matters
As chief of staff, David Gillies has long been the oil that keeps Rep. Jerry Costello’s (D-Ill.) office running smoothly. It’s his job to oversee the staff, make sure the lawmaker is up-to-date on all information, and serve as one of the congressman’s top advisers.
Gillies pulls double-duty since he also serves as press secretary for Costello, guiding all of his boss’s interactions with the media.
In Their Own Words
“I like politics. To be able to do this for a job and be a part of the overall system here, to be in public service, that’s a lot of fun,” Gillies said. “One of the joys of this job is that we help a lot of people with a variety of issues. That part of what the Congressman does is often little noticed, but it is very real.”
Path To Power
Gillies was born in Evanston, Ill. but considers Springfield, Ill. to be his hometown. He now lives in Fairfax, Va., with his wife and two children.
He graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio in 1991 with a degree in political science, then completed his master’s degree in the same subject at The Ohio State University, graduating in 1994.
Gillies said his mother was a local television reporter, and he always enjoyed following politics and listening to the conversations at home.When he was younger, Gillies volunteered for a few afternoons on one of now-Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) campaigns for the House, an experience he considers to be his first real political involvement.
Capitol Hill
After graduate school, Gillies worked for Rep. Glenn Poshard (D-Ill.) from December1995 until January 1999, serving the last year and a half as Poshard’s chief of staff.
Stabenow’s Office
Gillies then served as legislative director for then-Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) from January 1999 to December 2000.
Costello’s Office
Since December of 2000, he has served as both chief of staff and press secretary for Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.).
Gillies said he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
“I’m still enjoying my job a great deal, I’m learning things every day, I really enjoy working for the congressman,” he said.
The Issues
The most difficult part of being a House chief of staff, Gillies said, is trying to stay on top of everything, including constantly thinking ahead.
“There are a lot of moving parts around here,” he said.
Gillies said one of the common traits of effective chiefs of staff is good judgment.
“In this business in particular, I think you’re looking for people who can think strategically, politically, can think through the ramifications of decisions or votes or actions,” he said.
Bipartisanship
Gillies said he is concerned that politics is increasingly becoming divided. He came to Washington, D.C. after the Republicans under the leadership of Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) took control of the House in 1994, but said the two sides of the aisle were still able to work together.
“Congress was still able to disagree but compromise on major legislation,” he said.
Now, however, bipartisanship and compromise are becoming less common, he said. Although important legislation is still making it through Congress, Gillies said, pointing to the health care reform bill, it’s rare to see major bipartisan legislation.
“I have a concern that we’re getting to the point where compromise can’t be reached and that even more so, people don’t want to compromise, that that is not the end goal at the end of the day,” he said.
The Network
During his 16 years on Capitol Hill, Gillies has worked for Reps. Glenn Poshard (D-Ill.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Jerry Costello (D-Ill.). Stabenow is now in the Senate.
“You make a lot of good connections with people, in the greater Washington community, various industries, the people you work with,” he said.
He has good friends on both sides of the aisle from the Illinois delegation, Gillies said, and has also become acquainted with members of the industries and issues that Costello is concerned about, including aviation, due to the congressman’s position on the subcommittee.
“That’s a fun part of the job too is getting to understand issues better and getting to know the people involved,” Gilies said.