Rep. Cisneros Announces Staff for the 31st District

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. announced his congressional staff that will help him serve the 31st District. He released the following statement: 

“I’m proud of the diverse team we’ve assembled to serve the 31st District. They are from our communities, can speak the languages of our district, and understand the needs of our constituents. While they bring a wide array of experiences, perspectives, and knowledge, the one thing they all share in common is dedication to public service. We are all ready to put in the work for the families and communities of the San Gabriel Valley.” 

Below is a list of the Congressman’s staff: 

Monique Bolsajian, Legislative Director - Monique has served as a congressional staffer for four years. Most recently, she was with the Democratic Vice Chair Ted Lieu (CA-36) as a Legislative Assistant handling the office’s national security and foreign affairs portfolios. Monique is currently completing a Master of Arts degree in Defense and Strategic Studies at the U.S. Naval War College. Monique received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Global Studies and English Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is originally from the South Bay of Los Angeles. 

Jacob Edwards, Legislative Correspondent - Jacob managed call time for the Cisneros for Congress campaign during the 2024 general election. He first came to Capitol Hill as an intern for Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33) and House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05). He is a California native and holds a bachelor's degree in political science from California State University, Sacramento. 

Audrey Jimenez, Military Legislative Assistant - Audrey previously worked with Congressman Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) in a variety of roles, handling veterans issues, his work on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as vice chair for diversity and inclusion, assisting with the national defense and armed services work in House Armed Services Committee, and managing his schedule and DC office operations. She has also worked for former Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) and former Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34). Audrey holds a B.A in Business Administration from the University of Maryland. She grew up in San Antonio, TX and comes from a military family, including two siblings currently serving active duty in the U.S. Navy. 

Kristi Matsudaira-Yee, Field Representative - Kristi joins the district office coming off the 2024 campaign trail, where she worked at a Democratic direct mail firm. She has experience on campaigns across local, state, and congressional races. Kristi is a graduate from the University of California, Berkeley with BAs in Political Science and Sociology. There, she was published in the California Digital Library, served as Vice President of Risk Management on the Panhellenic Council, and taught a course on women in American politics. 

Martin G. Medrano, Chief of Staff - Previously, Martin served as Congressman Cisneros’s District Director in the 116th Congress, overseeing district operations and cultivating key community relationships. Most recently, he was the Community Relations Manager for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), District Director for California State Senator Josh Newman, and Political Director for the 2018 Cisneros for Congress campaign. A lifelong San Gabriel Valley resident, he made history as the youngest member of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Board of Education (2015–2020) and also served as a Trustee on the La Puente Valley Regional Occupation Board. Martin holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Tammy Peng, Director of Constituent Services – Tammy served in the same capacity during Congressman Cisneros’s first term in the 116th Congress. Prior to reprising her current role, Tammy worked for California State Senator Josh Newman and various non-profit civil and legal organizations, uplifting the voices of the unseen and unheard. Tammy is a 1.5 generation immigrant from Taiwan and grew up in the East San Gabriel Valley. She holds a B.A. from UCLA, an M.A. from USC and a J.D. from Whittier College, and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese. 

Thomas Rivera, Legislative Assistant - Thomas is a proud homegrown product of Baldwin Park and a first-generation Salvadoran-American. He was previously a Legislative Affairs Specialist at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and a Legislative Correspondent for Congressman Cisneros in the 116th Congress. He first came to Capitol Hill as an intern for former Rep. Grace Napolitano (ret.) through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Thomas holds a B.A. in both Politics and Economics from Pomona College in Claremont, CA. 

Christiane Salamat, Field Representative - Christiane is a Southern California native, hailing from the Inland Empire. Her first experience in public service was as a student intern at the Office of State Senator Connie Leyva, an internship that she resumed upon her graduation from the University of California, Berkeley, from which she holds a B.A. in Media Studies. Before joining the Office of Congressman Cisneros, she worked as a district representative for State Senator Josh Newman, serving as his liaison to the East San Gabriel Valley portion of the district.   

Catalina Valera, Field Representative - Catalina Valera is a proud Latina who graduated from the University of La Verne with a bachelor's degree in Public Administration. With years of experience in local and state government, she is dedicated to serving her community as a field representative for the U.S. House of Representatives. Catalina plans to further her education by pursuing a master's degree in policy and continuing her commitment to making a positive impact in public service. 

Jacob Wolak, District Director - Jacob was most recently Campaign Manager for Cisneros for Congress where he helped oversee a budget of $7 million. Born and raised in the 31st District, Jacob enlisted in the Marine Corps as an Amphibious Assault Vehicle Crewman after graduating high school. After leaving the service in 2015, he went on to get his BA in Political Science from Cal Poly Pomona. During that time he began working for Congressman Cisneros as a Field Representative/Staff Assistant in the 116th Congress. Jacob went on to work for Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38) as a Field Representative/Caseworker. In 2024 Jacob completed his Master's in Business from the University of Southern California. 

Katherine Zimmermann, Director of Operations - Katherine manages the Congressman's schedule and office's operations. Prior to joining Congressman Cisneros's office, Katherine worked for Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) for two years. She started her career on the Hill as an intern for former Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-09) and Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), and as a Staff Assistant/Legislative Correspondent for former Congresswoman Marie Newman (IL-03). 

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