Potomac Flacks

NRCC’s Bozek Named Communications Director for NRSC

Roll Call broke the news that NRSC chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) named Andrea Bozek as the Communications Director for the 2015-2016 cycle.

Bozek served as Communications Director at the NRCC during the 2012 cycle.  She first worked at the NRCC during the 2006 cycle.

In between stints there, she worked as a Research Analyst and Regional Coordinator on the McCain presidential campaign in 2008, as Press Secretary for U.S. Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-NY) and as Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY) both in his office and on his campaign.

She returned to NRCC in 2011 to serve as a Regional Press Secretary.

She is a graduate of John Carroll University and a native of Buffalo.  (Roll Call and PF reporting)

Sen. Thune Announces Staff Changes

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the 3^rd ranking leader in the incoming U.S. Senate majority as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, announced several staff changes for the new Congress:

Brendon Plack, who has been serving as Sen. Thune’s Deputy Chief of Sstaff, has been named Staff Director of the Senate Republican Conference. Plack will also continue to oversee operations in Thune’s DC-based personal office. Plack, a South Dakota native, has served on Thune’s team in various capacities for the past 10 years, including Thune’s Legislative Director, Policy Director for the Senate Republican Conference, and energy analyst at the Senate Republican Policy Committee.

Ann Marie Hauser has been named Deputy Sstaff Director of the Senate Republican Conference. Most recently, Hauser handled public affairs strategy for the financial regulatory consulting firm Patomak Global Partners. Prior to that, she served as managing vice president at JDA Frontline, Communications Director for Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s presidential bid, Vice President of Corporate Communications at JPMorgan Chase, Communications Director for U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Director of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce and spokesperson at the U.S. Department of Treasury in the George W. Bush administration.

AshLee Strong, Sen. Thune’s national Communications Director, has been promoted to Senior Communications Director. She will continue to serve as Thune’s chief spokesperson and will coordinate Thune’s national message in his leadership office and across his committee assignments. Previously, Strong served as Press Secretary for Sen. Thune, Press Secretary for Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), communications aide for the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and as an aide at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in the George W. Bush administration.

Frederick Hill has been named Sen. Thune’s Communications Director for the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Hill most recently served as Deputy Staff Director for Communications to Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Hill has worked for Issa for the past 13 years.

In addition, Rachel Millard will continue to serve as Thune’s Communications Director for state press. Millard, a native of Chamberlain, SD, and graduate of Creighton University, has served on Sen. Thune’s personal staff for over five years and previously served as press secretary for Sen. Thune, internal communications adviser at the Senate Republican Conference, and legislative correspondent for Thune.  (PF tipster)

Jordan Departs House Small Business Cmte for U.S. Sen.-elect Lankford

Politico’s “Playbook” reports that D.J. Jordan is leaving the House Small Business Committee, under chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), and has been named Communications Director for U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK).

Jordan previously served as a press aide for U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), as well as working for CNN and Fox News.

He is has a B.S. degree from Liberty University and a Master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University.

He is a native of Chesapeake, VA. (Politico “Playbook” and PF reporting)

Doheny Moves from House to Senate

Politico’s “Playbook” reports that Tom Doheny has been named Communications Director for U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE).

Doheny has been Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Renee Elmers (R-NC) since 2011.  Doheny took leave in 2014 to serve as Colorado Victory Communications Director for the RNC.  Before that he was Communications Director for the Delaware Republican Party.

He is a 2007 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and a native of Fairfax Station, Virginia.  (Politico’s “Playbook”)

Speaker Boehner Moves Fritz from Political Role to Speaker’s Office

Cory Fritz, a longtime aide to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), has been named Press Secretary in the speaker’s office, with special responsibility for dealing with White House media.

Fritz has led communications for Boehner’s political committee for the past four years, serving as Ohio Press Secretary for Boehner before that.  Earlier he was Speechwriter for former U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH).  (PF tipster)

Webb Hires Crawford as Communications Director

The presidential exploratory committee of former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) announced on twitter that Craig Crawford has been named Communications Director.

Crawford ran The Hotline for National Journal from 1997-2003 and was Washington Bureau Chief for the Orlando Sentinel before that.  Since then he wrote a column for CQ and provided political commentary for MSNBC.  (PF tipster)