Potomac Flacks

Herald Acquires Stutts

The Herald Group is acquiring Phillip Stutts & Company, LLC. Phillip Stutts will join The Herald Group as vice president to establish a dedicated grassroots practice while extending the broader firm's portfolio of services to existing and new clients.

Philip Stutts is well known for his grassroots organizing. He was the "go to guy" for the RNC's 72-Hour Task Force guru for the 2004. And, he has worked in senior positions for Dan Quayle, John Thune and Bobby Jindal and has worked on numerous campaign cycles.

His experience will compliment what The Herald Group is already known for: campaign strategy, issues management, media relations, corporate and crisis communications, and grassroots and coalition mobilization.

Lincoln Davis Has a New Deputy Communications Director

Jon Boughtin has been hired as Deputy Communications Director for Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN). After graduating from Vanderbilt he joined the Harold Ford, Jr. for Senate campaign. Boughtin most recently served as Political Assistant at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. (PF tipster)

Fred Thompson's New Advisor

Robert Traynham is joining the Fred Thompson presidential campaign as a senior advisor in communications. Traynham was previously Communications Director for the Senate Republican Conference under Chairman Rick Santorum (R-PA). (PF tipster)

GOP Hill Staffing Roundup

• Vartan Djihanian has been hired as communications director for Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif.  Djihanian was communications director for Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz. Malech was a principal with the Gallatin Group. ( CQ People on the Move)

• Mary MacClean has been hired as press secretary for Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J.  MacClean was scheduler for and executive assistant to Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif.  (CQ People on the Move )

Brady is OnPoint

John Brady, who currently serves on the board of directors for OnPoint, has accepted the position of Chairman of the company. In this expanded capacity, he will be applying OnPoint's political campaign capabilities to related industry segments such as the corporate and health care arenas. Prior to joining OnPoint Advocacy, he co-founded The Direct Impact Company, were he served as its chairman and CEO for more than 14 years before the company was acquired by Young and Rubicam, which is now a part of the WPP Group

Widmeyer's New Senior Vice President

Widmeyer Communications has hired David Poisson to lead one of the firm's corporate, association, and public policy practices. Poisson's experience runs the gamut from serving as as Legislative Director and Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator Terry Sanford (D-NC) to Chief of Staff to then-U.S. Representative Richard Durbin (D-IL). After Capitol Hill, Poisson served for over a decade in various government relations, communications and leadership positions at several trade associations, including the Electronic Industries Association, the Computer Leasing and Remarketing Association and the Tire Industry Association, where he was Chief Executive Officer. Most recently, Poisson has maintained his own public affairs consultancy, Jenkins Hill Partners. (PF Tipster)

Blogger-Strategists Stoller & Bowers to leave MyDD

Matt Stoller and Chris Bowers, chief writers for progressive mega-blog MyDD.com and campaign strategists, announced plans to leave the site and start a new blog venture at the annual Take Back America conference today.

"We're working on the name," Bowers said. Stoller and Bowers declined to comment further on their plans. They participated in a panel discussion entitled, "The Blogosphere: From Ideas to Action."

Stoller has served as strategist and Internet consultant on a number of high-profile campaigns, including the "Draft Wesley Clark" movement in 2004 and Jon Corzine for Governor (NJ) in 2005.

 

Pentagon Hires ABC Correspondent

The Politico is reporting that the Pentagon has hired ABC's Geoff Morrell as the new on-camera briefer. Morrell will hold the title of deputy assistant secretary of Defense. An official announcement is expected this week. (The Politico)

AOL has a new flack

Amy Call has been hired as senior communications director and spokeswoman at AOL. Call was communications director for former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. (CQ People on the Move)

National Assoc. of Chain Drug Stores Gain New Media Chief

Christine M. Shott has been hired as vice president of media relations at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Shott was director of media relations at the National Restaurant Association. (CQ People on the Move)