Potomac Flacks

Former Kyl Flack Wilder Named Communications Director for Flake Senate Bid

First reported in Roll Call’s “Shop Talk” column, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) named Andrew Wilder as Communications Director for his Senate campaign. 

Wilder, a third-generation Arizonan, served in the same position for retiring Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), whose seat Flake is running for.  Wilder handled media for Kyl for nearly 13 years in both his Capitol Hill and Phoenix offices. He left that job last week.

"He is well-known as a skilled communicator who brings a wealth of experience with media in Arizona and on Capitol Hill that will be helpful to this campaign," Flake said in a statement.

Before serving Sen. Kyl, Wilder worked for the House Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs as a Professional Staff member / Clerk, as a Media Research Analyst at the Republican National Committee, as a producer at KTAR News/Talk Radio, as an Arizona-based aide for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and at KFYI News/Talk Radio.

Wilder is a native of Phoenix and a graduate of the University of Arizona.  (Roll Call’s “Shop Talk” / PF reporting)

JOB OF THE WEEK: Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Press Secretary

The office of Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) is seeking a Press Secretary.  Responsibilities include drafting/distributing press releases; writing op-eds and/or letters to the editor; monthly e-newsletter; updating and improving the website; booking interviews and pitching stories; establishing and maintaining strong relations with national media; and preparation of talking points and speeches. Also, the candidate should be a strong writer and a team player and have knowledge of video, audio and photography and editing in those medium.

Preferred candidates should have knowledge of Congressional legislative process, proficiency with new media, and ability to identify press opportunities.

TO APPLY: Please send Resume, writing samples and references to staff.doug@mail.house.gov. No calls or walk-ins. (PF tipster)

Glen Echo Group Hires former Hill, NRCC Flack Mark as Senior Director of Media Affairs

Glen Echo Group, recently recognized by the National Journal as one of the top women-owned public affairs firms in Washington just a year after its launch, recently announced that Rebecca Mark has been named Senior Director of Media Affairs.

Mark, who most recently served as Press Secretary to Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX), will lead media relations and strategic media efforts for the firm, based out of its Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Mark has served as communications advisor to two members of the U.S House of Representatives and as an online communications advisor at the National Republican Congressional Committee.  Most recently, Mark was Press Secretary for Congressman Kevin Brady, the Trade Subcommittee Chairman for House Ways & Means and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee.

A San Francisco Bay Area native, Mark is a 2004 graduate of the University of Michigan. Prior to coming to coming to Capitol Hill, Mark worked for MySpace on both their content and sales teams. (PF tipster)

JOB OF THE WEEK: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Communications Director

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) seeks pro-active and aggressive Communications Director.  Duties include: managing all communications with the press, maintenance and updating of Member’s website and Facebook page, preparation of a weekly e-newsletter, management of direct mail program, and staffing of Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press.  This is not an entry-level position.  Superb written and oral communications skills are a necessity and Capitol Hill experience and / or California ties a plus.

TO APPLY: Candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to calcommdirector@gmail.com.  No drop-ins please.  (PF tipster)

Hill Vet Sumner Departs Rep. Whitfield’s Office for ANGA

Robert Sumner recently departed as Press Secretary for Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and on January 9 will begin serving as Director of Media Relations for America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA).

Sumner has significant communications experience, having served as Press Specialist in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (under Assistant USTR and now RNC Communications Director Sean Spicer), Deputy Press Secretary for Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Associate Manager of Communications for the American Diabetes Association and formerly as a press intern for former U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT).

Sumner is a 2005 graduate of Willamette University and a native of The Dalles, OR.  (PF tipster)

JOB OF THE WEEK: Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Communications Director

Congressman Steve King (R-IA) is seeking an entrepreneurial-minded, D.C. based Communications Director. The Communications Director will work with the Press Secretary and other relevant staff to oversee and direct media strategy and to coordinate messaging through district, state, regional, national, and new media outlets. Candidate must be a strong writer, should have at least two to three years of experience working with national and local media, must be a self-starter with the ability to think creatively and generate new ideas, and must be able to work under pressure to respond quickly to deadlines and media opportunities. Applicants should be committed, pro-life conservatives.  Iowa ties are a plus.

TO APPLY: Please email a cover letter explaining why you want to work for Steve King along with your resume and a writing sample to bentley.graves@mail.house.gov with “Communications Director” in the subject line. (PF tipster)

Adler Departs House Foreign Affairs Committee for New York

Gabby Adler, the Communications Director for the Democratic staff of the House Foreign Relations Committee, under Ranking Member Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), recently ended her service there and plans to move to New York.  She has served is this role since January 2011.

In addition to serving the committee, Adler served in the same role for Congressman Berman in his personal office.

Adler previously served as the Midwestern Regional Press Secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), where she was responsible for 12 Midwestern states.

Prior to joining the DCCC, Adler served as Communications Director for Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA). Adler also previously worked at the Caraway Group, a Public Relations firm based in Washington, D.C. and for Senator John Kerry’s (D-MA) 2004 Presidential campaign.  (PF tipster)

Longtime Senate Flack Lundberg Departing Sen. Snowe’s Office

Ken Lundberg, Communications Director for U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), has announced he will leave the Hill later this month to pursue interests in the private sector.

"It's a tough decision to leave the Hill's fast-paced environment.  But, if Republicans win back control there's a brand new agenda, and a lot of work people want to see Congress and the Administration
undertake. Health care, tax reform, energy policy... it's all in play. Channeling the public's current views into law is going to be a significant, but welcome challenge," said Lundberg.

Lundberg is known on the Hill serving first as broadcast journalist, and then successfully making the transition to spokesman and senior advisor to House and Senate Republicans including Rep. Ander Crenshaw (FL), Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), and his appointed replacement Sen. George Lemieux (R-FL).

He got his start in Seattle as Media Relations Manager for the Metropolitan King County Council after working on air for KVI 570AM Radio.

Lundberg is a graduate of Wenatchee Valley College and Boston University. (PF tipster)

BREAKING: Veteran Hill Flack Loskarn Promoted to Chief of Staff for Sen. Alexander

Perfecting the flack-to-Chief path as only a few before him (Ron Bonjean, David Wade, etc) have successfully done, today Ryan Loskarn was named Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN).

Loskarn will succeed ten-year veteran Matt Sonnesyn who will, the office said, “pursue private interests.”

For the past two and a half years Loskarn has served as Staff Director for the Senate Republican Conference (SRC), which Sen. Alexander chairs for through 2012.  Before being named Staff Director, Loskarn served as Communications Director of the SRC under both Sen. Alexander and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ).  While at SRC under Sen. Alexander he also served as his Communications Director for the personal office.

Loskarn served in the House of Representatives for seven years, as a legislative aide to Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA), Deputy Press Secretary at the House Rules Committee and as Communications Direcotr for Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

Loskarn has been named one of Roll Call’s “Fabulous 50 Movers and Shakers” on Capitol Hill.

In 200 he earned a B.A. in history and political science from Tulane University and is a native of Sykesville, MD.  (PF tipster)

EXCLUSIVE: Patel Departs Rep. Wilson for Rep. Boustany; Delleney Replaces Him

Neal Patel, not to be confused with former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney and Daily Caller co-founder Neil Patel, recently departed as Communications Director for Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), where he’s served since December 2010.  Monday, Nov. 14 is his first day in the same role serving Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA).

Patel has had a nontraditional career path to Hill flack, having created a private equity holdings company in 2007 and also practicing law in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Patel is a 2005 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a 2008 graduate of the Charleston School of Law.  He is a native of Nichols, SC.

Replacing Patel with Rep. Wilson is Caroline Delleney, a native of Chester, SC.  (PF tipster)