JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Lisa Dailey has always had an appreciation for state capitols. As a child growing up in Madison, Wis., Dailey used to play in the Capitol building, running around the building and hearing the echoes from the marble.
When she moved to Missouri and back to Jefferson City a few years ago, she made a sudden decision: to work in the Capitol.
Dailey walked in one day, found the human resources office and began talking to them about what kind of work might be available for someone trained as an accountant.
The next day, she was offered a temp job as a substitute legislative assistant.
“I basically just walked into the building and went to [human resources] and asked if they had any jobs,” Dailey said. “I always tell people after that on the job search, don’t give up because you could happen upon something pretty lucky.”
Dailey has worked for both Democrats and Republicans as a legislative assistant before doing a three-week stint with Wieland.
As her time with Wieland ended, he asked her if she’d be interested in making the position more permanent. She accepted immediately.
“Paul and I are very in-sync,” Dailey said. “We have the same mind, sort of. We both love spreadsheets, we’re both very big on attention to detail, we’re both very studious and careful. A lot of times I think I know what he’s going to do before he tells me.”
Dailey is back in school at night, working on finished her associate’s degree so she can choose a major and finally complete a full bachelor’s degree.
Between a day job and evening classes, she doesn’t get much free time. But as a stay-at-home-mom for 20 years, Dailey said at least she isn’t missing her family as much.
“They all grew up and moved away and I got to see that part of their life,” Dailey said. “So now I’m going back to school, which as an older person I think is much easier because I’m much better at being a student now.”
She’s worked as an accountant, and in elderly care, but said her job at the Capitol is “the best she’s ever had.”
“Working with people, with constituents and helping [Wieland] stay organized, it’s just very fulfilling, rewarding work,” she said. “And I want to keep doing it until they kick me out.”
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
