Potomac Flacks

Thompson Hires GOP Vet Todd Harris as Campaign Communications Director

According to The Washington Post, "likely presidential candidate and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) today hired veteran political spokesman Todd Harris to be his new Communications Director, finally tapping an experienced campaign hand to coordinate his message"

Harris is a former spokesman for Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) 2000 presidential campaign and was also Communications Director for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA). Harris replaces Linda Rozett, who was let go last week.

Harris will oversee a communications shop in flux. Spokeswoman Burson Snyder left the campaign last week, and was replaced with Jim Mills, a former Fox News producer on Capitol Hill. (Washington Post's " The Trail" Blog)

RNC's Schmitt Heads to Greener Pasture

Tracey Schmitt, spokesman at the Republican National Committee, is leaving to serve as the director of corporate communications for Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., based in Rockville. Schmitt, a SoCal native, was recruited by GOP presidential campaigns, but declined and headed to corporate PR.

Prior to her arrival at the RNC in 2005, Schmitt worked on President Bush's second inaugural, served as a regional spokeswoman for the Bush reelect, did a stint in the White House press shop before that and originally made her bones with the Austin crew way back in 2000. Though she'll be doing well, she'll also be doing some good in her new gig. (Politico.com)

Thompson Communications Director Fired

Marc Ambinder is reporting that Fred Thompson's Communications Director Linda Rozette has been fired.

Ambinder writes, "the departure of Linda Rozette suggests that Bill Lacy, who managed Thompson's campaign for the Senate in 1994, is firmly in charge of his testing-the-waters committee-cum-presidential campaign.

Rozette, a veteran Washington hand, had no campaign experience, but she was originally hired on the recommendation of Jeri Kehn Thompson, the wife of the candidate. Rozette spent years as a senior executive at the Chamber of Commerce.

In a letter Lacy sent to campaign staffers this morning, he writes that while Rozette 'is a talented, professional and gracious lady who will be missed,' he felt it 'critical to have a communications point person with significant campaign experience' in the 'limited amount of time we have left.'

'I will have to make a lot of tough decisions to make our venture successful, and this was one of them,' Lacy writes." (Marc Ambinder, A Reported Blog on Politics)

Hillary Hires new Traveling Press Aide

Jay Carson, current Communications Director for former President Bill Clinton, has been brought on as the Traveling Press Secretary for the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton.  Carson replaces Jen Hanley, who will remain with the campaign but wanted to cut back her travel requirements with young children at home.  Carson was National Spokesman for former Gov. Howard Dean's (D-VT) 2004 presidential campaign and was previously Press Secretary for former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD).  ( Washington Post's The Fix blog)

Jano Cabrera Joins Burson-Marsteller DC Office as Managing Director

Jano Cabrera has joined international public relations firm Burson-Marsteller (B-M) as a Managing Director in their Issues and Advocacy Practice and will be based in their DC office.

Cabrera is a former Communications Director at the Democratic National Committee, national spokesman for the 2004 presidential primary campaign of Joe Lieberman and deputy national spokesman for Vice President Al Gore from 1998-2002, working at the White House, on the 2000 presidential campaign, and for Gore's political action committee, Leadership '02, during the 2002 midterm elections.

A ten-year veteran of political communications, Cabrera will be responsible for "managing teams within the Issues and Advocacy Practice that help businesses raise issue awareness, advocate for change in the marketplace of ideas and manage the debate within the beltway," according to a B-M release. More recently Cabrera founded his own consulting firm, Carthage Communications, and in 2005 he worked with the National Democratic Institute in Baghdad in promoting the Iraqi Constitution. Cabrera was also previously the Communications Director for the Recording Industry Association of America. (PF tipster)

Fred Thompson Campaign Press Staffer Resigns

Burson Taylor Snyder, the longtime Communications Director for House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), has resigned after a short stay on the campaign of former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN).  Sources say Snyder was unclear what her role was after the high profile hires of Linda Rozett and Jim Mills.  Snyder was Press Secretary for Thompson when he served in the Senate.  (Wall Street Journal)

Petey Carr Headed to DOJ

Peter Carr, former press secretary and director of communications for Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), has been named deputy director of pulic affairs at DOJ.  Carr will replace Brian Roehrkasse, who has been named director. (PF Tipster).

CMS Spokesman Hired by U.S. Department of Interior

Aaron Hase has been brought on as the Associate Director of Media & PR / Spokesman for Take Pride in America at the U.S. Department of Interior. Hase had served as a Spokesman at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for two years. Originally from Alabama, Hase previously worked on the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign in Florida, before joining the press shop at CMS. (PF tipster)

Bremmer Leaving CNN for MySpace

Lee Brenner , a longtime producer and booker for CNN's Late Edition is leaving the show to work for MySpace.com. Ted Metgzer will pickup the booking duties in an acting capacity in the short term. (PF Tipster)

Politico Reporter Named Press Secretary for Rep. Tom Latham

Jeff Patch, formerly a staff writer covering lobbying at The Politico, has been named Press Secretary for U.S. Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA). He will start Aug. 13, after the Iowa Straw Poll which is in Rep. Latham's district. (PF tipster)