U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree has moved one of her staff members into a new post described as the "recovery czar," handling issues related to the economic stimulus.

Jackie Potter, a former chief of staff for Pingree's Democratic predecessor in the 1st Congressional District, Tom Allen, had been working as a policy advisor for Pingree in community and economic development.

Potter will work out of Pingree's Exchange Street office in Portland, helping constituents take advantage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The stimulus will funnel about $1 billion into Maine and provide an array of tax cuts and other provisions to ease the impact of the recession.

"I've asked Jackie to be our point person on this to serve as a resource for businesses, groups and individuals who want to take advantage of the opportunities the Economic Recovery Act is going to create in Maine," Pingree said in a prepared statement.

Potter managed Allen's first election campaign in 1996 and held the chief of staff position in his office for about eight years.

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