Skip to content

Where Will It Lead Us From Here?

Angie Paccione (D), a former Colorado state Representative who is taking another stab at ousting Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R) in the Centennial State’s 4th district, has unveiled the group of strategists she is depending on to lead her to the promised land. [IMGCAP(1)]

Steve Welchert and John Britz, of Denver-based Welchert & Britz Inc., will serve as Paccione’s general consultants. Welchert and Britz previously have consulted for Colorado Democratic Reps. Ed Perlmutter and Mark Udall.

Diane Feldman, of Washington, D.C.-based The Feldman Group, has been tapped as the former state legislator’s pollster and also will conduct research and provide other strategic advice to the campaign. Feldman previously has polled for Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).

Karen Petel, of the Mack/Crounse Group, is handling Paccione’s direct mail. Mack/Crounse has offices in the D.C. area and Tallahassee, Fla. Petel is a former deputy political director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Paccione referred to this group of consultants as her “victory team,” saying in a statement that “in 2008 it’s not about running, it’s about winning and these people know how to win!”

But before she can earn another shot at Musgrave, Paccione is going to have to survive the Democratic primary.

Betsy Markey (D), a former aide to Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), is running, as is 2006 Reform Party candidate Eric Eidsness, who is running this cycle as a Democrat. Bent County Commissioner Bill Long (D) also is running.

Lending a Helping Hannah. Hannah August has joined the communications team at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, adding reinforcements since Deputy Communications Director Deirdre Murphy departed at the end of June.

August comes to the DSCC from Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D-N.J.) office, which also just happens to be where Communications Director Matthew Miller was plucked from at the beginning of this cycle. Murphy is now serving as communications director for Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.).

Menendez, as it happens, is DSCC vice chairman, and he is rumored to be next in line to succeed Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) for the 2010 cycle.

Political Krohn-y. The Republican National Committee announced Wednesday that Cyrus Krohn has joined the RNC as director of the E-Campaign division.

Krohn comes to the RNC after spending the past two years at Yahoo and nine years before that at Microsoft. Krohn’s résumé includes a stint at CNN producing “Larry King Live” and “Crossfire,” as well as a sojourn as an intern for former Vice President Dan Quayle.

Krohn’s duties at the RNC will include overseeing the committee’s Web site, all online strategic communications and constituent outreach. He also will be responsible for developing new ways for the RNC to reach out to voters using new media technology.

Get Smart! Smart Media Group this month announced that it is opening an office in Dallas and adding three staffers.

The Republican D.C.-based firm, which offers media consulting and buying services, hired Amber Lyons, Ian Samuel and Paul Winn.

Lyons, who will serve as director of operations, previously handled media strategy for targeted candidates at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Winn was hired as a planner and buyer after spending the 2006 election cycle running a grass-roots campaign in Dallas. Samuel, who will serve as media research director, has more than a decade of experience in the field of media marketing.

Rebecca Holian, a media buyer and planner, will run the firm’s Dallas office.

Waiding Into the Private Sector. David Waid has announced he’ll resign as chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party on Aug. 10 so that he can devote his full attention to the private firm he founded with partner Tom Ziemba.

Ziemba Waid Public Affairs, headquartered in Phoenix, offers a range of services, including political and communications consulting, government affairs strategy, and advice on grass-roots and coalition building.

Once Waid has departed the state Democratic Party, Ziemba Waid plans to take on political candidates and ballot-initiative campaigns as clients. Waid’s position as chairman has prevented the firm from doing such work, as it could conflict with his current leadership role within the party.

Ziemba has an extensive background in government and electoral politics, including serving as an aide to then-Attorney General Janet Reno and in senior positions in 2004 for the presidential campaign of then-Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.).

Waid is a former top aide to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly and in the previous cycle helped Democrats swipe two Congressional districts from the Republicans, first as executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party and then as its chairman.

Summer School. The Women’s Campaign School at Yale University launched its summer session on Wednesday and is set to host a bevy of well-known individuals as guest speakers and lecturers.

Among those scheduled to offer insight to the campaign school’s students are Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Chellie Pingree (D), the former Common Cause president who is running for Congress in Maine’s 1st district.

Please send news of developments in the political industry here.

Recent Stories

Capitol Lens | O’s face

Mayorkas impeachment headed to Senate for April 11 trial

Muslim American appeals court nominee loses Democratic support

At the Races: Lieberman lookback

Court says South Carolina can use current congressional map

Joseph Lieberman: A Capitol life in photos