Newly elected U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera, R-Camas, and her 92 other new House colleagues drew for office space Friday.
As an Associated Press photographer looked on, Herrera came out a winner, reacting with pleasure to her draw.
According to MCT newspapers, the biennial shifting of offices is a long tradition on Capitol Hill, where some offices are considered much better than others.
As in any political pecking order, the freshmen get the last choices.
Earlier this week, Herrera told D.C.-based reporter Les Blumenthal that she had hoped to avoid a draw that would place her on the fifth floor of the Cannon House Office Building, which she said is too isolated.
“I’m hoping the people of Southwest Washington who come to see me, can find me. It may be a closet,” Herrera explained to The Columbian this week.
Herrera previously worked on Capitol Hill as an aide to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Colville and is well acquainted with the layout of the office buildings and neighborhood.
Also today, the 93 new House and 16 new Senate members gathered on the steps of the Capitol for their official freshman class photograph. The photo had to be rescheduled from earlier in the week due to rainy weather, but the sun shone today.
The next milestone for new House members is to bid for committee assignments. Herrera hopes to be appointed to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health care.
The six-day orientation ends Saturday.
