Barack Obama-Organization, Texas
revised January 27, 2009

OBAMA FOR AMERICA
Headquarters: 816 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701   Phone: 512 476 2008
 
State Director Adrian Saenz
(announced Feb. 6, 2008)  Chief of staff to Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-TX).  National field director at the DCCC.  Communications director for Congressman Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX) and president of the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association.  Took leave from those roles during the fall 2004 campaign to serve as base vote director (Hispanic) on the New Mexico Democratic Coordinated Campaign, based out of Santa Fe office.  B.S. in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
 
 
Political Director Eureka Gilkey
(announced Feb. 6, 2008)  Previously served as Obama's Georgia state director for the Feb. 5 primary campaign and earlier as the campaign's deputy political director in Chicago.  National training director for EMILY's List during the 2006 cycle.  Deputy political director of NARAL Pro-Choice America during the 2004 election cycle.  PAC coordinator at the AFL-CIO during the 2002 election cycle.  Message and polling coordinator at the DNC.  Gilkey has worked on several campaigns, including Diane E. Watson for Congress (CA-32) and Ron Kirk for U.S. Senate in Texas.  First job out of college was political assistant at EMILY's List.  Graduate of Howard University.  Texas native.  [Note. As national training director for EMILY's List, Gilkey collaborated with Obama's Leadership PAC, Hopefund, to launch "Yes We Can" -- a training program for young African American and Hispanic activists].
 
 
Communications Director Josh Earnest
(announced Feb. 6, 2008)  Previously served as communications director on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign.  Communications director on Tom Vilsack's presidential campaign (started Dec. 13, 2006).  Communications director for Jim Davis' 2006 campaign for governor in Florida.  In 2003-05, Earnest worked in the communications department at the DNC serving as regional media director in the 2004 cycle and as press secretary in 2005 and early 2006.  Communications director for Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR); he was Berry's deputy campaign manager during his successful 2002 re-election campaign.  Media assistant at Squier-Knapp-Dunn.  Before moving to Washington, DC, Earnest worked in the Houston office of Varoga & Rice (now known as Varoga, Rice & Shalett) as an account executive.  Graduate of Rice University, 1997.
 
Press Secretary/Spokesperson Gannet Tseggai
Deputy press secretary on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign, then worked communications on the Nevada and California campaigns.  Sen. Ted Kennedy’s deputy press secretary in Washington, DC.  During the 2004 campaign, she worked as a press assistant on Missouri Gov. Bob Holden's re-election campaign, then as a press assistant on Missouri Victory 2004, the Democratic Coordinated Campaign, and finally was dispatched to Ohio.  Graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia; double majored in political science and communications.
 
Press Secretary/Spokesperson Nick Kimball
Director of new media on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign, then communications director on the campaign in Minnesota.  Worked at the Minnesota DFL for nearly two years, serving as acting communications director and earlier, during the 2006 cycle, as deputy communications director. Legislative aide to Minnesota Senate Majority Leader in 2005.  Field organizer on Tom Daschle’s 2004 campaign after working field for Kerry during the primaries.  Worked in communications office of national juvenile justice non-profit from 2001-04.  Graduate of The George Washington University.  Native of Minnesota.
 
 

Nick Shapiro
In Fall 2004 Shapiro worked as a regional press person at the DNC and was deployed to Nevada for the close of the campaign.  Worked at Deveney Communication.  Graduate of Tulane University.
 
 
Field Director Mitch Stewart
(announced Feb. 6, 2008)  Previously served as caucus director on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign.  Coordinated Campaign director in Minnesota during the 2006 midterm elections.  Field director on Sen. Tom Daschle's 2004 re-election campaign.  Eastern Iowa regional field director for Sen. John Edwards’ Iowa caucus campaign (announced May 2003).  A regional field director for the Louisiana Democratic Party during Sen. Mary Landrieu's 2002 run-off campaign.  A regional field director for the South Dakota Democratic Party during Sen. Tim Johnson's 2002 re-election campaign.  Has also served as a research assistant and staff assistant in Johnson's Senate office.
 

Deputy Field Director
Buffy Wicks
Wicks started as the campaign's Western region field director in Chicago then served as field director in California.  Political director for Wake Up Wal-Mart.  Organizer in the 'Anti-War in Iraq' campaign in San Francisco, CA.  Co-founded Hoi-Polloi, "a people’s organization created by a small group of conscientious thinkers striving for world peace."  Campaign manager on Jay Fetcher's 2004 state Senate campaign in Colorado.  Des Moines organizer on Howard Dean's Iowa caucus campaign.  Graduate of the University of Washington, 1998.


Regional Field
El Paso Rachel Sigman
A regional field director for the Nevada caucus campaign.  Experience includes deputy executive director of the Tahoe-Baikal Institute.  Studied ecoregional environmental management in Madagascar as a Fulbright scholar.  B.A. from Wesleyan University, 2001.

 

Dallas
Kevin Puleo

Low Country (Charleston) regional field director for the campaign in South Carolina.  Campaign manager on Colleen Condon's July 19, 2005 special election race for county council in Charleston, SC.

 

Fort Worth
Hallie Schneir
East Central Iowa regional field director for Obama's Iowa caucus campaign.  Worked on Virginia Victory 2005, helping to elect Tim Kaine governor.  Oregon City field organizer on Carry Oregon (the 2004 Oregon Democratic Coordinated Campaign).

 

Waco
Carrie Glenn
Keene regional field director for Obama's New Hampshire primary campaign.  Deputy field director for John Tester’s U.S Senate campaign in Montana in 2006.  She has also worked for Alliance for Justice.  Native of Oregon.

 

Tyler
Justin Hatmaker

Southeast regional field director for the Nevada caucus campaign.

 

San Antonio
Mike Moffo
Field director on the Nevada caucus campaign.  In 2006 Moffo served as field/GOTV consultant for the DCCC, and briefly as field director on Tom Suozzi's 2006 campaign for governor in New York.  Strategic planning role (online organizing and targeting for field and paid voter contact) on Jon Corzine's 2005 campaign for governor in New Jersey.  In the 2003-04 cycle, Moffo was a field staffer on Kerry's Iowa caucus campaign in the Sioux City office, then field director on the Feb. 3 Delaware primary campaign, for the Feb. 14 Washington, DC caucuses, and for the March 9 Louisiana primary; in the general election he was field director for the Arizona Democratic Coordinated Campaign; and finally he served as a field consultant on the Christine Gregoire for Governor re-count team.  Graduate of Boston University.

 

Austin
Katie Ingebretsen
Waterloo regional field director for Obama's Iowa caucus campaign.  Worked on Virginia Victory 2005, helping to elect Tim Kaine governor.

Houston
Monique Perry
Deputy field director for Obama's South Carolina primary campaign.


Corpus Christi
Brent Messenger

Bay area regional field director for the California primary campaign.  Lead singer for the San Francisco indie band Every Move a Picture.  Has worked for MoveOn.org and moderate Republican Brooks Firestone's campaign for state legislature in Santa Barbara.  Degree in political science.

 

Laredo
Ray Rivera
Rivera previously served as the campaign's Colorado state director and earlier as its Northeast regional field director in Chicago.  In 2006 he was executive director of Colorado Senate Majority, a 527 organization that worked to build Democrats' majority in the state Senate.  Worked several years for AFSCME, starting as an organizer, then Nevada political director and finally Colorado political director.  Field director on state Sen. Richard Romero's 2002 congressional campaign against Rep. Heather Wilson in NM's 1st CD.  Youth coordinator on the Gore-Lieberman campaign in New Mexico in Fall of 2000.  Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of New Mexico, 2001.  From New Mexico.

Note: The campaign in Texas did not end with the March 4 presidential primary/caucuses; Mike Moffo and Katie Ingebretsen served as co-field directors for the March 29 county conventions.


Patrick DeTemple
Geographic Information Systems Manager for the City of Berkeley, CA starting in 1996.  In 2004 he co-founded Map the Vote.  Experience in community, labor and political organizing, negotiations, and campaigns.  National field director for Earth Day in 1990.  B.A. in political science from Brown University, J.D. from Northeastern University, and M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
 

Amarillo - 118 B SW 6th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101

Austin-Dobie - 2025 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78705

Austin-East - 1309 Rosewood, Austin, TX 78702

Brownsville - 305 East Elizabeth Street, Brownsville, TX

Corpus Christi - 1318 S. Staples St., Corpus Christi, TX

Dallas - 1409 S. Lamar St., Suite 011, Dallas, TX 75215

Dallas - 2612 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75226

Edinburg - 405 W. Owassa Rd., Edinburg, TX 78539

El Paso - Trowbridge Plaza, 5750 Trowbridge Drive, El Paso, TX 79925

Fort Bend - 13100 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478

Fort Worth - East - 6322 Brentwood Stair Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76112

Fort Worth - North - 2511 Rodeo Plaza-B, Fort Worth, TX 76106

Galveston - 2028 Broadway St., Galveston, TX 77650

Houston - 3710 Travis, Houston, TX

Houston - 1213 Hermann Dr Suite 185, Houston, TX 77004

League City - 1001 South FM, League City, TX 77573

McAllen - 4510 N. 10th St., Suite 170,  McAllen, TX 78504

Midland - 1707 W. Wall Street, Midland, TX 79701

San Antonio - 309 Third St., San Antonio, TX  .

San Antonio - West Commerce (Satellite) - 2935 W. Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78207

San Antonio - 10415 Perrin Beitel Road, San Antonio, TX 78217

Tyler - 610 WSW Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701

UT - Pan American - 1900 W. University, Suite 7, Edinburg, TX 78539

Waco - 1818 Columbus Avenue, Waco, TX 76701
 
 

Endorsements include:
U.S. Rep. Al Green (CD-9, southwest Houston and Missouri City)  (see for example the Houston Chronicle June 26, 2007)
U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (CD-30, Dallas)  (approx. Feb. 6, 2008; previously backed former Sen. John Edwards)
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (CD-17, suburbs of Fort Worth, through Waco  to the Bryan/College Station area)  (Feb. 18, 2008)
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (CD-25, Austin)  (Feb. 20, 2008)

State Senator Rodney Ellis (District 13-Houston)
Texas House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam(District 57-Waco)  (announced Feb. 14, 2008; previously backed former Sen. John Edwards)
State Rep. Rafael Anchia (District 103-Dallas) (see Feb. 7, 2008 Dallas Morning News)
State Rep. Yvonne Davis (District 111-Dallas)  (Feb. 29, 2008...is a superdelegate)
State Rep. Jessica Farrar (District 148-Houston)  (March 1, 2008)
State Rep. Juan Garcia (District 32-Portland)
State Rep. Dora Olivo (District 27-Missouri City)
State Rep. Mark Strama (District 50-Austin)
State Rep. Senfronia Thompson (District 141-Houston)  (Feb. 28, 2008, switched from Clinton...is a superdelegate)

Austin Mayor Will Wynn  (Feb. 15, 2008)

former Texas Agriculture Commissioner, syndicated columnist and national radio commentator Jim Hightower (Feb. 29, 2008)

former Gov. Mark White  (Feb. 26, 2008)
served as Governor from 1983-87; previously Texas Attorney General and Texas Secretary of State

former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk (key early endorsement; see for example Feb. 19, 2007 Dallas Morning News)

Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair Roy Laverne Brooks  (March 4, 2008...is a superdelegate)

Dallas Cowboys' Emmitt Smith
 

Newspapers:
Austin American-Statesman  (02/02/08)
Corpus Christi Caller-Times  (02/17/08)
Dallas Morning News  (12/23/07 and 02/07/08)
El Paso Times  (02/10/08)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram  (02/17/08)
Houston Chronicle  (02/16/08)
San Antonio Express-News  (02/10/08)
(Texas' seven largest newspapers)
 

Also:
Burnt Orange Report [influential blog]  (02/13/08)
 

Unofficial - Obama
 


post primary
Texas Democratic Party chairman Boyd Richie and Democratic National Committee member Betty Richie (announced May 30, 2008)
superdelegate John Patrick - member of the United Steelworkers (USW) as well as a Vice President of the Texas AFL/CIO (announced May 1, 2008).
Copyright © 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action