President-elect Barack Obama Saturday morning announced that Valeria Jarrett, a long-time family friend and close counselor with a long history in Chicago politics, will serve as a senior White House advisor when he takes office. The Obama transition team also announced the choice of two other individuals for key positions. Phil Schiliro, a long time congressional investigator for Rep. Henry Waxman, California Democrat, will serve in the Obama White House as the head of the White House legislative affairs office. And Ron Klain, who served as chief of staff to Vice President Gore in the Clinton White House, will fill the same position for Vice President-elect Joe Biden. These individuals will be essential members of our team, Obama said in a statement released by the transition office. "I have the utmost confidence that their broad and diverse experience will serve my administration and the American people well."
