FRIENDS OF FRED THOMPSON, INC.
Headquarters: 23 West Webster Street, Manchester, NH
 

Campaign Coordinator

Liz Christoffersen

(announced Sept. 19, 2007)  Member of the 2007-08 NH Republican Executive Committee and acting Nashua City chair.  In fall 2006 Christoffersen served as volunteer campaign manager for Nancy Wall, the Republican state Senate Candidate from District 12.
 
 

Political Director

Chris Wood

(announced Sept. 13, 2007)  Previously coalitions director on Rudy Giuliani's New Hampshire primary campaign.  Field director for Victory New Hampshire, a network of conservative groups promoting lower taxes, less government and strong defense.  Managed the field operation and GOTV effort for Frank Guinta's upset campaign for mayor of Manchester in 2005.  NH Citizens for a Sound Economy.  Deputy campaign manager/field on Forbes 2000 New Hampshire primary campaign.  Executive director of New England Right to Work Committee.  Volunteer coordinator on Pat Buchanan's 1992 campaign.  B.S. in political science, business and philosophy from Indiana Wesleyan University.
 

Communications Consultant

Bill Cahill

(announced Sept. 19, 2007) Cahill has nearly 30 years of experience in Republican campaigns and with the New Hampshire Republican Party.   Joined Pierce Atwood Consulting in 2004.  Previously president of Cahill Communications, a firm that provided strategic public affairs, marketing communications and public relations services to a variety of corporate, small business, association and individual clients throughout the country.  A media advisor to McCain for President in 2000.  New Hampshire state director for Lamar Alexander for President in 1996.  Communications director in New Hampshire for the Bush for President '88 campaign and was also active in the Bush '92 presidential campaign.  Served on the New Hampshire Executive Council from 1984-86, and as member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1978-82.
 

Senior Advisor

Charlie Arlinghaus

(announced Oct. 24, 2007)  President of The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a non-partisan, free market think tank, since Jan. 2003.  Worked on Bruce Keough's 2002 gubernatorial campaign and John Sununu's 2002 Senate campaign.  A regional political director at the Republican National Committee, 1999-2002.  Executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party from 1994-96.  Degrees in American history from The College of William and Mary and The University of New Hampshire.  

County Chairs (announced Oct. 25, 2007)
Belknap - Joseph McCormack of Belmont, a steel company executive and the former chairman of the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers.

Carroll - Linda Teagan of North Conway, former Justice Department and FCC attorney, former State Representative in Massachusetts. She currently serves as secretary of the Carroll County Republican Committee and is the former co-chair for the Mount Washington Valley Area Republican Committee.

Cheshire - Kate Day of Spofford. Formerly a chemist and environmental specialist, she left her career to raise her children and is very active in a variety of volunteer roles in her community.

Coos - Bill Stebbins, Jr. of Pittsburg, an English teacher at Colebrook Academy who is also serving as the Pittsburg Town Librarian and the Director of the Bremer Pond Memorial Library. Active in his community, he is a past President of the New Hampshire Guides Association.

Grafton - Harrison Sonntag of Hanover, who came from Tennessee to Dartmouth College as a student-athlete in 2004. After a serious knee injury ended his athletic career, he began to concentrate on politics and government with the Dartmouth Young Republicans and the conservative student journal, the Dartmouth Beacon.

Hillsborough - David Alukonis of Hudson, a former seven-term New Hampshire State Representative and current chairman of the Hudson School Board.

Merrimack - Jim Lupien of Hooksett, a veteran of the United States Air Force, a former New Hampshire State Representative, a past Chairman of the Derry Taxpayers Association, and owner of the Cool Moose Creamery, a small business located in Concord.

Rockingham - April Mason of Stratham, a former New Hampshire State Representative who has a business background in the medical equipment sector. She also serves on the board of directors for Portsmouth Christian Academy in Dover.

Strafford - Carolyn Geiler of Somersworth, a long-time Republican Party activist who has extensive grassroots campaign experience and has worked as a volunteer for several presidential campaigns. She is also active with a variety of non-profit organizations in the Seacoast area.

Sullivan - Spec Bowers of Georges Mills, a software engineer and founding partner of Nashoba Systems software design firm. Bowers is the owner and operator of Georges Mills Cottages in the Lake Sunapee resort area and has been actively involved with several state and national Republican campaigns.
 
 

Veterans Chairman - David J. Kenney
(announced Oct. 23, 2007)  Currently a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve; served in a variety of active duty roles from 1975-79. An advisor on veterans’ affairs to former New Hampshire Congressmen Jeb Bradley and Charlie Bass and worked for Veterans for Bush in 2000.

Veterans Co-Chair - Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Pawlik (announced Nov. 6, 2007)
 

Students for Fred (announced Nov. 14, 2007)
Chair Harrison Sonntag, Dartmouth College
Co-Chair Ryan Eickmeier, New England College
 

Supporter
Former Ambassador Gerry Carmen of Manchester
 
 

former

supporter

Former state Rep. Dan Hughes

(mentioned as chairman, but ultimately did not take that role; McCain campaign announced him as vice chair on Oct. 23, 2007)  Retired real estate developer.  Represented New Castle for two terms in the House then ran unsuccessfully against incumbent state Sen. Martha Fuller Clark (D) in 2006.  Ran Wayne Semprini's unsuccessful campaign against incumbent state Sen. Burt Cohen (D) of New Castle in 2000.  He has served as the Deputy Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  After the 1980 election, Hughes was named as a senior advisor on the Reagan Transition Team.  Served in the White House under President Gerald R. Ford.  U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
 
 

Copyright ©  2007, 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action