Potomac Flacks

Sen.-elect Hoeven Names Canton as Communications Director

Sen.-elect John Hoeven (R-ND) has named Don Canton as his new Communications Director.  Canton served as the head of communications in the North Dakota governor’s office under Hoeven.  (CQ’s “People on the Move” column)

Villaraigosa Flack Beltran Heads to Work for Rep. Farr

David Beltran has been hired as Press Secretary for U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA).  Beltran was Press Secretary for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles). Before that, he was a traveling Communications Coordinator for Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy.  (CQ’s “People on the Move” column)

JOB OF THE WEEK: Director of Corporate Communications, San Francisco 49ers (Santa Clara, CA)

The Director of Corporate Communications is responsible for managing the on-going business publicity and new stadium promotion for the 49ers. This includes public relations campaigns associated with ticket sales, new business partnerships and sponsorships, executive and owner media profiles and publicity, game day promotions and issues management on non-football matters. The person in this role will also be helping to create and manage the public relations strategy and communications materials for the new stadium project, including advising on PR for the sales team to determine message positioning, fan education on tiered pricing, new sales opportunities, timing for announcements, and news outlets. In addition, the person in this role will be responsible for managing media events associated with the publicity plans. This could include: ticket sales launch media events, sponsorship/ partner announcements, press conferences and trade shows.

More info: http://49ers.teamworkonline.com/teamwork/r.cfm?i=32728 (PF tipster)

JOB OF THE WEEK: NARAL, Assistant Director of Media Strategy and Outreach

NARAL is hiring an Assistant Director of Media Strategy and Outreach who would work closely with the Director of Communications and Online Advocacy Strategies to coordinate media and online communications strategies.  This position’s duties include monitoring blogs and online media and assisting in the development of organization-wide publications and media activities.  He or she also works with the Director in assessing and responding to incoming media requests and in implementing an aggressive media outreach strategy for the state-based affiliate network.   He or she coordinates activities with other departments, and generates press materials as needed.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates outreach to new and traditional media, with a special emphasis on bloggers and other online sources;
• Manages the NARAL Pro-Choice America blog and develops ideas and plans to incorporate it into the organization’s overall media strategy;
• Oversees media inquiries and develops process for meeting deadlines;
• With approval of Director, schedules calls between NARAL Pro-Choice America experts and reporters or producers, and initiates message materials for spokespeople;
• Participates in ongoing planning activities with internal groups, affiliates, and coalition partners;
• Develops and maintains organization-wide inventory of message materials for use by national spokespeople, state affiliates, and other key allies;
• Institutes priorities and timelines for special projects performed by interns;
• Serves on key internal committees.

Qualifications

• College degree;
• 5+ years media-relations experience;
• Capitol Hill, advocacy, or campaign experience a plus;
• Attention to detail and accuracy;
• Fluency in Spanish highly desired;
• Demonstrated excellence in writing and communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work well with others and to handle multiple projects;
• Commitment to NARAL Pro-Choice America’s goal of building a political constituency to protect and promote the right of all women to exercise the full range of their reproductive choices, including abortion;
• Experience with writing on new-media platforms and social networks;
• Knowledge of MS Word, Access, Excel, and other programs highly desirable

 To apply, send resume and cover letter to: NARAL Pro-Choice America, 1156 15^th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005 / Fax: (202) 973-3096 / Email: [email protected].  (PF tipster)

Former Landrieu Flack Sharp is First Twitter Hire in DC

Adam Sharp (@sharpdc), most recently Executive Director, Digital Services at C-SPAN, has been hired by Twitter as its first employee in Washington, D.C., charged with spreading the brand among politicians.  Sharp was Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA).  During his stint there he was President of the U.S. Senate Press Secretaries Association.  (PF tipster)

Flack Profile: Jonathan Collegio

Jonathan Collegio is director of communications for American Crossroads, the preeminent conservative 527 political campaign organization in Washington DC. Collegio serves as chief spokesperson and grassroots, online and media strategist for the organization.

Hometown: Jacksonville, Oregon

Ducks or Badgers? Go Donald.

iPhone or Blackberry? Berry.

Where do you get your news? Politico’s Playbook and Morning Score, Wall Street Journal, RealClearPolitics.

Biggest surprise of the mid-term election? Harry Reid doing 9% better on the actual ballot than any public poll taken the week before the election.

Biggest disappointment? Harry Reid, doing 9% better…

Are anonymous donors good guys or bad guys?  Depends on which team they give to. Our donors are all obviously good guys. Funniest is the notion that “shady” anonymous donors will be able to pressure new members of Congress. How can they? They’re anonymous! Seriously – a lot of Bizzaroworld doubletalk about donors this cycle. Before McCain Feingold, virtually all large political contributions were 100% transparent. The so-called “good government watchdog” folks who decry the current system are the ones responsible for the current system!

Untold story of the mid-term election? In the 63 House seats that flipped from Democrat to Republican, Democrats spent on average 20% more than Republicans. Ya can’t make it up.

Best dresser? Rob Collins or Karl Rove? No man should be required to answer a question like that.

JOB OF THE WEEK: Ari Fleischer is Hiring

Growing sports communications company seeks top-notch press secretary to work with a wide variety of clients.  10+ years of experience a must.  Exciting but demanding work.  Send resume to PO Box 115, Pound Ridge, NY  10576 or email to [email protected].  Candidate may work in Washington, D.C. or Westchester, NY.  (PF tipster)

Story Partners Gets Wired!

Story Partners has launched www.WiredElection.com in partnership with NJI Media to track updates from journalists, pundits, pollsters and even the candidates themselves.  WiredElection.com will also track total House & Senate seats in real time.

“Political campaigns & public relations have both moved online, so we wanted to organize a 21^st Century Election Night party," said Amos Snead, Principal at Story Partners (www.StoryPartnersDC.com) “WiredElection.com will wire in updates from leading journalists and political campaigns across the country.”

And, you can join the action from your own computer:

Story Partners’ Wired Election Party
URL: www.WiredElection.com
Hash Tag: #WEP2010.