TOM VILSACK FOR PRESIDENT
6200 Thornton Avenue, Suite 195  |  Des Moines  |  Iowa  (opened Nov. 9. 2006)

National Campaign Manager

Craig Varoga

(announced Nov. 9, 2006)  Principal partner of Varoga Rice & Shalott, a Houston-based political consulting firm he co-founded in 1995.  General consultant for Iowa Victory 2004, the Democratic Coordinated Campaign in Iowa.  National field director for Clark for President, Inc. starting in mid-Nov. 2003.  Managed the Texas Truth Squad in 2000 for the Democratic National Committee and the Gore-Lieberman campaign.  National director of state research in 1996 for the Clinton-Gore re-election.  Varoga has managed campaigns throughout the country for Senate, Congress, lieutenant governor, state treasurer and mayor, and served as communications director for U.S. Senator Harry Reid.  Graduate of Princeton University and native of Pittsburgh, PA.
 
 

Senior Communications Strategist

Jeff Link

(announced Nov. 9, 2006, also worked for the Heartland PAC)  Principal of Link Strategies, an Iowa-based political and government relations consulting firm he founded during law school.  Campaign manager for Sen. Tom Harkin’s successful 1996 and 2002 campaigns.  Iowa State Director for Gore-Lieberman in 2000.  Chief of Staff for Sen. Harkin, 1997-99.  Directed Democrats' efforts to maintain their majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, 1995.  Executive assistant to Speaker Robert W. O’Donnell of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1991-94; managed O'Donnell's gubernatorial campaign in 1994.  Law degree from Drake University, 2002.
 
 

Advisor

Teresa Vilmain

(announced Nov. 9, 2006)  Director of political strategy at the DNC in the 2004 cycle (announced as "General Election Strategist" in February 2003).  Gore-Lieberman State Director in the 2000 General Election campaign.  General consultant to Tom Vilsack's gubernatorial campaign in Iowa in 1998.  Wisconsin state director for Clinton/Gore 96.  Consultant for the Human Rights Campaign's OutVote 96 project.  Political director of Emily's List.  Campaign manager for Geraldine Ferraro's 1992 U.S. Senate race.  Worked on the Iowa caucuses for Gary Hart in 1987 and Michael Dukakis in 1988.  First presidential campaign worked on was Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1980.  Native of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
 
 

FIELD

Field Director

Travis Brock

Political director for the Iowa Democratic Party.  State director of the Kerry-Edwards '04 Kentucky campaign (he started Aug. 1, 2004 and the campaign stayed there for about 6 weeks); he then returned to Iowa, where he served as Johnson County GOTV director for the coordinated campaign.  Brock's earlier experience includes Midwest Political Director at the DNC, Deputy Communications Director for Vilsack/Pederson 2002, an organizer for the AFSCME Florida Political Organizing Project, Field Director for the 2000 Wisconsin Democratic Coordinated Campaign, Field Staff for Gore 2000, and Field Staff for the1998 Iowa Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign.  B.A. in communications from University of Wisconsin at Madison, 1993.
 
 

Deputy Field Director

Michelle Mayorga

In 2006 worked on the Jim Davis for Governor campaign in Central Florida, and finished the campaign in Nevada.  Deputy field desk (NV, OR, WA, WV) at the DNC in Fall 2004.  Graduate of Jonathan Edwards College (Yale College), 2003.  Native of Florida.
 
 

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications Director

Josh Earnest

(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

Stephanie Bjornson

(from the start of the campaign)  Most recently worked as an opposition researcher/consultant for Link Strategies, an Iowa-based political and government relations consulting firm.  Bjornson produced opposition research for several national races including the 2006 U.S. Senate races in Ohio and Tennessee, 2006 U.S. House race in Indiana (IN-8th) and the 2006 gubernatorial races in Ohio and California.  Prior to Link Strategies, Stephanie worked as an aide to U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan from 2002-05 in Washington, DC.
 
 

INTERNET

Deputy Internet Director

Kevin Thurman

Senior strategist at Blue State Digital.  Previously worked as an online consultant for non-profit clients such as the Human Rights Campaign and the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as political leaders like Sen. Russ Feingold and Sen. Gary Hart.  B.A. in communications from Fordham University.
 

(online fundraising...)

Scott Zumwalt

(started with Heartland PAC in summer 2005; worked for the PAC as assistant in policy and political research and online strategy)  Served as president of the Georgetown University College Democrats, interned for Congresswoman Nita Lowey in 2003 and served as the national deputy youth outreach director for the Kerry Edwards campaign in 2004.  Research assistant at the Westchester County Parks Department.  B.A. in Political Economy from Georgetown University.  Native of Chappaqua, NY.
 

(social networking/volunteers...)

Udai Rohatgi

(started with the Heartland PAC)
 
 

SCHEDULING

Director of Scheduling

Alice Parker

(announced Nov. 9, 2006)  Has worked in sales, marketing and program development, public relations, IT, and accounts receivable.  Spent the last three years as Publishing Manager and Senior Administrative Assistant to the Senior Vice President of Marketing with Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. and the four years prior to that as Staff Director of Marketing at AAA Mountain West.
 
 

FINANCE

National Finance Advisor

Shari Yost-Gold

(announced Nov. 9, 2006, also did finance for the Heartland PAC)  Yost Gold Consulting.  Finance Director for Sen. Joe Lieberman's 2004 presidential campaign, Feb.-July 2003.  Vice President for Government Affairs at Cablevision Systems Corporation.  Finance Director for the DSCC under U.S. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.
 
 

National Finance Director

Michael Hayden

(announced Nov. 9, 2006)  Principal of Hayden and Associates, an Iowa-based political fundraising firm that has handled over forty federal, state and local campaigns throughout the Midwest and East Coast since 1995.  Hayden's most recent clients include Governors Brad Henry of Oklahoma in 2006 and Michael Easley of North Carolina in 2004.
 
 

MORE

Chief of Staff to Christie Vilsack

Heather Matson

Managed Dusky Terry's campaign for Secretary of Agriculture  in the June 2006 primary.  Finance Director for Congressman Leonard Boswell’s campaign in 2004.  Assistant to John Kerry for President Iowa State Director John Norris (starting Sept. 2003).  Worked for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the Government Relations office.
 
 

Office Manager

Brenda Kole

 
 

Media Consultant

Roy Behr, Behr Communications

President of Behr Communications.  A media consultant for over 10 years; as a senior partner at GMMB, his clients included U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid.
 
 

Consulting

Dewey Square Group/Kiki McLean

 
 

IOWA

Iowa State Director

Dusky Terry

(announced Nov. 9, 2006, also worked for the Heartland PAC starting in July 2006)  Sought the Democratic nomination for Secretary of Agriculture in the June 2006 primary but lost to Denise O'Brien.  Served as Gov. Vilsack's Constituent Casework Coordinator; Policy Advisor on Agriculture, Environment, and Transportation; Legislative Director; Senior Advisor to the Governor; and finally as Policy Director before leaving to run for office.  Started working for Vilsack on his gubernatorial campaign in January 1998.  Graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, 1997.  Grew up on a farm near Greenfield, IA.
 

Iowa Field Director

Jesse Harris

(from the start of the campaign)  Most recently worked as the Field Director for the Iowa Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign.  Field Director for the Chet Culver for Governor campaign.  Regional Field Director for the 2004 Iowa Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign (Linn County).  Field staffer on John Edwards' Iowa caucus campaign (Warren County).  May 2003 graduate of Simpson College with a double major in History and Political Science.

And, on Feb. 9, 2007 the campaign announced a list of "1159 committed Iowa caucusgoers for Vilsack."
 
 

Courtesy: Anonymous

Tom Vilsack for President Nat'l Hdqrs at 6200 Thornton Avenue in Des Moines, late Dec. 2006.

HEARTLAND PAC (Vilsack's vehicle in the 2006 cycle, formed April 2006)
1001 G Street, NW  Suite 300E  |  Washington, DC

Executive Director

BJ Thornberry

Previously executive director of the Democratic Governors' Association.  During the Clinton Administration she served as deputy assistant secretary for Land and Minerals Management and later deputy chief of staff at the Department of the Interior and as senior advisor to the deputy secretary at HUD.  Executive director of the Democratic National Committee in 1996.  Deputy state treasurer and deputy chief of staff to Colorado Governor Roy Romer.  Two terms as the Moffat County, CO Democratic Party chair and elected member of the Craig City Council.   Native of Illinois.
 
 

Senior Advisor

Cheryl Parker Rose

Most recently worked for SEIU President Andy Stern as assistant for strategic initiatives.  Counsel and director of policy for the Democratic Governors' Association for four years.  Director of intergovernment and interagency affairs for the U.S. Department of Education during the Clinton Administration.  Special counsel to Florida Governor Lawton Chiles.  Legislative assistant to Congresswoman Carrie Meek (D-FL).  Worked for the Florida Legislature in the office of the Democratic Majority Leader as counsel with an issues portfolio and as staff director for the K-12 Education Committee.  Started career with Florida Legal Services, Inc.  Native of Florida.
 
 

Assistant in Policy and Political Research and Online Strategy

Scott Zumwalt

(started with Heartland PAC in summer 2005)  Served as president of the Georgetown University College Democrats, interned for Congresswoman Nita Lowey in 2003 and served as the national deputy youth outreach director for the Kerry Edwards campaign in 2004.  Research assistant at the Westchester County Parks Department.  B.A. in Political Economy from Georgetown University.  Native of Chappaqua, NY.
 
 

Finance

Shari Yost

Yost Gold Consulting.  Finance Director for Sen. Joe Lieberman's 2004 presidential campaign, Feb.-July 2003.  Vice President for Government Affairs at Cablevision Systems Corporation.  Finance Director for the DSCC under U.S. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.
 

IOWA

Jeff Link

Principal of Link Strategies, an Iowa-based political and government relations consulting firm he founded during law school.  Campaign manager for Sen. Tom Harkin’s successful 1996 and 2002 campaigns.  Iowa State Director for Gore-Lieberman in 2000.  Chief of Staff for Sen. Harkin, 1997-99.  Directed Democrats' efforts to maintain their majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, 1995.  Executive assistant to Speaker Robert W. O’Donnell of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1991-94; managed O'Donnell's gubernatorial campaign in 1994.  Law degree from Drake University, 2002.
 

Dusky Terry

Dusky Terry most recently sought the Democratic nomination for Secretary of Agriculture in the June 2006 primary; previously he served as Vilsack's policy director.
 

Heather Matson

Managed Dusky Terry's campaign for Secretary of Agriculture  in the June 2006 primary.  Finance Director for Congressman Leonard Boswell’s campaign in 2004.  Assistant to John Kerry for President Iowa State Director John Norris (starting Sept. 2003).  Worked for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the Government Relations office.
 
 
 

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Chief of Staff

Cynthia Eisenhauer

(from Jan. 31, 2005 after serving for a couple of months as interim chief of staff)  Started working for the State of Iowa in 1978.  Previously director of the Department of Management since 1999.  Appointed Director of Iowa Workforce Development in 1990.  Executive director of the Iowa Campaign Finance Disclosure Commission starting in 1978.  Native of Kansas.
 

Communications Director

Rodell Mollineau

(started Feb. 1, 2006)  Previously communications director for U.S. Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR).  Prior to that, Mollineau worked as a press aide to U.S. Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD).  Graduate of the University of Dayton.
 

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