Staff Snapshots | Jamie Plume.

Jamie Plume

Hometown: East Providence, R.I.

Role: Chief committee clerk, Rhode Island Senate, currently administering hearings of the Finance and Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight committees

Years of legislative service: 10

The best advice he's ever received: "Always bring enough to share."

Why did you choose to work at the legislature?

My third grade class field trip to the Rhode Island State House included fun mock-voting sessions and delicious pizza slices for lunch--so I suppose the seed was planted when I was very young! Much later, as I was preparing to graduate from college in 2008, the presidential primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton captured my interest. I started volunteering on election campaigns shortly after graduating, beginning at the congressional level and then for state legislative and city council races in East Providence. I soon found that I enjoyed engaging with local people and issues even more than with federal issues. My campaign experience eventually led to an opportunity to work for the state Senate. I jumped at the chance and never looked back.

What skill or talent are you most proud of?

Fairness in the execution of my duties. As a committee clerk and hearing administrator, my role isn't to judge or favor certain proposals but to provide a welcoming and productive forum where Senate bill sponsors, members of the public, the governor's administration, issue stakeholders and lobbyists can engage with the committee members, who are the elected decision-makers. Throughout my life, I've always enjoyed hosting people but at the same time disliked being the center of attention--so my Senate staff role strikes a nice balance along those lines.

Who or what inspires you?

My girlfriend and our dog love and support me unconditionally, and they're especially caring and understanding when I work so many late nights during the legislative session. I do my best to make them...