From broadcasting to helping wildfire victims
Life is a little calmer now for Lou Rossetti '90. Just weeks ago, when wildfires were destroying parts of Southern California, the district director for Rep. John Campbell (R-Newport Beach) was working long hours with fellow staff members, so they could spring into action if consituents needed help. Fortunately, Rossetti said, only half a dozen homes in his district were hit.
"At the ready is really the phrase," he said, discussing his staff's approach to the wildfires. "Whenever there's a disaster, the folks in D.C. want to know what's going on. I'd be up at 6 or 7 a.m. [Eastern time – Rossetti is based in California]. CNN was showing Qualcomm Stadium. We were the only source of accurate local information."
The situation was far worse for people living in neighboring Congressional districts. So, Rossetti and his colleagues pitched in to help wherever needed.
"We were working with other members of Congress and their staffs, because they were having really bad days," he said. "We were working with the Small Business Administration to get emergency loans for people. We worked with FEMA to get help for the people whose properties were affected."
Rossetti said he never imagined his career path would lead him to helping constituents during times of crisis. Before entering the political world, he was a talk radio host (using the on-air name Lou Penrose) in Palm Springs, Calif., for 10 years. That was right about the time when former Mayor Sonny Bono was running for a seat in Congress. The two became friends after the entertainer-turned-lawmaker was a perennial guest on The Lou Penrose Show.
"The national media were all over this story, but Sonny gave us local media a lot of time," Rossetti said. "I covered this amazing story of a seemingly simple guy who was able to climb mountains."
Although, relatively speaking, Palm Springs is a small broadcasting market, Rossetti was covering a big-market kind of story. The city became more of a media circus after Bono won election to Congress, then died in a skiing accident in 1998. His widow, Mary, entered the race for her husband's seat against another show-biz figure.
"Her Democratic opponent was Ralph Waite, the father from The Waltons. Another TV star, someone beloved, high-profile. So, here you have Mary Bono vs. Pa Walton. And, I'm the local talk radio guy for this amazing story."
Mary Bono won the election and asked Rossetti to work for her, triggering one of the most difficult decisions he had ever had to make.
"You eventually take your broadcasting career as far as you can, then you have to make a choice," he said. "Do I want to take my experience and go to a bigger market and start over and build a new following? Or, do I want to take the opportunity to do something else?"
Rossetti took that opportunity and hasn't regretted it. Campbell is the third Congressman for whom Rossetti has worked. Earlier this year, his colleagues recognized him with the Donald Award, given annually to one Republican legislative staffer.
"The Donald Award meant a lot because it's awarded by my peers," Rossetti said. "We all work really hard and we do it because we love what we do. Some people really shine and to be considered among them made me very proud." |
