KEEPING AMERICA'S PROMISE PAC

Director

John Giesser

(announced Dec. 2004)  Associate of Michael Whouley and John Sasso.  Deputy political strategist at the DNC in 2004.  Executive director of City Year.  General election director at the DNC in 2000 (deputy political strategist to Michael Whouley, announced May 31, 2000).  CEO of National Energy Choice, LLC, a Boston-based energy services company, starting in early 1998.  In 1996 worked on the Clinton/Gore then moved over to play a key role in Kerry's re-election campaign.  Dewey Square Group.  Citizens Energy Corp.  Deputy campaign manager/operations director on Sen. Edward Kennedy's 1994 re-election campaign.  Worked on Dukakis' 1988 campaign including field director in the Michigan primary and in Wisconsin.  Aide to Gov. Michael Dukakis.  Attorney.
 
 

Political Director

Amy K. Dacey

During the fall 2004 campaign served as traveling political director to Sen. Kerry, briefing him for all his events and the main point of contact for all elected and constituency leaders on the road.  During the primaries, Dacey was a Regional Political Coordinator for the Kerry campaign.  Deputy Political Director for the DSCC in the 2002 cycle.  State Legislative Program Director for EMILY’s List in 2001.  Deputy Political Director at the DCCC in the 2000 cycle.  Worked for Congresswoman Louis Slaughter (D-N.Y.) as her Deputy Chief of Staff and ran her successful re-election campaign in 1998.  Deputy Campaign Manager for Congressman Maurice Hinchey’s (D-N.Y.) 1996 re-election campaign.  Dacey’s first position in Washington, DC was as a Policy Analyst and Director of Development for the National Foundation of Women Legislators.  Master’s degree in Political Science from the American University in Washington, D.C.; Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
 
 

Spokesperson

Amy Brundage

Previously worked in Kerry's Senate office.
 
 

Theo Yedinsky

(reported by the Boston Globe Jan. 9, 2007)  San Francisco office of NDN.  Political director on Kerry's 2004 NH Primary campaign.  Caucus director for NH State Senate Democrats during the 2002 cycle.  Worked for the Democratic Leadership Council from 1999-2002 and for the New Democrat Network from 1997-99.  Previously a middle school teacher for three years.
 
 

Finance Director

Jay Dunn

National Finance Director at the DNC in the 2004 cycle (started Aug. 2001).  Dunn served as Associate Director for Public Liaison in the Clinton White House.  During the Clinton-Gore re-election campaign, he served as Regional Finance Director and later operated the southern political desk.  He has a B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MSC from the London School of Economics.
 
 

Consulting

Jenny Backus

Backus Consulting LLC.  Communications director at the DCCC.  Spokeswoman at the DNC in the 2000 cycle.  Press secretary to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV).
 
 

Senior Advisor/Consultant

Erik Smith

(reported Jan. 9, 2007)  Recently started his own firm Blue Engine Message & Media.  In 2004 succeeded Harold Ickes as President of The Media Fund.  Communications director on Rep. Dick Gephardt's 2004 presidential campaign after serving as communications director to Gephardt in the House Democratic Leader's office.  Communications director at the DCCC in the 2000 cycle.
 
 

Strategist

Ed Reilly

Leads Financial Dynamics' Business Consulting practice; Financial Dynamics acquired Westhill Partners in 2005.  Founded (1998) and was CEO of Westhill Partners, a leading management consulting firm specializing in communications strategy.  Pollster on Rep. Dick Gephardt's 2004 presidential campaign and also worked as a consultant on Gephardt's 1988 campaign.  Graduate of the University of Massachusetts.
 

SENATE OFFICE

Chief of Staff

David McKean

Started in the position in 1999; minority staff director for the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations; chief of staff to Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II; senior fellow at The Annenberg Washington Program.  McKean earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard; J.D. from Duke Law School; and master of law from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.  He is author of "Tommy the Cork: Washington's Ultimate Insider from Roosevelt to Reagan" (Oct. 2003) and co-author of "Friends in High Places: The Rise and Fall of Clark Clifford."
 
 

Copyright © 2006, 2007  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action