FRIENDS OF FRED THOMPSON, INC    ...formed "testing the waters" entity on June 1, 2007; announced Sept. 6, 2007
Headquarters: 1130 8th Ave. South, Nashville, TN (The Fall School) and an office at 1760 Old Meadow Road, 3rd Floor, McLean, VA  ...in the states >>

National Campaign Leadership Team (announced Oct. 8, 2007)

Honorary Chairman

former Sen. Howard H. Baker

Senior counsel to the law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz.  Served as the 26th U.S. Ambassador to Japan, appointed in 2001.  Chief of staff to President Ronald Reagan, 1987-88.  Elected to the U.S. Senate from Tennessee in 1966 and re-elected twice; did not seek re-election in 1984.  Senate minority leader 1977-81; majority leader 1981-85.  Unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1980.  Unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate in 1964.  Law degree from the University of Tennessee Law College.  Served in the U.S. Navy 1943-46.  Author of four books: No Margin for Error (1980); Howard Baker's Washington (1982); Big South Fork Country (1993) and Scott's Gulf (2000).

Co-Chairs:
Spencer Abraham - (announced Oct. 8, 2007)  Principal of The Abraham Group, LLC, an international energy consulting firm he formed in 2005.  Secretary of Energy in the first term of the Bush Administration.  Represented Michigan in the U.S. Senate from 1995-2001; defeated in re-election bid in 2000.  Co-chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) from 1991-93.  Deputy chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle from 1990-91.  Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, 1983-90.  J.D. from Harvard University, 1978.  Graduated from Michigan State University, 1974.  Native of East Lansing.

George Allen - (announced Oct. 8, 2007)  Elected to the U.S. Senate in Nov. 2000; defeated in bid for a second term in Nov. 2006.  Chairman of the NRSC in the 108th Congress.  Partner, McGuire Woods starting in 1998.  Elected Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Nov. 1993, served one term,1994-98, term limited.  U.S. Representative, 1991-93, elected in a special election.  Served in the Virginia House of Delegates, 1983-91.  Republican nominee for the Virginia House of Delegates, 1979.  Worked in private law practice, 1978-91.  B.A. in History (1974) and J.D. (1977) from the University of Virginia.

Liz Cheney - (announced Oct. 8, 2007)  Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, 2005-06.  During the 2004 (and 2000) presidential campaign, Cheney managed vice presidential debate preparation and served as a surrogate for the Bush-Cheney campaign.  Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.  Practiced law at White & Case LLP in the area of international project finance where she served on assignment with the International Finance Corporation,  Worked at Armitage Associates LLP.  Worked for the Department of State and at the Agency for International Development from 1989-93.  Bachelor's degree from Colorado College; J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, 1996.  Eldest daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney.
 
 
 

Campaign Manager

Bill Lacy

(announced Aug. 8, 2007)  Taking a leave of absence as Director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas; selected for the position in Sept. 2004.  In 1996 Lacy assumed a senior management role in a privately held family business.  Deputy national chairman and strategist on Sen. Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential primary campaign.  Initially strategist and management consultant on Thompson's 1994 campaign, then moved to Nashville and took over day-to-day management of the campaign.  Held a senior role on Sen. Dole’s 1988 campaign.  Director of the Office of Political Affairs at the White House. Political director at the Republican National Committee during Reagan's 1984 re-election campaign.  Deputy director of political affairs at the White House.  Deputy director of the NRCC in 1981-82.  Ran Reagan's 1980 Maryland primary campaign.
 
        Assistant: Blair Hood

Deputy Campaign Manager

Mary Anne Carter

Ran her own consulting firm.  Director of U.S. Senate relations at the Heritage Foundation.  Opposition research director on Sen. Bob Dole's 1996 presidential primary effort.  Research director on Thompson's 1994 campaign for U.S. Senate.
 
 

POLITICAL

National Political Director

Randy Enwright

(reported by Robert Novak on July 14, 2007; officially announced Aug. 8, 2007)  Principal of Enwright Consulting Group in Tallahassee, Florida; as a consultant Enwright has been the RNC's regional political director for Florida since 2001.  Previously he served as executive director of the Florida Republican Party.  Senior advisor to President George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns; also a senior advisor to the re-election campaign of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002.  Executive director of the Iowa Republican Party, 1989-92.  Missouri campaign director on George H.W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign.  Political director of the Missouri Republican Party, 1985-86.

        Deputy to the Political Director: Roger Whyte

Regional Political Directors

Midwest

Andrew Dorr

(11 Midwestern states including Iowa)  Political director of U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle's unsuccessful campaign for governor of Iowa in 2006.  Midwest coalitions director on Bush-Cheney '04 re-election campaign.  Deputy coalitions director on then-Gov. Bush's 1999-2000 Iowa caucus campaign.
 
 

Georgia and others

Joel McElhannon

Partner at South Public Affairs Consulting, LLC in Atlanta.  Since 1999 he has served as the general consultant for 25 primary and general elections campaigns.  (Examples include Bill Heath's campaign that defeated House Speaker Tom Murphy in 2002, Casey Cagle for Lt. Governor in 2006, Jim Whitehead's June 19, 2007 special election primary campaign in the 10th CD).  Graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in political science.
 
 

TN, TX, KY and NC

David Mansouri

Previously field operations director at the Tennessee Republican Party.  B.A. in political science in political science and music from Rice University.
 
 

Deep South (AR, AL, LA, MS)

Terry Benham

A founder and managing partner of Impact Management Group, a public relations and public affairs firm based in Little Rock, Ark.  Has served as field operative for the Republican Governor's Association, deputy director for the Republican Party of Louisiana , and political director for the Republican Party of Arkansas.  Started career as specialist in psychological warfare for the U.S. Army.

SC

Dean Rice

see below
 

NH	Tom Daffron

COO of Jefferson Consulting Group since Sept. 2006.  Executive Vice President of Chesapeake Enterprises, a government relations consulting firm.  Chief of Staff to Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.  Previously chief of staff to Sen. Fred Thompson and to Sen. William Cohen of Maine, and a speechwriter for Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois.  National campaign manager for Elizabeth Dole's presidential campaign in 1999.  Senior vice president and chief operating officer for the Baltimore Orioles major league baseball team.  Director of government and public affairs for the International Paper Company in Maine.  Associate director of public relations for the University of Chicago.  A reporter for the Miami Herald and reporter and editorial writer for the Wilmington News-Journal.  Served in the Peace Corps.  A.B. from Brown University and M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.
 
 

Grassroots and Special Projects Director

Shannon Royce

(announced Nov. 5, 2007)  Most recently served as executive director of the Arlington Group where she managed a coalition of over 70 organizations advocating on pro-family initiatives.  Director of government relations for the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission,1999-2003.  Legislative assistant to Sen. Slade Gorton; legislative counsel to Sen. Charles Grassley.  Graduate of Hardin Simmons University, and law degree from The George Washington University.
 
 

Strategic Outreach and Coalitions

Joe Cella

On leave from position as president of Fidelis, a Catholic-based advocacy organization.

  
    Veterans for Fred Thompson Coalition (announced Nov. 6, 2007) - National Steering Committee: Co-Chairs General Carl Stiner and Major General James Livingston, Medal Honor Recipient; Executive Director Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Repya; and Lieutenant General James Terry Scott, Brigadier General John C. "Doc" Bahnsen, Captain John Dowd, and Captain James H. Warner.

    Lawyers for Fred Coalition (announced Nov. 16, 2007) - National Steering Committee: Co-Chairs Victoria Toensing, Boris Feldman, and Charles Trost.

    Sportsmen for Fred Coalition (announced Nov. 24, 2007) - National Steering Committee: Co-Chairs Clel Baudler (Iowa), Gerald Stoudemire (South Carolina), Bill Bunting (Florida), Lee Ann Tarducci (South Carolina), Michael Bane (Colorado).

    Young Professionals for Fred (announced Dec. 10, 2007) - Chairman George P. Bush; Executive Director Nicolee Ambrose 

    "Small Business Leaders for Fred Thompson" - National Chairman Jack Faris (announced Oct. 10, 2007)  Senior managing director at Harpeth Consulting, LLC.  President and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation's largest small-business advocacy group, from 1992, to March 31, 2006.  Owned his own marketing and management consulting firm for 12 years.  Worked for the international construction firm of Joe M. Rodgers and Associates, where he was responsible for marketing, personnel, and planning.  Worked in the banking industry in Nashville, Tennessee.  Executive director of the Republican National Committee from 1978-81.  Finance director for Lamar Alexander’s successful 1978 campaign for governor of Tennessee.  Graduate of David Lipscomb University.

 

Field Director

Graham Shafer

Campaign manager on Lt. Gov. Michael Steele's 2006 run for U.S. Senate (stepped down in Feb. 2006).  Northeast Regional Political Director for the RNC's Victory '04 and New England regional chairman on Bush-Cheney '04 at the close of the campaign.  Northeastern regional political director at the RNC starting in 2003 and continuing after the 2004 campaign.  Campaign manager to Congressman Van Hilleary's 2002 gubernatorial campaign in Tennessee.  State director for Steve Forbes' 2000 New Hampshire presidential primary campaign.
 
 

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications Director

Todd Harris

(announced Aug. 29, 2007)  Principal at DC Navigators.  Senior communications strategist for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger; co-communications director on Schwarzenegger's 2003 gubernatorial campaign.  Communications director and spokesman on Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's 2002 re-election campaign.  Traveling press secretary and spokesman on Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign; earlier spokesman on Rep. John Kasich's (R-Ohio) presidential exploratory effort.  Deputy communications director for the NRCC.  Spokesman for Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan's 1997 re-election campaign.  Did California media for the Dole/Kemp campaign in 1996.  Harris has also worked on several U.S. House races.  Graduate of UCLA.
 

Deputy Communications Director

Karen Hanretty

(announced Sept. 4, 2007)  Started a public relations/strategic communications firm based in Sacramento.  Communications director for the California Republican Party, 2003-05.  Spokeswoman for Arnold Schwarzenegger during the 2003 recall campaign.  Interned for state Senator Bruce McPherson (R-Santa Cruz).  B.A. from the University of the Pacific (in Stockton), 1999.
 
 

Spokesman

Jeff Sadosky

(start Aug. 17, 2007; initially seen as Florida communications director)  Came to the campaign from his position as communications director of the Florida Republican Party.  Press secretary to Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH).  A regional press person for Bush-Cheney '04.  Worked at TNSMI/Campaign Media Analysis Group from 2001-04.  Graduate of James Madison University with a degree in international affairs.
 
 

Press Assistant

Patrick Burchette

(announced Sept. 4, 2007)  Member of the Bush-Cheney rapid response operation in 2004.  Worked for Virginia Sen. John Warner, and for the House Judiciary Committee.  Graduate of the University of Virginia, 2000 and J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, 2007.
 

Press Assistant

Daniel Conston

(announced Sept. 4, 2007)  A grassroots director for the Republican Jewish Coalition.  Has worked for the American International Group ("AIG"), as well as the White House's Office of Public Liaison.  Graduate of The George Washington University.

Media-Travel Logistics and Scheduling

Darrel Ng

(announced Sept. 17, 2007)  Comes to the campaign from position as Deputy Secretary for Public Communications at California's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.  Chief deputy press secretary for the Office of Governor Schwarzenegger, 2003-07.  A deputy press secretary for Californians for Schwarzenegger 2005, and held the same position on the Californians for Schwarzenegger 2003 recall campaign.  Deputy press secretary on Bill Simon's 2002 gubernatorial campaign.  B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.
 

New Media Strategies (Jon Henke and William Beutler) - outreach to blogs   and Howard Mortman

RESEARCH

Research Director

Kristin Elder

Research director on Sen. George Allen's unsuccessful 2006 re-election campaign.  Legislative assistant to Sen. Allen for three years.  Worked on federal government relations for the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons for two years.  Graduate of the University of Richmond.  Raised in Southwest Virginia.

POLICY

Director of Policy

Mark Esper

Most recently vice president of defense and international affairs at the Aerospace Industries Association starting in May 2006.  Director of national security to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN).  Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Negotiations Policy, 2002-04.  Previously held a number of positions on Capitol Hill as a staffer on the House Armed Services Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, and in the personal offices of Senators Fred Thompson and Chuck Hagel.  Chief of staff at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC.  Served for ten years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer including on Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  Graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 

 

Policy Advisor

Richard Hertling

Served as Acting United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs.  Chief of staff to Sen. Peter G. Fitzgerald (R-IL).  Senior counsel to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee starting in Jan. 1997.  Staffer on the Senate Judiciary Committee, 1990-96.  Graduate of Brown University and The University of Chicago School of Law.
 
 

Senior Economic Advisor

Larry Lindsey

(announced Sept. 17, 2007)  President and Chief Executive Officer of The Lindsey Group, 2003 to the present.  Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council at the White House, 2001-02; chief economic advisor to Gov. George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign.  Arthur F. Burns Scholar in Economics at the American Enterprise Institute, 1997-2001 and managing director of Economic Strategies, a global consulting firm, 1997-2001.  A Governor of the Federal Reserve System, 1991-97.  Special assistant to the President for domestic economic policy at the White House, 1989-91.  Associate professor at Harvard University, 1984-89.  Senior staff economist for tax policy, President's Council of Economic Advisers, 1981-84.  Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University; M.A. in economics from Harvard University; A.B. from Bowdoin College.
 
 

FINANCE

Finance Director

Dorinda Moss

Returned to the RNC in 2005, serving as director of the Raiser’s Edge (recruitment, organization, and management of individual volunteer fundraisers), and then as director of the RNC Regents Program (individuals who contribute $25,000 each, and $50,000 per couple collectively each year to the RNC).  Finance co-director of the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee.  Regional finance director for the Midwest and Northeast for Victory 2004 and earlier regional finance director for the Midwest at Bush-Cheney ’04.  During the 2001-02 election-cycle Moss served as the regional finance director for the Southeast at the RNC for two years.  Prior to this she was the finance director at the Tennessee Republican Party.   She has also worked on the campaigns of Fred Thompson and Lamar Alexander and the second Inauguration of Gov. Don Sundquist.  B.S. in political science and communications from Belmont University in Nashville.  Native of middle Tennessee.
 
       Deputy to the Finance Director: Katie Walsh

Finance Chairman

B.C. "Scooter Clippard

(Nov. 2007, succeeded Thomas Bell)  Experience includes chief development officer for First Bank and president of the Ayers Foundation.  Chaired the Tennessee Republican Party's finance committee in the 1990s.  Resident of Green Hills, TN.

 

Senior Advisor

Rich Galen

Author of Mullings®, an American cyber-column.  In 2004 he worked on the press operation of the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.  Communications director of the political office of Speaker Newt Gingrich; press secretary to Gingrich when he was House Republican Whip.  Director of EDS's Emerging Markets Group, 1992-96.  Press secretary to then Congressman and U.S. Senator Dan Quayle.  Elected to the Marietta (OH) City Council.  News director of the local radio station in Marietta, OH.  B.A. from Marietta College in Ohio.
 

Senior Advisor

Mary Matalin

Head of Threshold, a conservative publishing imprint at Simon & Schuster.  Senior advisor to Bush-Cheney '04.  Assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney, the first White House official to hold that double title.  Hosted CNN's "Crossfire;" she was the founding co-host of the Washington-based political weeknight talk show, "Equal Time," which premiered in May 1993 on CNBC.  Deputy campaign manager for political operations, responsible for the overview and organization of all 50 state operations on President George H.W. Bush's 1992 campaign.  Chief of staff at the RNC.  Held senior positions in George H. W. Bush's 1988 campaign.  Chief of staff to RNC co-chair Betty Heitman.  National voter contact director for the Reagan-Bush campaign in 1984.  Attended Hofstra University Law School for a year.  Worked at the RNC.  Attended Western Illinois University.   Illinois native.
 
 

Policy Advisor

Ken Reitz

(Reitz essentially built the first iteration of the campaign)  Senior counselor at the Washington-based political campaign and commercial advertising firm 360Advantage.  Returned to Washington, DC and was an executive at Burson-Marsteller.  Went to California and helped found Curb Records.  Deputy chairman at the Republican National Committee.  Headed up Young Voters for the President on Richard Nixon's 1972 re-election campaign.
 
 

Ed McFadden

Experience includes director of executive communications at Verizon.  Served as chief speechwriter for John Ashcroft when he was Attorney General of the United States.
 
 

General Counsel

Michael Toner

Joined the international law firm Bryan Cave LLP as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office in March 2007.  Member of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) starting in 2002 and served as chairman during 2006.  General counsel of the Bush-Cheney Transition Team and the Bush-Cheney 2000 presidential campaign.  Has also served as chief counsel of the Republican National Committee.  J.D. from Cornell Law School, 1992; M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, 1989; and B.A. from the University of Virginia, 1986.

 

Polling

John and Jim McLaughlin, McLaughlin Associates

 

and

Senior Advisor

Tom Collamore

(Acting campaign/committee manager for the first couple of months; resigned July 24, 2007)  A former vice president of public affairs at Altria; joined what was then The Philip Morris Companies Inc. in 1992.  Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Administration and later chief of staff and Assistant Secretary of Commerce.   Member of the transition team.  Senior traveling aide to Vice President Bush during the 1988 campaign.  Served on Vice President Bush's senior staff from 1985-89, first as Deputy Assistant to the Vice President and Staff Secretary, and then as Assistant to the Vice President for Operations.  Special assistant to Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldridge, 1981-85.  B.A. in political science from Drew University, 1981.  Staffer on George H. W. Bush's presidential campaign in Connecticut, 1979-80.  Native of Bloomfield, CT.
 

Jim Rydell - family friend, often took photos.

Thompson's wife Jeri also has a significant role in the campaign.

national endorsements include
National Right to Life (announced Nov. 13, 2007)
...and state affiliates including West Virginia Right to Life (Nov. 26); South Carolina Citizens for Life - Holly Gatling, exec. dir. (Dec. 5); Wisconsin Right to Life - Susan Armacost, WRTL PAC director (Dec. 6); Vermont Right to Life - Sharon F. Toberg, chairwoman (Dec. 13); California ProLife Council - Lawrence Lehr, PAC chairman (Dec. 17); Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life - Scott Fischbach, exec. dir. (Dec. 18); North Carolina Right to Life PAC - Barbara Holt, PAC president (Dec. 19); Virginia Society for Human Life - Brenda Fastabend, president (Dec. 20).
Reverend Phillip Knight and Dr. Benny Tate - (announced Dec. 14, 2007) co-founders and leaders of the Wesleyan Center for Strategic Studies
 
 
 

in the states
Iowa

State Director

Bob Haus

(announced Sept. 6, 2007)  Des Moines-based consultant (Eagle Media Group LLC).  Senior Iowa consultant on Steve Forbes' 2000 Iowa caucus campaign.  Managed Sen. Phil Gramm's 1996 Iowa caucus campaign.  Managed Sen. Chuck Grassley's 1992 re-election campaign.  Worked for the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus.  Graduate of Iowa State University; law degree from the University of Iowa, 1988.

See Iowa page >>
 

New Hampshire

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.

See New Hampshire page >>
 

South Carolina

Campaign Manager

Dean Rice

Campaign manager for Rep. John J. Duncan's 2006 re-election campaign in Tennessee.  National field director of the Christian Coalition of America.  Southern regional political director on Elizabeth Dole's  2000 (1999) presidential primary campaign, where he was responsible for the grassroots operations in 16 states, including South Carolina.  Began working for Fred Thompson in 1994 during his first campaign for the U.S. Senate, served on his legislative staff on Capitol Hill, and worked on the his successful reelection effort in 1996.

See South Carolina page >>
 

states in alpha order
California

Chairman

State Sen. Tom McClintock

(announced Oct. 30, 2007)  Republican nominee for Lt. Governor in 2006.  Candidate for Governor in the historic 2003 recall election.  Republican nominee for state Controller in 2002; lost by very narrow margin.  Elected to the State Senate in 2000.  Served a second stint in the Assembly from 1996-2000.  Director of Economic and Regulatory Affairs for the Claremont Institute's Golden State Center for Policy Studies.  Republican nominee for state Controller in 1994.  Director of the Center for the California Taxpayer, a project of the National Tax Limitation Foundation, 1992-94.  Republican nominee for Congress in California's 24th CD (Beilensen) in 1992.  Elected to the Assembly in 1982, at age 26, and served through 1992.  Chief of staff to Senator Ed Davis. B.A. in political science from UCLA.

and eleven other Republican legislators named as state co-chairs.

See California page >>
 

Florida

Lead Advisor/In-State Consultant

Andy Palmer

Joined Enwright Consulting Group in June 2007.  Executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, Feb. 2005-June 2006.  72-Hour director on Florida Victory 2004.  Served in Gov. Jeb Bush's administration as a chief policy analyst for health and human services.  Held a number of positions in the Florida Legislature, including staff director for the House Health Care Regulation Committee.
 
 

Executive Director

Todd Thomson

Has worked at the Enwright Consulting Group for the past four years specializing in legislative campaigns and issue advocacy.  Worked on the Redistricting Committee of the Florida House of Representatives from 1997-2002, starting as an analyst and working up to staff director.  Started his political career working as a staffer for House campaigns at the Republican Party of Florida during the 1996 election cycle.

See Florida page >>
 

Georgia

Executive Director and Communications Director

State Senator Chip Rogers

(announced Sept. 19, 2007)  Elected to the Georgia Senate, representing District 21 (parts of Cherokee and Cobb counties), in 2004; is chair of the Senate Finance Committee and a member of the Committee on Assignments.  Elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2002.  Self-employed in broadcasting and real estate.  Undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech and graduate degree from Georgia State University.  Native of Kennesaw.

See Georgia page >>
 

Illinois

Chairman

State Senator Bill Brady

(announced Oct. 16, 2007)  Brady has served in the Illinois Senate since 2002 and previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001.  A candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2006.  Brady and his brothers have owned and operated real estate development, property management, mortgage, insurance, home construction and broadcasting businesses in Central Illinois for more than 25 years.  Graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University, in Bloomington.  Lifelong resident of Bloomington.
 

Vice Chairman

Congressman Don Manzullo

(announced Oct. 16, 2007) first elected to Congress in 1992.  Represents the 16th CD of Illinois, which includes the counties of Winnebago, Boone, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Carroll, the majority of McHenry County and parts of DeKalb and Whiteside counties.

See lllinois page >>
 

Kentucky

Executive Director

State Rep. Jamie Comer (R-Tompkinsville)

(announced Dec. 14, 2007) Has represented House District 53 (Cumberland, Green, Metcalfe and Monroe Counties) since 2001.  Farmer, businessman.  Former president of the State FFA, former chairman of the Republican Party of Monroe County.  B.S. from Western Kentucky University.

See Kentucky page >>
 

Maryland

Co-Chair

State Senator David Brinkley

(announced Oct. 12, 2007)  Minority Leader in the Senate (elected in 2007); elected to the State Senate in 2003.  Elected a Member of the House of Delegates in 1995.  Graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park.  Native of Frederick.
 

Co-Chair

Delegate Anthony O'Donnell

(announced Oct. 12, 2007)  Minority Leader in the House of Delegates.  A member of the state legislature since 1995.  Nine-year veteran of the United States Navy.  Delegate O'Donnell has also served as a delegate to the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Republican National Conventions.
 

State Coordinator

Chris Cavey

(announced Oct. 12, 2007)  Chairman of the Baltimore County Republican Party since 2003.  Also First Vice-Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party.  Was instrumental in coordinating operations in Baltimore County for the Bush-Cheney campaigns in 2000 and 2004.

See Maryland page >>
 

Minnesota

Honorary Chairman

Minnesota House Minority Leader Marty Seifert

(announced Nov. 15, 2007)  First elected in 1996, now serving his sixth term.  Resident of Marshall; represents District 21A (all of Lyon County and most of Redwood County).  Works as an admissions counselor.  B.A. in political science from Southwest Minnesota State University.  Lifelong resident of southwest Minnesota.

See Minnesota page >>
 

Mississippi

Co-Chairs

Senator Thad Cochran and Congressman Roger Wicker

(announced Nov. 19, 2007)
 

State Coordinator

Steve Seale

(announced Nov. 19, 2007) Attorney in private practice since Jan. 1999; joined Wise Carter's Jackson office, as a shareholder, in 2006; previously partner in Reed Smith Shaw & McClay LLP's government relations group.  Chief Counsel to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS).  Served two terms as a State Senator.  J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law, 1987; B.A. in English and political science from the University of Mississippi, 1975; also a former Lieutenant Commander of the U.S. Navy.

See Mississippi page >>
 

Nevada

Co-Chair

State Senator Bob Beers

(announced Dec. 20, 2007)  Elected to the State Senate in 2004; represents Senatorial District 6.  Is also Chief Financial Officer for Ely Radio, LLC.  Ran for governor in 2006, finishing second in the primary.  Elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1998.  Co-founder and managing partner of Wilson, Beers & Alu, which merged with another firm in 2002.  Licensed as a CPA in 1989.  B.A in Business Administration from UNLV, 1987. News director for KCBN and KRNO radio in Reno starting in 1980, then worked at KLUC and KMJJ radio in Las Vegas.
 

Co-Chair

State Senator Barbara Cegavske

(announced Dec. 20, 2007)  Elected to the State Senate in 2002; represents Senatorial District 8 (part of Clark County).  Elected to the State Assembly in 1996 and served as District 5's Assemblywoman for three terms from 1997 to 2001.  A Nevada resident since 1974.

See Nevada page >>
 

Oklahoma
endorsements include Senator Jim Inhofe and Congressman John Sullivan (announced Oct. 10, 2007)
See Oklahoma page >>
 

Tennessee
Tennesse Leadership Team - Honorary Chairman former U.S. Sen. Howard Baker joined by 13 honorary co-chairs and 61 honorary state chairs. (announced Nov. 7, 2007)

See Tennessee page >>
 

Texas

Co-Chair

Attorney General Greg Abbott

(announced Oct. 16, 2007)  Re-elected as the 50th Attorney General of Texas on Nov. 7, 2006.  Previously served as a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court, appointed by then Gov. Bush in 1995 and twice re-elected.  Earlier served as a State District Judge in Harris County (129th District Court) for three years. Graduated from the University of Texas with a B.B.A. in finance;  law degree from Vanderbilt University.  Native Texan.
 

Co-Chair

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson

(announced Oct. 16, 2007)  Elected the 27th Commissioner of the General Land Office in 2002.  Served six years as state senator for District 11 (Harris, Galveston, Brazoria).  Commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps, volunteered for duty in Vietnam in 1972 and was later designated as a Naval Flight Officer and served in Marine fighter squadrons until his retirement from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lt. Colonel in 1993.  Graduated from Texas A&M in 1969.

also supported by Texas Railroad Commissioner Victor Carrillo

See Texas page >>
 

Virginia

Co-Chair

former U.S. Sen. George Allen

(announced Nov. 13, 2007)  Also a national co-chair.  (see above)
 

Co-Chair

Attorney General Bob McDonnell

(announced Nov. 13, 2007)  Elected as the 44th Attorney General of Virginia on Nov. 8, 2005.  McDonnell represented the 84th District for 14 years in the Virginia House of Delegates, first elected in 1991; also partner at the law firm of Huff, Poole & Mahoney, P.C for 14 years.  Prosecutor in the Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney's office.  McDonnell served 21 years in the U.S. Army before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.  Undergraduate degree in management from Notre Dame, M.S. in business administration from Boston University, and Master's degree and Law degree from Regent University.

See Virginia page >>
 

West Virginia

State Director

Gary Abernathy

Executive director of the West Virginia GOP, 2001-04.  Communications director of the Ohio Republican Party, 1998-2001.  Deputy district director for former Ohio Congressman Frank Cremeans.  Abernathy has worked as a reporter, columnist and editor for various newspapers in Ohio.  Author of ELEPHANT WARS: Why fight the Democrats when we have each other? (iUniverse, Inc., June 20, 2005).

See West Virginia page >>
 

Wyoming

Co-Chair

Amy Edmonds

(announced Sept. 27, 2007)  Edmonds currently serves in the Wyoming House of Representatives.  Veteran of a number of state and national campaigns.  Worked in the medical and insurance field for 10-plus years.  B.A. in social science from the University of Wyoming.  Resides in Cheyenne.
 

Co-Chair

Drake Hill

(announced Sept. 27, 2007)  Partner at Brown, Drew & Massey since 1999.  Served as State Chairman of the Republican Party starting in 2005.  Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, 1996-99. Trial lawyer at Bassey and Selesko P.C., Southfield, Michigan, 1993-96.  In-house counsel for the Coastal Corporation and ANR Pipeline Company in Detroit, Michigan for five years.  J.D. from the University of Wyoming College of Law, 1988; B.A. in political science from the University of Wyoming, 1985.  Resides in Cheyenne.

See Wyoming page >>
 
 

Former: The Thompson effort underwent a tremendous amount of turnover particularly before the formal launch...

See:
Michael D. Shear.  "Head of 'The House."  Washington Post.  November 13, 2007.
Alexander Bolton.  "Fred completes overhaul, campaign goes 'corporate'" The Hill.  September 11, 2007.
Robert Novak.  "Thompson shuns talented help."  September 13, 2007.

Chair of 'First Day Founders' Philip Martin resigned from that position in early Nov. 2007.
(after article by the Washington Post 's Matthew Mosk on Nov. 4, 2007 "Thompson Adviser Has Criminal Past")  Businessman, friend of Thompson's since the mid-1990s.

National finance chairman Thomas D. Bell, Jr. left that position in late Oct. 2007.
CEO of Cousins Properties in Atlanta.

Media consultant Nelson Warfield left in the latter part of Oct. 2007.
National spokesman on former Sen. Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign.

On Oct. 3, 2007 CN8, The Comcast Network announced that senior communications advisor Robert Traynham would join CN8 as its Washington D.C. bureau chief.
(reported joining Thompson as Senior Advisor, Communications by Marc Ambinder on June 27, 2007)  Does consulting at traynhampr, a Washington, DC based media and public affairs firm.  Joined the staff of Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) in Jan. 1997; served as press assistant, deputy press secretary, press secretary (including on Santorum's 2000 campaign), and deputy chief of staff and director of communications for the Senate Republican Conference.   Special assistant to the Director of Information Services at the RNC; special assistant at the 1996 Republican National Convention.  M.A. in political communication from George Mason University.  B.A. in political science from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

Senior advisor Mark Corallo resigned at the beginning of Sept. 2007.
Founder and Principal Managing Member of Corallo Media Strategies, LLC.  Public affairs director for the U.S. Department of Justice, 2002-05.  Communications director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, 1999-2002.  Took leave of absence from Congress in 2000 to serve as press secretary for Victory 2000, the Republican National Committee's official campaign effort.  Press secretary to U.S. Representative and Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Bob Livingston (R-LA), 1996-99.  Veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry.  Bachelors degree from Georgetown University.

Spokesman Jim Mills started Aug. 20, 2007 but left after two weeks.
Mills came to the campaign from Fox News Channel where he was a senior congressional producer.  A Capitol Hill producer for C-SPAN, 1991-95.  Wrote at Cloakroom.com for National Journal.  Mills has also been a freelance writer for radio networks and UPI, and has served as a statehouse reporter and as a news director.  Author of The Power (1990, fiction).

Communications director Linda Schoumacher Rozett was dismissed on Aug. 27, 2007.
Joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Sept. 1999 as media relations director; promoted in Jan. 2001 to vice president of media relations and in Aug. 2005 to vice president of communications.  Public relations director for the Natural Gas Supply Association.  Media relations manager for the Edison Electric Institute.  Worked 13 years as a broadcast journalist including two years as a field producer in ABC's Chicago bureau for World News Tonight and two years as the Washington, DC editorial producer for Good Morning America.  B.A. in English from the University of Virginia.  (reported by the Politico on July 14, 2007; departure from the campaign reported Aug. 27, 2007)

Press secretary Burson Taylor Snyder left in August 2007.
Communications director for House Minority Whip Blunt; has worked for him for six years and on Capitol Hill for 10 years.  Previously worked as press secretary for Thompson and for the late Sen. Paul Coverdell (R-GA).  Native of Memphis, Tenn..

Lead political advance person Sam LeBlond resigned on July 26 after less than two weeks on the Thompson team.

Tom Frechette, who had been deputy to Tom Collamore, resigned July 26.

J.T. Mastranadi was hired as research director in July but resigned within a week and a half on July 25.

Acting campaign manager Tom Collamore resigned on July 24 and was named as a senior advisor.
 

Copyright © 2007  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action