Rep. Smith's chief of staff quits to take new job with health-care company

Josh Haynes, a fixture in 8th Congressional District Republican politics for more than a decade, has resigned as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo.

Haynes is taking a position as director of government affairs for Wellcare, a Florida-based company that has a contract with the state of Missouri to manage health care for Medicaid patients. Haynes said Tuesday he and his wife, Heather, and their two children, 10-year-old Molly and 7-year-old Henry, will move to Springfield, Missouri, where he will be based.

"It's just a great opportunity," he said, adding he has family who live in the Springfield area.

Smith released a statement, praising Haynes. Smith called Haynes "a valuable resource to myself and residents of the 8th District." The congressman added Haynes' service to the district is "unmatched, and he will always be a member of my family and Team Smith. He will do great in his new undertaking. He is a good friend and someone I will always rely upon."

Haynes previously worked as district chief of staff for then-U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson when she represented the sprawling 8th District of southeastern Missouri.

Haynes, who grew up in Kansas City, was hired by then-Emerson chief of staff Lloyd Smith in 2003 and assumed the chief of staff position in the district in 2009. He subsequently served as campaign manager for Smith, who was elected in a June 2013 special election.

Smith replaced Emerson, who resigned to take an executive position with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The congressman was elected to a full, two-year term in 2014.

Haynes said he enjoyed working for Emerson and Jason Smith. He added Lloyd Smith was his mentor.

"It was an amazing experience working with him," he said.

Lloyd Smith always emphasized the importance of serving the constituents, Haynes said. He recalled Lloyd Smith helped acclimate him to the largely rural congressional district.

"He made me go sit on a combine for a day," Haynes said, adding he also was instructed to take a boat ride on the Mississippi River.

As chief of staff, Lloyd Smith was based in Cape Girardeau. That practice continued when Haynes took over the role for Emerson and then for the current congressman.

"More than anything, the job involves trying to help people," Haynes said.

In his new job, Haynes will be working with health-care providers and lawmakers. In many ways, he said, his new job also is about serving people.

Haynes said he has enjoyed working on congressional campaigns.

"I will miss the campaign side," he said.

Haynes has admiration for Emerson and Jason Smith. He said Smith works tirelessly for the district, putting in long hours.

Haynes said his resignation Friday was not prompted by the ongoing federal investigation of alleged spending abuses by former Illinois congressman Aaron Schock, a Republican colleague of Smith.

The Hill, a newspaper that covers politics, reported in September that Smith accompanied Schock on campaign and government trips in 2014. Schock resigned in March amid the ongoing investigation.

One of the trips was an eight-day visit to Brazil by Schock, Smith and others last year.

According to The Hill, the Brazilian government paid for the trip. But after official business was completed, Schock, Smith and some staff members traveled to a Brazilian beach resort, The Hill said. Haynes said he did not accompany Smith on the Brazil trip.

Smith's current deputy chief of staff is Mark Roman, Schock's former chief of staff. Roman, who was working for Schock then, was on the trip, The Hill reported.

In the aftermath of Haynes' resignation, Smith praised his entire staff.

"Our team is blessed with numerous talented individuals with the heart to serve this district by offering unparalleled constituent services and important assistance to folks as they try to navigate the often cumbersome, time consuming and complicated maze of federal agency rules, regulations and paperwork," he said.

A new chief of staff has not been named.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

2502 Tanner Drive, Suite 205, Cape Girardeau, Mo.