Ross announced that he has hired Arkansas native Gene Higginbotham as Deputy District Director, who joins Ross’ staff after working for Senator Mark Pryor as his Executive Assistant and Field Representative. Ross also promoted Milton Ezell, a current Ross staff member, to the position of Deputy District Director.  Both Higginbotham and Ezell will be based in Ross’ Pine Bluff Congressional office. 

“Through this announcement today, I am proud to welcome Gene to my staff and to reward Milton for his hard work for the people of Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District,” Ross said.  “Gene brings a wealth of experience and know how to my Congressional staff, and his previous work in Arkansas has given him a tremendous understanding of the issues that affect all those who live in the Fourth District and call it home.  Milton’s vast experience in public service has proven invaluable to me and my office, and I am proud to promote him to such a well-deserved role.”

In his new role as Deputy District Director, Ezell will serve as the Congressman’s liaison to communities within the Fourth District. He will continue to oversee outreach to community leaders and elected officials, organize meetings on a variety of local issues and represent the Congressman at events throughout the district.

Ezell is a native of McGehee, Arkansas, and has worked for Ross since 2002 as his Director of Community Outreach.  Ezell took a leave of absence from Ross’ staff last fall where he served as Deputy Campaign Manager for the Arkansas Democratic Party’s Victory 2006 Campaign. 

As Deputy District Director, Higginbotham will serve as Ross’ primary Agriculture liaison in the district.  Higginbotham will be responsible for issues related to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior, among others.  In addition, Higginbotham brings his background and expertise in economic development and special projects to Ross’ team.  

Higginbotham previously served as Executive Assistant and Field Representative for U.S. Senator Mark Pryor from 2003 until June 2007, a job he left to become Ross’ Deputy District Director. In that role, he worked closely with counties throughout the Fourth Congressional District on federal issues affecting Arkansans. Higginbotham has also worked for the Central Arkansas Development Council, the U.S. Marshall Service and the Atlanta Braves. Higginbotham is a Bryant High School graduate who received an Associate’s degree from Arkansas State University at Beebe and a Bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.  Higginbotham also earned a Master’s degree in Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a Master’s degree in Sports Administration from Georgia State University.

Both Ezell and Higginbotham will work in Ross’ Pine Bluff District office, located at 2300 West 29^th Street, Suite 1A in Pine Bluff.

-30-