Potomac Flacks

Romney campaign flack Saul to Facebook COO Sandberg’s “Lean In”

According to Politico’s Dylan Byers, Andrea Saul, who served as Press Secretary for the 2012 presidential campaign of former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA), is the new Communications Director for Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” project.

Saul previously served as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), as Press Secretary for the U.S. Senate campaign of Carly Fiorina (R-CA) and on the U.S. Senate campaign of then-Gov. Charlie Crist, leaving when he switched to become an independent.  She also worked on the 2008 presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and did stints at the RNC and DCI Group.

She’s a graduate of Vanderbilt University and a native of Dalton, GA.  (Politico and PF reporting)

REMAINDERS: McDowell joins Blue Engine; Beirne & Vargas To WH; Gor to Rand 2016

Occasionally, we miss some important flack-related items.  Here are a few:

• First reported in Politico’s “Playbook,” Amber McDowell has joined DC-based strategic communications firm Blue Engine Message & Media.  She was most recently Communications Director for U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA).  She also was Speechwriter and Press Secretary for Gov. Phil Bredesen (D-TN) and Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM).  She worked on the Obama-Biden re-elect and at the 2012 DNC Convention in Charlotte.  (Politico’s “Playbook”)
• Katherine Vargas is the new Director of Hispanic Media at the White House.  She was previously Communications Director for the National Immigration Forum, and also worked at the National Immigration Law Center and the International Rescue Committee.  She is a native of Colombia who immigrated to the U.S. in 1997.
• Katie Beirne, the Staff Director for the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Center has replaced Jennifer Palmieri as Deputy Communications Director at the White House.  According to Politico, she will be in charge of outreach to surrogates and message coordination with outside groups.  (Politico)
• Sergio Gor has been named Spokesman for RAND PAC, the political action committee, and presidential campaign in waiting, of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).  Gor was formerly spokesman for Rep. Michele Bachman (R-MN) and on the campaign of Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA. (Politico)

Dem flack Sharon moves from same committee in House to Senate

First reported in Politico’s “Playbook,” Adam Sharon recently began his new job as spokesman for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee under chairman Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ).  He previously served in the same role on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Sharon previously worked for Rep. Karen Bass (D-NH) and on the 2010 U.S. Senate campaign of then-Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL).  (Politico Playbook)

Flack Colburn named CoS at HUD

First reported in Politico’s “Playbook,” Brent Colburn, a veteran of Obama administration and both presidential campaigns, is the new chief of staff to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

Colburn, 37, was National Communications Director for the president’s re-election campaign, and was Communications Director of this year's Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Before moving to Chicago for last year's campaign, he was Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

He’s a graduate of William & Mary.  (Politico’s “Playbook”)

EXCLUSIVE: Taylor to join Sen. Wicker as Communications Director

Ryan Taylor, who has served U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) on his Senate Republican Policy Committee staff will join Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) as his new Communications Director.

Taylor has worked the past 8 years in Wyoming politics, with stints working for Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), on the HELP Committee staff of Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), in a variety of official and campaign capacities for Sen. Barrasso and for the late Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY).  Taylor served in 2010 as Executive Director of the Wyoming Republican Party.

He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming and a native of Rawlins, WY.  (PF reporting)

RGA’s Schrimpf to run comms for IL-GOV candidate Rauner

First reported in Politico, Republican Governors Association Communications Director Mike Schrimpf is leaving to work for expected gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner (R-IL).

To date, Rauner has created an exploratory committee, raising $1.3 million, including a $250,000 contribution from himself.

Schrimpf has served at RGA since 2008.  He previously served as Communications Director for the Center for Competitive Politics.  He got his start working in Hamilton County government in Cincinnati, OH.

Schrimpf is a 2005 graduate of Tufts University.  (Politico)

McCormick joins SKDKnickerbocker

Political consulting and strategic communications firm SKDKnickerbocker announced that Kelley McCormick has joined the firm as a Managing Director.

Most recently, Kelley was an Executive Vice President at McBee|Gibraltar, where she worked on a variety of corporate and non-profit campaigns that dealt with critical public health concerns such as obesity, the U.S. HIV/AIDS epidemic, and food allergies.

In the past she has worked on behalf of Dole Food, Gilead Sciences, the Financial Times, HBO, and the Bipartisan Policy Center.  She advises several non-profit organizations including Running Start, CURE Epilepsy, and the Clinton Global Initiative.  (PF tipster)

DNC Flack Roussell Appointed HUD A/S for Public Affairs

Melanie Roussell, the DNC Press Secretary since August 2011, has been appointed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.

Roussell returns to HUD where she served as Press Secretary from 2009-2011.  Previously she was spokesperson for the 2008 presidential Inaugural Committee and southern Regional Communications Director for the Obama campaign.  She was also Communication Director for the House Judiciary Committee (majority) under Chairman John Conyers (D-MI).

Roussell graduated from Florida A&M University and earned a Master’s from American University.  (PF tipster)

Christie Shuffles Staff: Roberts and Morss to Campaign; Hires Reed

First reported by the New Jersey Star-Ledger, Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) has moved two press aides from his office to his re-election campaign and hired another to replace them.

Deputy Press Secretary Kevin Roberts is moving over to the re-election campaign, beginning April 15.  Roberts has been in the Governor’s office for three years and previously worked on the 2006 gubernatorial campaign of Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and for the California GOP.  He first came to New Jersey to serve as Communications Director for the New Jersey GOP in 2009.

Foster Morss has also moved over to be the campaign’s Research Director.  New Jersey native Morss worked on the 2008 presidential campaign of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-New York City) and as Deputy Press Secretary at the RNC.

Replacing Roberts is Colin Reed, a former Communications Director for former U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA).  Reed previously worked for then-Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) and for VP nominee Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK).  He also worked for the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2010.  (New Jersey Star-Ledger)

Hastings Hires Tadeo, Micetich for House Natural Resources Committee

House Natural Resources Committee chairman Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) has hired two new staffers to join the communications shop of the House Resources Committee (majority).

Mike Tadeo will serve as the Press Secretary.  Mike worked as the Communications Director for Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH).  Prior to coming to Washington, D.C., Mike worked as a Booker and Production Assistant for several Fox News Channel programs in New York, including Your World with Neil Cavuto. He is a native of Wayne, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Fordham University.

Mallory Micetich will serve as the Deputy Press Secretary. Mallory previously worked as a Media Relations Coordinator for the Senate Radio and TV Gallery.  Prior to that she served as the Press Assistant for the Natural Resources Committee and worked as a Staff Assistant for Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA). Mallory graduated from James Madison University.  (PF tipster)