Chris Dodd-Organization, Iowa updated December 22, 2007 CHRIS DODD FOR PRESIDENT, INC. Headquarters:  1115 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50309  ...moved in approx. the second week of March 2007.  6,400 square feet.

http://chrisdodd.com/ia (late Aug. 2007)

Important Note: On Oct. 9, 2007 the campaign made a significant adjustment, moving state director Marc Beltrame to the role of senior political advisor, and announcing its national field director Julie Andreeff Jensen as Iowa state director and its New Hampshire state director Steve Gerenscer as Iowa caucus director.  Further, the campaign announced the addition of 17 new field organizers bringing the total number of organizers to 60 spread over 11 regional offices.  However, some of that growth came at the cost of New Hampshire organization.
 

State Director

Julie Andreeff Jensen

(announced Oct. 9, 2007; succeeded Marc Beltrame)  Jensen previously served as the campaign's national field director and initially as national deputy political director, announced March 21, 2007.  "In 2006, Andreeff Jensen ran regional political operations for Governor Mark Warner."  Attorney and lobbyist.  Andreeff worked on Kerry's Iowa caucus campaign starting in August 2003; after the caucuses she went on to North Dakota, Wisconsin and Hawaii.  She returned to Iowa early in the general election to serve as political director, but then was sent to Ohio, where she worked the final five months of the campaign, serving as NW Ohio field director and coordinating GOTV in Cuyahoga County.  Andreeff left her position as an associate at Powell Goldstein Frazer and Murphy LLP in Washington, DC to join Kerry's campaign.  Law degree from American University's Washington College of Law.  Worked as an aide to Sen. Kennedy.  B.A. in political science from American University.
 
 

Caucus Director

Steve Gerenscer

(announced Oct. 9, 2007)  Gerenscer previously served as the campaign's New Hampshire state director; he started in NH with the title of deputy state director.  Political director on the NH Democratic Coordinated Campaign, starting in April 2004, and was the first post-primary NH staffer for the Kerry campaign, March-April 2004.  Deputy political director on Howard Dean's NH primary campaign from mid-Feb. 2003 to Feb. 2004.  Field staffer on the 2002 NH Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign in Keene, responsible for Cheshire County and western Hillsborough County.  B.S. in environmental studies from the University of Vermont, 2000.
 
 

Deputy Caucus Director

Joe Zepecki

(started Sept. 17, 2007, announced Sept. 26, 2007)  Zepecki previously served as the campaign's Nevada state coordinator; starting April 9, 2007.  Associate at 360JMG in Washington, DC since 2004, managing direct mail campaigns for Democratic candidates including the Iowa House Caucus in 2004 and 2006.  Regional director in the Milwaukee office on Gen. Wesley Clark's 2004 presidential primary campaign.  B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; M.A. from the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University in May 2007.  Wisconsin native.
 
 

Political Director

Nikki Budzinski

(announced Sept. 26, 2007)  Came to the campaign from the IAFF, where she worked as a political representative responsible for outreach and coordination with state associations.  "Served on John Kerry's presidential campaign in both Missouri and Ohio." Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
 
 

Senior Political Advisor

Marc Beltrame

(State director for the first seven-plus months of the campaign; reported by DMR's Thomas Beaumont on Feb. 21, 2007, announced March 5, 2007)   Worked in a top position on Congressman Leonard Boswell’s 2006 re-election campaign.  Deputy district director for Congressman Boswell.  Attorney at the Whitfield & Eddy law firm in Des Moines.  B.A. and law degrees from the University of Iowa, where he was student government president.  Des Moines native.
 
 

Deputy Political Director/Constituency Coordinator

Brenda Arredondo

Arredondo came to the campaign from the office of Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15) where she worked as legislative correspondent/systems administrator.
 

Deputy Political Director

Katie Finn

(first person on the ground; initially focused on constituencies, then surrogates)  Worked on now Congressman Dave Loebsack's 2006 campaign.
 

Deputy Political Director/Trip Director

Bob Brennan

Camp Bayh graduate; worked on Chet Culver's 2006 gubernatorial campaign.  B.A. in international relations from The George Washington University.
 

Surrogate Scheduler

Chuck Swirsky

    Came to the campaign from Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro's office.  Managed DeLauro's 2004 re-election campaign.  Graduate of the University of Wisconsin.
 

Political Assistant

Cari Sagar

(started as office manager)  Aug. 2007 graduate of Iowa State University with a B.S. in psychology and a B.A. in political science.  From Marshalltown.
 
 

Field Director

Ben Rohrbaugh

Field director on Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle's successful Feb. 27, 2007 campaign.  Worked on the Christine Jennings recount in Florida.  Ran the volunteer field program for Congresswoman Melissa Bean's successful 2006 re-election campaign in the Illinois 6th CD.  John Kerry campaign in Northern Michigan.
 

Director of Voter Contact

David Joseph

DCCC's Indiana Director of Finance and Voter Contact for the successful 2006 congressional campaigns of Joe Donnelly, Brad Ellsworth, and Baron Hill.  Previously served on John Kerry's campaign in Michigan and Dick Gephardt's Iowa Caucus bid.

...as of Nov. 8, 2007 staff of 78.
...On Oct. 19, 2007 the AP's Philip Elliott reported, "Jackie Clegg Dodd and the couple's two daughters have relocated to a Des Moines rental house for the remainder of the early nominating calendar..."  Elliott, citing spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan, reported a total Iowa staff of 72.
...as of Oct. 9, 2007 campaign announced addition of 17 new field organizers bringing the total number of organizers to 60 spread over 11 regional offices.
...as of Sept. 26, 2007 the campaign reported a total Iowa staff of 56.
...as of early July 2007 about 40 staff including 21 field organizers.
 

State Leadership Team (as announced Nov. 28, 2007)
Sen. Jeff Danielson of Waterloo, State Co-Chair – Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore  (endorsement announced Sept. 13, 2007)

Fred Hubbell of Des Moines, State Co-Chair – Chair, Iowa Power Fund

Bob Skow of Dallas Center, State Co-Chair – CEO, Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa and Former State Representative

Sen. Tom Hancock of Epworth – Iowa State Senator  (endorsement announced Oct. 9, 2007)

Rep. Ray Zirkelbach of Monticello – Iowa State Representative   (endorsement announced Oct. 12, 2007)

Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald of Colo – Story County Sheriff   (endorsement announced Nov. 17, 2007)

Bob Fulwider of West Liberty – President, Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America

Steve Jackson of Cedar Rapids – Founder, The Phoenix Club

Jack Reed of Ottumwa – President, Iowa Professional Fire Fighters Association

Alan Steckman of Mason City – Former Iowa State Representative candidate

Terry Stewart of Dubuque – Chair, Dubuque County Democrats  (endorsement announced Nov. 13, 2007)
 
 

Linn County
Rick Scofield, Co-Chair – President, IAFF Local 11
Jerry Vuichard, Co-Chair – Business Manager, IBEW Local 1362
Kay Hale, Co-Chair – Financial Secretary, Linn County Democrats Central Committee
Joe Stutler – Veterans Caucus Chair, Linn County Democrats Central Committee
Kay Jackson – Director of Nursing and Democratic Activist
 

Scott County
Jose Bucksbaum, Chair – Affirmative Action Chair, Scott County Democrats Central Committee
 

Johnson County
Pat Harney, Co-Chair – Johnson County Supervisor
Eric Nurnberg, Co-Chair – President, IAFF Local 610
Linda Louko – Member, “The 49” grassroots political organization
 

Black Hawk County
Frank Magsamen, Co-Chair – Black Hawk County Supervisor
Tom Powers, Co-Chair – IAFF Local 66
Frank Thompson, Co-Chair - Professor of Economics, Treasurer of the United Faculty at the University of Northern Iowa
 

Dubuque County
Helene Magee, Co-Chair – County Publicity Co-Chair, Dubuque County Democrats Central Committee
Terry Stewart, Co-Chair – Chair, Dubuque County Democrats
Tom Ready – Former President, IAFF Local 353
 

Story County
Mike Bryant, Chair – President, IAFF Local 625
 

Woodbury County
Rob Marqusee, Chair – Woodbury County Director of Rural Economic Development
 

Pottawattamie County
Justin James, Chair – President, IAFF Local 15
Edward Bremmer – Former Iowa State Representative
Dan McGinn – Pottawattamie County Assistant County Attorney
 

Clinton County
Joel Atkinson, Chair – Vice President, IAFF Local 609
 

Cerro Gordo County
Alan Steckman, Co-Chair – Former State Representative Candidate; Former Postmaster of Mason City
Jerry Taylor, Co-Chair – Activist and Member, Cerro Gordo County Democrats Central Committee
Jay Urdahl, Co-Chair – Chair, Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors; President of the Board of Directors, North Iowa Community Action Organization
Phil Dougherty – Cerro Gordo County Supervisor; District Two President, Iowa State Association of Counties
Michael Herman – Former President of the North Iowa Nine Labor Council
 

Des Moines County
Diane Ehret, Co-Chair – Teacher and Democratic Activist
Al Pealer, Co-Chair – Veteran and Former VFW Post Commander
Dave Warth – VFW Post Commander
 

Dallas County
Bob Skow, Chair – CEO, Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa and Former State Representative
 

Warren County
Kevin Middleswart, Co-Chair – Warren County Supervisor
Scott Voogd, Co-Chair – Teacher and Democratic Activist
 

Lee County
Bill Olmsted, Chair – Keokuk City Councilman
 

Webster County
Mary B. Wilson, Chair – Retired Teacher and Former Member, Webster County School Board
 

Marshall County
Wayne Sawtelle, Chair – Vice Chair, Marshall County Democrats Central Committee and Former Political Director, Iowa Professional Fire Fighters
 

Muscatine County
Mark Butterworth, Chair – Small Business Owner and Retired Teacher
 

Wapello County
Marlin Hesse, Chair – Democratic Activist
 

Boone County
Justin Adams, Chair – President, IAFF Local 678
 

Benton County
Larry Schmidt – Treasurer, Benton County Democrats; Executive Board, Hawkeye Labor Council
 

Marion County
David Isgrig, Chair – Superintendent, Pleasantville Schools
 

Bremer County
Christine Rediske, Co-Chair – Secretary, Bremer County Democrats Central Committee
Karen Thalacker, Co-Chair – Vice Chair, Bremer County Democrats Central Committee
Ann Dirksenfahrer – Former Secretary, Bremer County Democrats Central Committee
 

Fayette County
Howard Bird, Co-Chair – Veterans’ Issues Activist
Rosie Bird, Co-Chair – Democratic Activist
 

Jones County
Gary Hart, Chair – Chair, Jones County Democrats
 

Poweshiek County
Sarah Adams, Co-Chair – Former Chair, Poweshiek County Democrats Central Committee
Delores Mulvihill, Co-Chair – Former Member, Iowa Democratic Party Central Committee
 

Cedar County
Don Place, Co-Chair – Veterans Issues Activist
Tammy Place, Co-Chair – Vice Chair, Cedar County Democrats Central Committee
 

Carroll County
Mary C. Baumhover, Chair – Carroll County Democrats Central Committee
 

Washington County
Terry Philips – Steering Committee Member, Iowa Democratic Party Veterans Caucus
 

Floyd County
Delbert Vokes, Chair – Former Mayor of Floyd
 

Jefferson County
Jennifer Lunsford, Chair – Chair, Jefferson County Democrats
Jennifer Hawthorne – Author
 

Henry County
Martha Dahlin, Chair – Former Member, Henry County Democrats Central Committee
 

Hardin County
Rocky Lavalle, Chair – Mayor of Iowa Falls
 

Plymouth County
Ron Stopak, Chair – Vice Chair and Former Chair, Plymouth County Democrats
 

Chickasaw County
Paul Swenson, Chair – Retired Teacher and Democratic Activist
 

Crawford County
Marcia Bachmann – Chair, Crawford County Democrats
John Lawler – Crawford County Supervisor
 

Harrison County
Lydia Caldeira, Chair – Small Business Owner and Democratic Activist
 

Keokuk County
Rod Hill, Chair – Teacher and Democratic Activist

More endorsements
Iowa City Councilman Matt Hayek (announced Dec. 22, 2007)

Sioux City-area radio host and columnist Paul Guggenheimer (Nov. 5, 2007 column in the Sioux City Journal)

International Association of Fire Fighters
Bus tour Nov. 29-Dec. 6, 2007

 

Copyright © 2007  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action