Lee to Make Strategic Staff Changes
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Mike Lee announced strategic changes to his senior staff. Boyd Matheson, who served as Senator Lee’s chief of staff for the past two years, will become a senior advisor and transition to head the senator’s political operation. Neil Ashdown, who previously served as chief of staff to Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., will take over as chief of staff in January.
Regarding the changes, Senator Lee stated, “For the past two years my team has been focused on introducing and pursuing positive policy reforms based on Utah values. These personnel changes will increase my team’s ability to further that message, grow support for these ideas, and serve the people of Utah.”
Senator Lee continued, “Boyd Matheson is a truly remarkable and outstanding chief of staff. He has been and will remain an essential member of our team. His counsel and leadership have been critical to the success of my office and have enabled us to have a significant impact in Utah and the nation. I look forward to having him focus on this new role.”
“I have known and worked with Neil Ashdown for many years, starting when we worked together in Governor Huntsman’s administration. He is a great talent, has a history of tremendous service in the Chief of Staff role and believes in the Utah governing model I am working to get Washington to follow. I am confident Neil will serve Utah and the nation as my Chief of Staff,” Senator Lee concluded.
Boyd Matheson stated, “Serving as Chief of Staff for Senator Lee has been an extraordinary honor and privilege. The Senator has assembled a team in Washington and in Utah that is second to none. The state is fortunate to have him as their senator and I look forward to helping every Utahn connect to the Senator’s positive agenda which will create upward mobility for the poor, opportunity for the middle-class and end cronyist privilege.”
“I believe in what Senator Lee is standing for in Washington” Neil Ashdown said. “His statesmanship, intellect and commitment to principle are most impressive. I have watched him work through difficult issues in the past and look forward to assisting him and serving the people of Utah in the critical days ahead.”
Bio: Neil H. Ashdown, Ph.D.
Neil H. Ashdown, Ph.D. was the President and Director of iSchool Campus, LLC, an education technology company from 2011 to 2014. Dr. Ashdown was a Senior Vice President at Zions Bank, served in Beijing, China as Chief of Staff to U.S. Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, and earlier served as Chief of Staff to Utah Governor Jon Huntsman. Dr. Ashdown served as a Chief Economist and Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget and on the Council of Economic Advisors for Utah Governors Mike Leavitt and Olene Walker. Dr. Ashdown graduated with his Ph.D. in 2000 from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, State University of New York.
