John Edwards-Nevada Organization

John Edwards-Organization, Nevada
updated December 6, 2007

JOHN EDWARDS FOR PRESIDENT, INC.
Headquarters: 4160 S. Pecos, Las Vegas, NV 89121 (Pecos and Flamingo in the Pecos Square)
Reno: 700 Smithridge Dr. Suite 101, Reno, NV 89502

State Director

Oliver Gottfried

(announced Nov. 5, 2007 succeeding Bill Hyers) Came to Nevada from his position as Western regional political director for the campaign. Deputy political director at the DSCC during the 2006 cycle. Field director for the Alaska Democratic Party in Fall 2004. During the 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign he ran Southeast Iowa for Edwards and then ran the field program for the Tennessee primary. A regional field director for the South Dakota Democratic Party during Sen. Tim Johnson's 2002 re-election campaign. Worked for Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, Inc., in Washington, DC. B.A. in history from Haverford College.

Senior Advisor

Chris Chafe

(announced Nov. 5, 2007) Came to Nevada from his position as senior advisor to campaign in charge of national labor outreach (announced April 20, started beginning of June 2007) Chief of staff at UNITE HERE since 2005. Joined the staff of the merged UNITE in 1995 as a political operative, and went on to become national political and legislative director at UNITE. Worked as an organizer in the South with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, a predecessor union to UNITE, in 1991 and 1992. Has served as an organizer, political operative and executive in the labor movement and community organizations for 16 years and has played a leadership role within labor in every federal cycle since 1996. Graduate of Colgate University. Grew up in Chapel Hill.

Political Director

Rick Fromberg

Issue campaign director at Wal-Mart Watch, 2005-07. Field director on Snyder for New York campaign for Manhattan district attorney, 2005. Manager of the Sierra Club's national get out the vote program, 2004. Northern Virginia regional director on Edwards for President, 2003-04.

Deputy Political Director

Brian Jung

(announced Nov. 5, 2007) Came to Nevada from his position as assistant political director for the campaign, managing political work in several western states and assisting in day-to-day operations in the campaign's political department. Jung oversees Asian American / Pacific Islander and Young America for Edwards outreach efforts

Field Director

Brandon Pinette

Head of the Butte field office on the 2006 Montana Democratic Coordinated Campaign.

Caucus Director

Greg Leifer

Field director, Michael Nutter for Mayor in Philadelphia, PA, Feb.-May 2007 primary. Field director, Kirsten Gillibrand for Congress (NY-20), Sept.-Nov 2006. Campaign manager, Peg Lautenschlager for Attorney General of Wisconsin, May-Sept 2006 primary. Nevada state director, Americans United to Protect Social Security, 2005.

Trip Director

Beth Olhasso

Deputy field director, Michael Nutter for Mayor in Philadelphia, PA, Jan.-May 2007 primary. Deputy field director, Patricia Madrid for Congress in Albuquerque NM, June-Nov. 2006.

Press Secretary

Adam Bozzi

Press secretary on Bruce Lunsford's 2007 Kentucky gubernatorial primary campaign. Communications director, Charlie Fogarty for governor campaign in Rhode Island, 2005-06. Deputy press secretary to Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI).

State Chairman

Assemblyman Tick Segerblom

Attorney. Elected to the Assembly in Nov. 2006 representing District 9 (part of Clark County). Chairman of the Nevada Democratic Party, 1990-94. Nevada coordinator on Dukakis for President, 1988. Western regional director at the DNC, 1978-79. B.A. from Pomona College; J.D. from the University of Denver.

Northern Nevada Chair

Assemblyman David Bobzien

(announced Sept. 13, 2007) Web designer for a Sparks-based company. Elected to the Assembly in Nov. 2006 representing District 24 (northwest Reno). Moved to Reno in 1997 and worked at the University of Nevada, Reno from 1997-2007. M.P.A. from Boise State University; undergraduate degree from George Mason University.

Nevada Leadership Committee
Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Bernie Anderson - (announced Oct. 23, 2007)
Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce
Assemblywoman Rosemary Womack
former Clark County Democratic Chairman Charlie Waterman
State Democratic Party Executive Committee Member Tom Morley

Rural Advisory Committee (announced Aug. 30, 2007)
Chair: Dee Holzel (founder of the Rural Nevada Democratic Caucus).

Nevada Educators for Edwards
Chair: former Assemblyman Jim Spinello

Nevada Conservationists for Edwards (announced Aug. 17, 2007)
Chair: Scot Rutledge

Nevada Veterans for Edwards (announced July 25, 2007)
Co-Chairs: Assemblyman Joe Hogan and former state Senator Joe Neal.

and
Communications Workers of America in Nevada announced its endorsement of Edwards on Dec. 6, 2007; CWA Local 9413 President is Chuck Benway and Executive Vice President is Liz Sorenson.

The Nevada locals of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, United Steelworkers of America and Transport Workers Union have all endorsed Edwards for President.

Changing Dynamics
In mid-August 2007 there were reports that the campaign was cutting back in Nevada. For example Southern Regional Field Director Kelly Harlow was reployed to NH. However the campaign showed some growth in October-November (Nov. 5, 2007 press release)

former

State Director Bill Hyers

(announced March 6, 2007; on Nov. 5, 2007 the Jeanne Shaheen for U.S. Senate campaign in NH announced Hyers as campaign manager) Campaign manager for Kristen Gillibrand’s successful 2006 congressional campaign in New York’s 20th district, defeating the incumbent Republican congressman. In 2004, Hyers also worked as the Coordinated Campaign Director in Alaska. He served as Central Iowa regional field director on Edwards' 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign. State field director for the Judi Dutcher for Governor primary campaign and then regional director for the Minnesota State House DFL Caucus in the 2002 cycle. Worked on a number of local campaigns in Duluth and Minneapolis starting in 2001. Before entering the political field, Hyers served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police soldier; he was stationed in Bosnia during Operation Joint Endeavor. B.A. in political science from St. Cloud State University in MN. Illinois native.

Political Director Roberto Rodriguez

(announced March 6, 2007) State director for the California Voter Registration Project in 2004 and the managing director for LLAMAME, an organization responsible for tailoring targeted communications strategies in Spanish and English to both Latino and non-Latino communities. Rodriguez has also worked on Capitol Hill for Sen. Barbara Boxer and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez.

Field Director Preston Elliott

(announced March 6, 2007) Field director for the 2006 Montana Democratic Coordinated Campaign. Southeast regional field director on Congressman Dick Gephardt’s 2003-4 Iowa caucus campaign.

Trip Director Oscar Lopez

(announced March 6, 2007) Regional field organizer for the Hispanic areas in Albuquerque and Valencia Counties on Patricia Madrid’s 2006 congressional race in New Mexico’s 1st CD.