Will Smith
Want to meet a Legislative Director who got his start making good, clean hip hop music? Oops… wrong Will Smith!
Anyways, you should talk to Will Smith, the Hill Staffer!
Legislative Director
Rep. Nick Langworthy
Meet Will, Legislative Director for Rep. Nick Langworthy. Previously featured in CNCT’s Top Ten Legislative Directors list, Will is regarded as a stand-out LD and deeply cherished by his team. One coworker writes, “[Will has] been with our office since day one and our legislative team wouldn’t be able to function without him.”
In the early days of his career, Will was working on campaigns in Arizona when he realized that he wanted to move into policy at the federal level. Knowing he needed to move to D.C. for this change, he sold all of his belongings, moved across the country, and worked various jobs until he landed his first Hill job as a Legislative Correspondent for Rep. Doug Collins in May of 2017. Will has been moving up the policy ladder on the Hill ever since!
Despite being a leader in policy, Will emphasizes that communication is the most valuable skill to have on the Hill. He writes, “Communication, communication, communication. I think some of the best and brightest people I’ve had the pleasure of working with on the Hill are the way they are because they know how to communicate with people.”
While Will is known in his office for being a great LD, he is also known by many Staffers for his unofficial, cocktail-forward gathering he used to host, named “Club William.”
Keep reading to get to know more about Will ⬇️
CHAMPAGNE CHIC: Masterclass and Reception
Ever wanted to try the fancy champagne you've heard about but never bought? Here's your chance! At CNCT Champagne Chic, you will experience guided tastings of Dom Perignon, La Grande Dame, Moët & Chandon Impérial, complimentary spirits, and food.
➡️ Additionally, all tickets come with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label to take home for later enjoyment ($60 value). Buy tickets here!
His Backstory
🏠 Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
🎓 College & Major: Arizona State University, Political Science
💭 Favorite Hill Memory: “My boss successfully got his Amendment included in the 2023 FAA Reauthorization that preserved pilot training standards. This was something that constituents in Rep. Langworthy’s district had fought for since a horrific crash in 2009 resulted in the completely avoidable loss of life. My boss stuck to his guns and we worked hard to gather support for the amendment. It was amazing to see us not only successfully accomplish this, but also to see how our hard work advocating for this amendment - with dozens of offices and outside groups - paid off when the amendment passed with magnanimous bipartisan support… And all for a good cause!”
🔗 CNCT with Will about…
His trip to Siena, Italy 🇮🇹
The next history book you should read
The best wineries in Virginia 🍷
His unusual talent: Fancy & Trick Rodeo Roping
Will on Staffer Struggles:
As we all know, life as a Staffer includes long days, hard work, and unavoidable stress. Will addresses some of these ‘Staffer struggles’ by suggesting a change in perspective:
“You work longer hours and more days in the year than most of your peers in other industries and lines of work. You drink from a firehose every day as a Staffer between the legislative activity, constituent communication, hundreds of advocacy groups, and just the news of the day. It can leave anyone feeling a bit drained by the time the week is over.”
“[As a Staffer,] you learn good habits for how to be successful in your day to day routine. You learn to cut through the noise and get to what needs to be done to support your boss, the Member of Congress, and help them further their goals and objectives. And yeah – the hours and the commitment are different here, but you also are in the center of everything going on, and that on its own can make for one hell of an experience.”
❤️ Will’s Favorites
Coffee Spot: Misha’s in Old Town Alexandria
Bar: Off the Record
Happy Hour: Rappahannock Oyster Bar
Lunch Spot: Barcelona Wine Bar
TV Show: Frasier
Will’s Guide on How to CNCT
“In a previous office I worked in, I became the de facto bartender for a gathering of Staffers known as 'Club William.' That was a great way to get to know people beyond our day-to-day work. But beyond that, I think the biggest thing you can do … is find common ground with people, show an interest in their lives and their interests and, if you haven’t seen someone in a while, reach out and see if they’re up for grabbing a beer (or coffee or a round of golf). Valuable connections can take time.”
With those in the opposite party…
“You can get to know people from all walks of political life here. Whether you work for a Democrat or Republican, Staffers here do a lot of the same type of work, have the same experiences with their jobs, pursue similar career paths, and oftentimes came to D.C. for remarkably similar reasons.”
📚 Will’s Book Recommendations
On China by Henry Kissinger
The Alchemist by Pablo Coelho
No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Do you know someone on the Hill who should be our Staffer Spotlight for a week?
Nominate them here and let us hear their story!
Staffer Advice
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
“Most people only have a narrow window in their professional lives where working on the Hill is doable. Embrace it for all that it is and you won’t regret it.”
- Will Smith