Key
People-Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)
updated October 26, 2006
THE COMMONWEALTH PAC
Old City Hall |
45 School Street, 2nd Floor | Boston, MA
federal PAC and affiliates in IA, MI, NH, SC and formerly AZ
(announced Aug. 21, 2006)
Previously chief of staff in the Governor's Office, starting at the outset
of the Romney administration. Chief of staff to state Treasurer Joseph
Malone for five years. Graduate of Tufts University, 1979.
Political Director |
Julie Teer |
(March 2006) Teer served
as Romney's press secretary in the Governor's office starting in April
2005. Executive director for Bush-Cheney '04 in New Hampshire. Communications
director for the New Hampshire Republican State Committee starting in March
2003. Worked briefly for Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) in Washington, DC
after serving as press secretary on Sununu's campaign during fall 2002.
Served as press secretary to Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI). Native
of East Lansing.
Deputy Political Director |
Jessica Peterson |
Press Secretary |
Jared Young |
(started early Oct. 2006, announced
Oct. 17, 2006; taking over the role from Julie Teer who had been serving
as both Political Director and Spokesperson) Senior Media Associate
at The Heritage Foundation, where he focused on National Security issues
and Capitol Hill outreach. Served for 10 months in Iraq as a Senior
Press Advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority and later as the Director
of the International Press Center in Baghdad. Young’s Capitol Hill
experience includes serving as the Deputy Communications Director for the
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and in the press office to
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK). Press Secretary for Inhofe’s re-election
campaign in 2002. B.S. in financial management from Bob Jones University.
Oklahoma native.
Policy Director |
Sally Canfield |
(reported by AP on Feb. 23,
2006; started March 2006) Policy adviser to House Speaker Dennis
Hastert. Deputy chief of staff for policy at the Department of Homeland
Security under Tom Ridge; started working on homeland security in Nov.
2001. Counselor to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
A domestic policy advisor on Bush's 2000 campaign, primarily focused on
health care. Worked for Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA) and earlier for Rep.
Mac Thornberry (R-TX). Government Relations Representative for Caremark
International in Chicago. Graduate of Northwestern University.
Grew up in suburban Chicago.
Finance Director |
Spencer Zwick |
Previously served as deputy
chief of staff to Gov. Romney. Worked on Romney's 2002 campaign.
Worked in marketing for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. Attended
the University of Utah and graduated from Brigham Young University.
National Finance Advisor |
Ann Woods Herberger |
(announced Oct. 26, 2006 "assist
with the national fundraising strategy with a particular focus on Florida.")
From Miami; President of
the Woods Herberger Group, which she founded in 1995. Finance Director
on Jeb Bush's successful 1998 gubernatorial campaign; Executive Director
of the 1996 Inaugural Committee and Finance Director on Jeb Bush's 2002
re-election campaign. Vice President of The Alexander Company, a
full service fundraising and marketing company in Alexandria, Virginia,
for two years starting in 1993. Took leave from the RNC to serve
as the Deputy Finance Director for the Bush-Quayle ’92 re-election campaign.
Western Regional Director for the RNC’s major donor program, 1989-91.
Moved to Washington, DC to work at the RNC for Mary Matalin, National Victory
’88 Political Director and Margaret Alexander, National Victory ’88 Finance
Director as a part of the national Victory ’88 finance team. Began
her political career in 1987 with the George Bush for President campaign
during the Iowa presidential caucuses. Native Iowan.
Finance Consultant |
Don Stirling |
Managing partner of Rainmaker
Sports & Entertainment in Salt Lake City, Utah. CEO of the Massachusetts
Sports and Entertainment Commission, July 2004-July 2006. Marketing
director for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
Advisors
Sally Bradshaw
(announced Oct. 17, 2006)
Senior Campaign Advisor to the Bush-Brogan 2002 re-election campaign.
Chief of Staff for Gov. Jeb Bush from Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2000. Managed
Jeb Bush's 1998 and 1994 gubernatorial campaigns. Executive Director
of the Foundation for Florida's Future, a non-profit grassroots public
policy institute. Political Director of the Republican Party of Florida,
Executive Director of the 1992 Florida Bush-Quayle campaign, and Staff
Director for the House Republican Office in Tallahassee. Has lived
in Florida since 1991. Before moving to Florida, Bradshaw worked
at the White House as an Associate Director for the Office of Political
Affairs from 1989-91. Regional field coordinator for the Bush for
President campaign in 1988. Undergraduate degree in political science
from George Washington University.
Noam Neusner
(announced Oct. 17, 2006)
Founding principal of Neusner
Communications LLC, a firm specializing in strategic communications,
speechwriting, and policy-specific writing. Director of Communications
and Strategic Planning for Josh Bolten at the Office of Management and
Budget he twice oversaw the editing and production of the federal budget,
and managed all communications and media relations; also White House Liaison
to the Jewish Community. President George W. Bush's primary speechwriter
on domestic policy matters, including tax relief, Medicare reform, and
energy, for nearly two years. Nearly a dozen years experience as
a journalist including work at the Tampa Tribune, Bloomberg News, and U.S.
News and World Report and has co-authored or edited four books.
Barbara Comstock
(announced Oct. 17, 2006)
Lobbyist and strategic communications consultant at Blank
Rome Government Relations LLC; joined as a principal on Oct. 1, 2003;
for example she worked with conservative groups on the Supreme Court nominations
of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito and served as a Bush/Cheney
2004 media surrogate. Director of the Office of Public Affairs for
the U.S. Department of Justice, under Attorney General John Ashcroft, Jan.
2002-Sept. 2003. In 2001 she developed the RNC's "Winning Women"
communications initiative focusing on outreach to women voters. In
the 2000 election cycle, Comstock served as Director of Research and Strategic
Planning at the RNC. Chief Counsel, Chief Investigative Counsel and
Senior Counsel to the House Government Reform Committee, 1995-99.
A senior staffer to Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA). Professional staff member
with the House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families, 1991.
Attorney in private practice in Fairfax County, VA, 1987-90. J.D.
from Georgetown Law School, 1986; A.B. from Middlebury College, 1981.
Comstock has been involved in numerous Republican campaigns and conventions,
including serving as a Republican convention delegate and working on the
Republican Platform Committee.
IOWA
(announced May 23, 2006)
Attorney at Brown,
Winick, Graves, Gross, Baskerville and Schoenebaum PLC. The 2002
Republican gubernatorial nominee. Lawyer and lobbyist. Chief
of staff to Gov. Terry Branstad, 1984-89. Legislative liaison to
Gov. Robert Ray, 1981-83. Director of the Fuels Division for the
Iowa Energy Policy Council. Chief legislative assistant to Congressman
Tom Tauke; worked on Tom Tauke's successful 1978 campaign for Congress.
Law degree from Drake University, 1985. Bachelor's degree from Iowa
Wesleyan College in 1977. Born in Earling, Iowa (Shelby County).
Principal at JDK
Marketing & Public Affairs in Des Moines. Executive Vice
President at DCI Group. Managed Lamar Alexander's 1999-2000 Iowa
caucus campaign. Executive director of the Michigan Republican Party
in the latter part of 1996. Executive director of the Iowa Republican
Party, 1995-1996. Graduate of Iowa State University in Ames with
a degree in political science, 1992.
The Commonwealth PAC Iowa Advisory Committee.
On June 17, 2006 Romney
announced
creation of this group "composed of fifty distinguished Iowa leaders from
all across the state."
also June 17, Radio Iowa's
O. Kay Henderson reported that Gross announced Romney has hired three staff
people to work in Iowa on GOP campaigns.
Advisor |
House Speaker Christopher Rants |
(announced Sept. 27, 2006)
Represents District 54-Sioux City. First elected to the Iowa Legislature
in 1992; elected Speaker Nov. 12, 2002. B.A. from Morningside College,
1989.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
(announced Sept. 25, 2006)
Founder of Rath, Young and Pignatelli,
P.C.; started in private practice in 1980 and has been involved in
government relations since then. Member of the Republican National
Committee; delegate to every Republican National Convention since 1984.
Attorney General of New Hampshire, 1987-90. Appointed by President
George H.W. Bush to be a director of the Legal Services Corporation.
Chaired the campaigns of Sen. Warren Rudman and Sen. Judd Gregg.
Senior advisor to the presidential campaigns of Howard Baker, Robert Dole
(1987-88), Lamar Alexander (1995-99) and George W. Bush (1999-2000).
J.D. from Georgetown University Law School, 1971. B.A. from Dartmouth
College, 1967.
(announced Sept. 7, 2006)
Vice president of Elevare Communications,
a political and strategic communications firm in Concord. Director
of the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication and director of the Polling
Institute at Franklin Pierce. Campaign manager for Bruce Keough's
gubernatorial bid in the 2002 NH Republican primary. Executive director
of N.H.Citizens for a Sound Economy during the 1999-2000 NH primary campaign.
Worked at Franklin Pierce College doing fundraising and college relations
and was also was an instructor in the Political Science division and help
found the polling center, 1995-99. B.A. from Stonehill College in
No. Easton, MA; M.P.A. from George Mason University.
Chairman of NH Steering
Committee |
Bruce Keough |
(announced Sept. 26, 2006)
Principal in Islington Woods LLC, a New Hampshire real estate development
company. New Hampshire Vice Chairman of President Bush’s 2004 re-election
campaign. Candidate for the 2002 Republican nomination for Governor;
finished less than 5,000 votes behind winner Craig Benson in the September
10 primary. Served on the Board of Trustees of the University System
of New Hampshire; twice elected chairman. Elected to the State Senate
in 1994, defeating State Senator Beverly Hollingworth; served one term.
Appointed by Gov. Gregg to serve on the New Hampshire Business Finance
Authority. Degrees from Dartmouth College and Yale University.
Born and raised in Berlin, NH.
The Commonwealth PAC NH Steering Committee
.
On Oct. 4, 2006 Romney
announced
creation of this group "consisting of prominent Republicans and business
leaders in all ten New Hampshire counties, from Coos to the sea."
(58 people including Keough).
Chairman of The Commonwealth
PAC NH |
Jim Merrill |
Member of the Devine Millimet
Law firm and is currently serving as legal counsel to the New Hampshire
Republican Party. Prior to joining Devine Millimet, Merrill spent
over two years on the staff of former New Hampshire Gov. Stephen E. Merrill.
New Hampshire Field Director for the successful 2000 general election campaign
of George W. Bush and New Hampshire Grassroots Co-Chairman for President
Bush’s re-election campaign in 2004. J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law
Center, 2001. B.A. from Gettysburg College, 1994.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Field Director |
Nic Breeding |
(reported by Hotline On Call
late June 2006) Previously deputy political director at the RGA.
Worked for the South Carolina Republican Party in the 2002 cycle.
Field Director |
George Ramsey |
(reported by Chris Cillizza
in The Fix on Aug. 11, 2006) Campaign manager for State Sen. Greg
Ryberg's unsuccessful campaign for state treasurer in the June 2006 primary.
A grassroots manager for Direct Impact, a public affairs company in Alexandria,
Virginia. Political director on then Rep. Jim DeMint's successful
2004 campaign for U.S. Senate. Native of York County.
Fundraising Consultant |
Leslie Gaines |
(reported by the Spartanburg
Herald-Journal late June 2006)
MICHIGAN
Vice president of The
Sterling Corporation and director of Sterling's Washington, DC office;
joined the firm in 1995. Worked for two years at the U.S. Department
of Energy as a senior advisor to the Secretary. Chief of staff to
Michigan Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, and managed the 2002 Posthumus for Governor
campaign in Michigan. A senior aide to Sen. Spence Abraham (R-MI)
first on Capitol Hill and then as deputy campaign manager of his 2000 campaign.
Director of Senate Majority communications for the Michigan Senate and
executive director of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee. Deputy
state director for the Dole for President campaign in Michigan, 1996.
Worked on many state legislative campaigns in Michigan. Graduated
in 1990 from Evangel University in Springfield, MO.
75-Person Steering Committee
On Aug. 23, 2006 the Commonwealth
PAC announced
a 75-person Steering Committee comprising "7 members of President Bush’s
Ranger/Pioneer finance team, 37 members of the Michigan House of Representatives,
including Speaker Craig DeRoche, grassroots activists who serve as County
and District Chairs, and members of the Michigan Republican State Committee.
Other members of the Steering Committee include: Oakland County Executive
L. Brooks Patterson, Congressman Joe Knollenberg, Peter Karmanos of Detroit-based
Compuware and J.C. Huizenga of Grand Rapids."
Co-Chair
(announced Aug. 22, 2006) |
Speaker of the House Craig DeRoche> |
Elected to the Michigan House
of Representatives in 2002; elected Speaker in 2005. Elected to the
Novi City Council in 1997; re-elected in 1999. Regional marketing
representative for Safety National Casualty, a workers’ compensation insurer,
since 1997. Graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree
in finance.
Co-Chair/Finance Committee
(announced Aug. 22, 2006) |
John Rakolta, Jr. |
Chairman and CEO of Walbridge
Aldinger Company, a Detroit-based construction company. Started with
the company as an estimator in 1970 and took over from his father in 1993.
Co-Chair/Finance Committee
(announced Aug. 22, 2006) |
David Fischer |
Chairman and CEO of the Suburban
Collection, Michigan's largest vehicle dealership group. Fischer's
father Richard started the Suburban Collection's first dealership in 1948.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
Executive Director |
Phil Musser |
(Nov. 2005) Vice president of
The Dutko Group Companies, announced July 2004. A deputy director
in organizing the G8 Summit, in Sea Island, GA. Deputy chief of staff
to Secretaries Alphonso Jackson and Mel Martinez at the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development. Senior staff member for the 2001
Presidential Inaugural Committee. A lead advance representative for
the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2000 in Austin, Texas. Assistant vice
president to Dutko’s state and local lobbying firm, K*N*P, Jan. 1998-Aug.
2000. Worked on Dole for President. B.A. in History from Kenyon
College in Gambier, Ohio.
Political Director |
Gentry Collins |
{has also done consulting for
the Commonwealth PAC and the Massachusetts Republican State Congressional
Committee}
Deputy chairman/executive
director of the Iowa Republican Party in 2004. Managed Doug Gross'
2002 campaign for governor. B.A. in political science from Iowa State
University in Ames, 1998.
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
Chief of Staff |
Mark D. Nielsen |
(announced Aug. 21, 2006; succeeded
Beth Myers who moved over to become Director of The Commonwealth PAC)
Previously Chief Legal Counsel in the Governor's Office since Sept. 2004.
Practiced law in Connecticut. Republican nominee for Congress in
Connecticut's 5th CD in 2000, losing to Rep. James Maloney (53.6% to 44.3%)
and in 1998, losing to Maloney (49.9% to 48.4%). Served two terms
in the Connecticut State Senate and one term in the State House, starting
in 1993 through 1999. A.B. from Harvard College, 1986 and J.D. from
Harvard Law School, 1989.
Communications Director |
Eric Fehrnstrom |
Joined the Romney campaign in
March 2002. Corporate communications for Hill, Holliday advertising
agency. Media relations for state Treasurer Joseph Malone and campaign
manager and communications director on Malone's unsuccessful 1998 campaign
for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Worked for a decade
as a journalist, starting at a Boston-area weekly and then for nine years
at the Boston Herald finishing as Statehouse bureau chief.
Graduate of Boston University's College of Communication, 1984.
Counselor |
Cindy Gillespie |
Vice president of federal relations
for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
Other Senior Staff:
Deputy Chief of Staff Peter
Flaherty; Chief Legal Counsel Brian Leske; Senior Legislative Director
John O'Keefe.
NOTES
Top staffers on Romney's
2002 campaign included Ben Coes (campaign manager), Brian Shortsleeve
(deputy campaign manager for political operations), Alex Dunn (deputy political
director), Martha Chayet (deputy campaign manager for finance).
Former Commonwealth
PAC:
Executive Director -
Trent Wisecup.
(The Boston Globe
reported Jan. 27, 2006 that Wisecup would be taking leave from DC Navigators
starting Spring 2006 to work full time as a strategist for Romney; Chris
Cillizza reported in The Fix on March 11, 2006 that Wisecup quit
after clashes with CoS Beth Myers). Partner at DC Navigators, announced
April 2005. Policy aide, researcher, and debate preparation strategist
on Arnold Schwarzenegger's gubernatorial campaign, 2003. Vice President
at The Murphy Pintak Gautier Hudome Agency (MPGH), where he advised The
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, The U.S. Chamber
of Commerce, and The Financial Services Coordinating Council. Consulted
on Lamar Alexander's U.S. Senate campaign and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM)'s
re-election campaign, 2002. Media spokesman to former Sen. Spencer
Abraham (R-MI), 2000. Spokesman on Ronna Romney's 1994 and 1996 U.S.
Senate campaigns. Worked for Congressman Joe Knollenberg, 1993-99.
Graduate of Michigan State University's James Madison College.
"Top political strategist"
- Mike Murphy.
(through the end of 2005)
Murphy was consultant on Romney's 2002 campaign. He was chief political
consultant to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lead strategist
for Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. He is a longtime
Republican consultant; in 2003 he co-founded Navigators, LLC. Previously
he was founder and principal at The Murphy Pintak Gautier Hudome Agency
(MPGH).
Commonwealth PAC/Iowa
- Matt Elliott.
(briefly; reported by Chris
Cillizza "The Fix" severing ties Feb. 2006) Previously director of Iowa
Republicans' Legislative Majority Fund. Graduated from Drake University
with a degree in political science, 2003. From Farragut, Iowa.
Copyright © 2006
Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action |
|