Former Berlin Resident Finds Calling in the District
By Bill Yelenak
WASHINGTON – Many times when outsiders accept their first position on Capitol Hill, they describe their experiences in being thrust into a new, unfamiliar job as a “baptism by fire.”
For Brian Schubert, a 23-year-old Berlin native and former New Britain Herald staff writer, learning the ropes was more of an inferno.
Schubert, who had no previous political experience, other than working with U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-5) as an intern in her district office, signed onto the Johnson campaign this past election as her press secretary.
And what training it was.
Schubert became engulfed in what was expected to be one of the most highly contested House races in the country. Connecticut lost one seat in the House in the reapportionment that followed the 2000 census, and, after new district lines were drawn, it became apparent that Johnson, then representing the 6th District, would have to run against U.S. Rep. Jim Maloney, a Democrat then representing the 5th District.
Schubert said the opportunity to work on Johnson’s reelection campaign was an amazing opportunity, especially to be in a race where it was incumbent against incumbent – something that was happening in only three other races in the country, according to Schubert.
“Most people my age don’t get that kind of access to senior members of Congress,” Schubert said, adding that one of his most memorable times working with his boss was helping form her Congressional convention speech. “We talked it over, and at the end, she delivered one hell of a speech. It set the tone for the rest of the campaign.”
While writing and assisting with speeches is something Schubert has done throughout his short political career, he said he feels more comfortable standing behind the podium than holding the pencil. Giving speeches came easily for Schubert, who was a member of Berlin Upbeat, a community-based outreach program at his high school, he said.
“I was privileged to help lead the peer leadership group at Berlin High that was teaching kids to make good decisions, act before they think and get involved in the community,” he said.
While public speaking is sometimes referred to as people’s greatest fear, Schubert said it has quickly become one of his best attributes.
“I’ve always enjoyed getting up in front of an audience,” he said. “Everyone gets nervous about doing it, but it is a rush when you’re able to give a speech or a talk and you’re able to have the audience respond to you.”
And in last year’s election, the audience responded in a big way. With Schubert and Johnson handling the press and Johnson meeting and listening to constituents, she was elected to the newly formed 5th District with 54 percent of the vote.
With a more convincing victory than had been expected, many could speculate that Schubert always had it figured out and meant to arrive at a career working on Capitol Hill. However, he confessed, it took “a little luck” to arrive at his current career.
After graduating from Berlin High School and then from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Schubert said he was still unsure about his professional direction. After seeing an advertisement in his hometown paper, Schubert said he “jumped at it, and that’s how I got my first job out of school.”
Schubert said he was interviewed by New Britain Herald executive editor Jonathan Cooper, who told him he would be writing stories, doing research and making phone calls as a reporter. Schubert said the two got along right from the start – until Cooper wanted him to write a story.
“I was kind of floored,” Schubert said of the task on his first day. “I was like, ‘You’re going to make me write a story?’ ”
Schubert took a press release and churned out 400 words on a state senator from Connecticut.
“On my first day as a journalist, I’m gabbing with a senior member of the Connecticut state Senate,” Schubert recalled. “It was humbling and exhilarating at the same time, and that sent me on my way, and I worked there for over a year.”
Then, Schubert said, Johnson’s campaign office told him “they needed someone to come on and do press work for them for the campaign. And it was an opportunity I certainly wasn’t going to turn down, so I jumped at that.”
The time working as a journalist and now as a press secretary has given Schubert a unique insight into what journalists are looking for and how to make it easier for them.
“I have an understanding of what their needs are, especially in crunch time,” Schubert said. “When you have journalists covering different races, their time is as precious as mine.”
Schubert said there were a few things he learned from “being on both sides of the coin,” but most of all it was interesting to try being in the other person’s shoes.
“Being covered as opposed to covering someone else is very sobering,” Schubert said. “I don’t think it’s a bad idea for politicians to be journalists for a while and for journalists to be politicians for a while.
“In other words, to cover before you’re covered and to be covered before you cover.”
And while Schubert has made a seamless transition from the reporting side to fielding journalists’ questions, he said a look at the political life has not made him desire a career as a legislator – at least not yet.
“I’m happy with what I’m doing. I have no desire at the present, but who knows,” Schubert said. “It’s a little early right now to be thinking about that. I want to establish something for myself before I get out there.”
Schubert’s happiness with his current profession has persuaded him that graduate school or law school may not be the right thing for him just yet. While it’s still an option for the future, he said, he wasn’t ready for it right after his graduation from Boston College.
“I needed to get some real-world experience and, frankly, I don’t think I’d learn as much from graduate school,” he said. “I don’t think I’d be able to contribute as much to whatever school I went to.”
The die-hard Boston Red Sox fan knows one thing for sure – by attending law or graduate school, he wouldn’t have covered a “hot” mayor’s race in Newington when working at the New Britain Herald. He wouldn’t have worked on a reelection campaign. And he wouldn’t have had a new profession, a new calling and a job on Capitol Hill.
As he’s finishing his morning coffee, Schubert hears the distinct tone of a cell phone echo through one of the House building’s cafeterias.
“Is that me?” Schubert says, padding his pocket and checking his cell phone. “That’s the other thing about his town. Cell phones are everywhere, and the BlackBerries, too.”
And while many, including some Hill veterans, may wonder if a BlackBerry is a fruit or an electronic handheld device, Schubert has figured it out in just a short time.
His “trial by inferno” worked out pretty well after all.
Bill Yelenak, a Boston University student, works at the Boston University Washington News Service in Washington, D.C. His telephone number is 202-756-2860 ext: 114 and his email is byelenak@newbritainherald.com.
Published in The New Britain Herald, in Connecticut.
