Intern of the week

While some Capitol Hill interns take to D.C. nightlife rather quickly, Blake Scott, intern for Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa), recently spent nights with his eyes glued to the 2006 World Cup. 

“I’m in withdrawal right now,” Scott said.

Given his passion for soccer, it is hard to judge Scott, who kicked his first soccer ball at age four and has been kicking ever since.

Scott plays for Central College, a small liberal arts college in Pella, Iowa, where he majors in business administration.

Prior to playing for Central, Scott played club soccer in his hometown of Norwalk, Iowa. His team collected seven state championships, setting a record for most championship wins. At Norwalk High School, Scott’s team made first team all conference four times. Scott, 20, begins senior year this fall.

As Latham’s intern, Scott works closely with Latham’s legislative assistants and is responsible for writing constituent letters, attending hearings, researching talking points, writing memos and as always, giving Capitol tours.

“I actually enjoy giving tours because you get to interact with people,” Scott said. “Often times people have never been to the Capitol. It’s fun, and you get out of the office for a little bit during the day.”

Though it is Scott’s first time on the Hill, politics run through his veins thanks to his mother, Tamara Scott. Tamara, who ran for the Iowa House of Representatives in 2000, is the state’s director of Concerned Women for America, a group aiming to combine Bible principles and public policy.

“She didn’t win, but that’s a great learning opportunity for me to see how it all worked at that level,” Scott said. 

A self-confessed sports junkie, Scott enjoys any kind of outdoors activity, from running to playing soccer on the Mall.

“One of my favorite things to do is attempt to golf,” Scott said. “I play, but I’m not too good at it.”