After opening her campaign headquarters on South Main Street recently, 5th District Congressional candidate Elizabeth Esty of Cheshire has now added a key staff member to her election team.

Russell Griffin will direct field operations for the campaign, Esty announced this week. A veteran field director with more than a decade of experience, Griffin speciaizes in organizing tough primary campaigns, according to a statement.

“Russell is a talented organizer with the right experience to bring people together in our grassroots campaign to end partisan gridlock and bring common-sense solutions to Washington," Esty said in a statement.

"I’m excited to help Elizabeth continue to grow her strong grassroots organization that will keep the 5th District blue in November," Griffin added.

Esty's campaign also announced recently that she has more cash on hand than any other candidate for 5th District race.

In a statement, Esty noted that she has $576,541 cash on hand with more than $201,000 raised in the fourth quarter of 2011 and a total of $825,068 for the year.

Esty is running for the seat being vacated by Democrat Congressman Christoper Murphy of Cheshire who is seeking the U.S. Senate seat left open by the upcoming retirement of Joseph Lieberman.