Barbara Boxer: “I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a great friend and gifted wordsmith, Dan Hammer, who is retiring…”

“I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a great friend and gifted wordsmith, Dan Hammer, who is retiring after a long and distinguished career in public service. Born and raised in San Jose, Dan attended UC Santa Cruz before moving to Boston to manage an antiwar printing press. He returned to the San Francisco Bay area soon afterwards, where he cut his editing teeth as a typesetter for Rolling Stone magazine. I first crossed paths with Dan during my 1992 Senate campaign. Dan stopped by my San Diego campaign office after work one day, and his immense talents immediately caught the attention of my local campaign manager. Dan quickly became one of my hardest working volunteers, doing everything from writing memos and news advisories to helping manage my public events. After I won the election, I knew I had to have Dan on my team. Although it took some convincing, he joined my San Diego district office in 1994. Dan has held many positions in my offices over the years. As a San Diego-based field representative, he served as my eyes and ears on the ground, keeping me apprised of critical issues in southern California. As my deputy press secretary based out of my Washington, DC office, Dan worked many late nights writing press releases and staffing me at events. As my constituent communications director, Dan moved my entire legislative correspondence operation from DC to southern California, managing the full operation with discipline and precision.…”