18 Assembly Fellowship Posts Will Be Awarded

College graduates interested in legislative careers may begin applying for 18 State Assembly Fellowships to be awarded next year, officials announced.

The Fellows will work as full-time staffers and help lawmakers with budget and policy issues during the 1999-2000 legislative session, said Stuart Waldman, a field representative at the office of state Assemblyman Robert Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks). Winners will also receive a monthly stipend of $1,792, health insurance and 12 graduate units from Cal State Sacramento, he said.

“They will take part in a tremendous learning program. They are not just dropped in an office to work for 11 months. They have to earn the 12 units,” Waldman said. “It allows people who otherwise who couldn’t get jobs as legislative aides to come into an office and do legislative work. These people are given legislative work from day one.”

Fellows also take part in weekly seminars with legislators, staffers, journalists, lobbyists and officials.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree by October. The application deadline is Feb. 17.

Around March, 75 applicants will be invited to interview with a selection committee in Sacramento or Los Angeles, Waldman said. Eighteen Fellows are announced in May. In late fall, the Fellows begin interviewing with Assembly members they would like to work with.

Applicants may receive Fellowship applications through Hertzberg’s office at 6150 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 350. For more information, call (818) 904-3840.