Potomac Flacks

Top Treasury Communicator LeCompte Departing, Wyeth Earnest to Replace

First reported in Politico’s “Playbook,” Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Jenni LeCompte will conclude her Treasury tour of duty this Friday.  Per Politico, “LeCompte, the first political appointee sworn in at Treasury in the Obama Administration, will continue to help Geithner with communications matters but otherwise take time off before pursuing other opportunities.”

LeCompte was Deputy CEO for Public Affairs for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. She was a Regional Communications Director for the Kerry-Edwards 2004 campaign, Deputy Communications Director for the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston and on Capitol Hill for Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).  She also served in the Clinton White House.

Natalie Wyeth Earnest, another longtime veteran of the Treasury public-affairs team, picks up the Acting Assistant Secretary title. (Politico’s “Playbook”)

Obama Campaign Vet Young Returns to Capitol Hill as Press Secretary for House Minority Whip Hoyer

First reported in Politico’s “Huddle,” House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer has named Stephanie Young as Press Secretary in his leadership office.

Young most recently served as Director of Constituency Press for the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee and, prior to that, as the Director of Regional Press in Florida for President Obama's re-election campaign.

She previously served on Capitol Hill as Communications Director for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).  (Politico’s “Huddle”)

Helling Replaces Murphy in Sen. Tester’s Office

U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) has named Andrea Helling as his new Communications Director, replacing spokesman Aaron Murphy, who, after seven years with Sen. Tester has accepted a new position in the private sector.

Helling has worked in Tester’s office since 2007, serving as Press Secretary and as interim Communications Director in 2012.

Helling is a native of Victor, MT, and a graduate of the University of Montana.

Dan Malessa will continue serving as his Washington-based Press Secretary.  Les Braswell is Tester's Deputy Press Secretary.  (PF tipster)

Kirby Named Press Secretary for Rep. Hastings

Neal Kirby has been named the new press secretary for Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA).

Kirby previously served as Online Communications Manager for the House Committee on Natural Resources, where he began as an intern in 2009.

He is originally from Mandeville, LA and after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Kirby ran a state senate campaign in Louisiana.  (PF tipster)

NHTSA Flack Tran Joins 270 Strategies

First reported in Politico’s “Playbook,” Lynda Tran, communications director for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is leaving on Feb. 6 to become a partner at 270 Strategies, the new firm of Obama campaign veterans Mitch Stewart and Jeremy Bird.

Tran was national press secretary for Organizing for America, communications director for Governor Tim Kaine (D-VA), and worked at SEIU and in Ohio during the ’04 and ’08 cycles.  (Politico’s “Playbook”)

House GOP Conference Deputy Press Secretary Rabbitt joins Rep. Cotton

Today Caroline Rabbitt begins her new job as Communications Director for rising star freshman Rep. Tom Cotton (R-AR).

Rabbitt most recently served as Deputy Press Secretary for the House Republican Conference.  (PF tipster)

Christie, Senior VP of Corp Comms for New York Times Company, Departs as Position is Eliminated

Robert Christie, the senior vice president of corporate communications for The New York Times Company since 2010, has departed as his position was eliminated.  He joined NYT from the Wall Street Journal.

Eileen Murphy, the vice president of corporate communications, will lead the communications department.  (NYT’s Media Decoder blog)

SPECIAL OFFER FOR PF READERS: Attend the 2013 Gridiron Reprise

The following is a special offer specifically developed for readers of Potomac Flacks.

For 126 years, Washington's Gridiron Club of national journalists has held an annual show of satire and songs that skewer Presidents and congressional leaders, lobbyists and sacred cows.

Now the Gridiron’s Sunday afternoon performance, traditionally given for friends and family, is open to readers of Potomac Flacks.  This is a great chance for you to make contacts and watch the reporters and editors you interact with daily in a very different setting.

The 2013 Gridiron Reprise will be held on Sunday, March 10, in the ballroom of the Washington Renaissance Hotel, 999 Ninth Street NW. The reception, which includes an open bar, begins at 2 p.m. and the reprise starts at 3 p.m. The program will end by 5 p.m.

These special, limited availability tickets cost $80. They can be ordered through Paypal below and will be distributed at Will Call beginning at 1:30 on the afternoon of the show. Please include a name for Will Call pickup with your order.

To place your order: Click here.

For questions or requests for non-Paypal orders, contact [email protected]. (PF exclusive offer)

Toomey Hires E.R. Anderson, as Flacks Soloveichik & Neal Depart

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), the chairman of the Senate Republican Steering Committee, has named E.R. Anderson as his new Communications Director.

Anderson had previously served as Communications Director for the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee under Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-ME).

Anderson replaces Nachama Soloveichik, who, according to Roll Call’s “Shop Talk,” has joined Cold Spark Media as a vice president in their new Washington, DC, office.

Soloveichik worked on Toomey’s 2010 campaign and as the chief spokeswoman for the Club for Growth when Toomey ran the conservative group.

Toomey’s Press Secretary, Rebecca Neal, departed the office in December to become Communications Director for Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX).  (Roll Call’s “Shop Talk” & PF reporting)

EXCLUSIVE: Resources Committee Flack Feldman heads to work for Gov. McCrory

Crystal Feldman, the press secretary for the House Resources Committee under chairman Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), has been named press secretary for newly inaugurated Gov. Pat McCrory (R-NC).  Her first day is Jan. 21. 

Feldman has served at the committee since Feb. 2011.  She previously was a spokesperson for the California Republican Party in 2010, Communications Director for Sue Lowden for U.S. Senate in Nevada, an account manager for the DCI Group, an associate at Sulgrave Partners and she got her start as a research analyst at the RNC in 2008.

Feldman is a graduate of Georgetown University.  (PF reporting)