Stumbo promotes Stewart Willis, hires KDP's Matt Erwin to replace House Democratic staff

Kentucky Democratic Party spokesman Matt Erwin will take a policy advisor job for the House Democratic caucus, while the group’s transportation expert will become acting chief of staff to House Speaker Greg Stumbo.

Stumbo announced the hires Monday.

Stewart Willis will step into the role of Stumbo’s chief of staff with the retirement of Stumbo’s longtime aide, Charlotte Ellis Land.

Willis, according to a release, joined the House Democratic caucus staff in 2011 to advise on transportation budget and highway plan issues, as well as the House redistricting maps.

Erwin has served as communications director for the Kentucky Democratic Party for the last two election cycles. A former aide in the Illinois House speaker’s office, Erwin will serve as senior policy advisor for House committee chairmen.

He takes the place on the House caucus staff of Brian McIntire, who left Kentucky to take a job in the state department, along with his wife, Allyson Hamilton-McIntire. Hamilton-McIntire, a former employee at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, was hired as a foreign service officer in September.