Chip Saltsman out as Fleischmann chief of staff as of Jan. 1

Chip Saltsman

Chip Saltsman, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, will be departing the congressman's office Jan. 1, Fleischmann's office said today.

"It's been an incredible two years serving as Rep. Fleischmann's chief of staff," Saltsman said in a news release.

The former national campaign manager for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Saltsman ran Fleischmann's campaigns in 2010 and earlier this year.

"Chip has been an incredible asset the last two years," Fleischmann said. "His knowledge of politics and public policy is second to none."

Saltsman's replacement is Jim Hippe, Fleischmann's legislative director and counsel since January 2011.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.