Potomac Flacks

Romney, Giuliani Alum Alcivar Named Communications Director for Stefanik

Time Warner Cable News – New York reports that Lenny Alcivar has joined Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY) congressional campaign in the North Country as Communications Director.

Alcivar previously served as director of Romney’s 2012 digital rapid response unit and was most recently worked as a Senior Vice President, Public Relations at Hynes Communications.

He also worked on the U.S. Senate campaign of Gabriel Gomez (R-MA) and in the second Bush administration in Washington and the Giuliani administration in New York City.

Alcivar is a native of New York City and a graduate of Kenyon College.  (TWC-New York)

Former Cantor Press Secretary Whittemore Joins Perdue’s U.S. Senate campaign

Roll Call’s Kyle Trygstad reports that Megan Whittemore has joined the David Perdue for U.S. Senate campaign in Georgia as Communications Director.

Whittemore was previously Press Secretary for outgoing House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA).  She served on Capitol Hill for nearly five years.  She got her start as a research producer at Fox News for Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.

Whittemore is a graduate of The George Washington University and a native of Middletown, NJ.  (Roll Call)

Former Reid Aide Petkanas Named Communications Director for Davis Gubernatorial Bid in Texas

The San Antonio Express-News’ Peggy Fikac reports that Zac Petkanas has been named Communications Director for the gubernatorial campaign of State Sen. Wendy Davis (D-TX).  He began in that role on March 6.

Petkanas is a former Deputy Communications Director for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) re-election campaign and was most recently Communications Director for the Nevada Democratic Party.

Earlier in his career, Petkanas served as Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA) and as Press Secretary for the Ann Kirkpatrick for Congress campaign and for U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), the House Rules Committee chairwoman.

Petkanas is a a 2007 graduate of The George Washington University and a native of Putnam Valley, NY.

Additionally, the Davis campaign hired Lone Star Report’s Hector Nieto as Traveling Press Secretary.  Nieto was previously Texas State Director for Obama for America and Texas Communications Director for Organizing for America.

Rebecca Acuña remains Press Secretary and Bo Delp, who was Communications Director, is now Deputy Communications Director.  (San Antonio Express-News)

Booker Hires Obama 2012 vet Zukowski as Campaign Deputy Press Secretary

First reported by Roll Call’s “Shop Talk,” Mayor Cory Booker (D-Newark) hired another Obama 2012 operative for his Senate campaign.  Sarah Zukowski signed on as his Deputy Press Secretary. Previously, she worked for the president’s re-election campaign in New Hampshire. A former staffer to former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), she also worked for the Glover Park Group.  (Roll Call’s “Shop Talk”)

REMAINDERS: McDowell joins Blue Engine; Beirne & Vargas To WH; Gor to Rand 2016

Occasionally, we miss some important flack-related items.  Here are a few:

• First reported in Politico’s “Playbook,” Amber McDowell has joined DC-based strategic communications firm Blue Engine Message & Media.  She was most recently Communications Director for U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA).  She also was Speechwriter and Press Secretary for Gov. Phil Bredesen (D-TN) and Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM).  She worked on the Obama-Biden re-elect and at the 2012 DNC Convention in Charlotte.  (Politico’s “Playbook”)
• Katherine Vargas is the new Director of Hispanic Media at the White House.  She was previously Communications Director for the National Immigration Forum, and also worked at the National Immigration Law Center and the International Rescue Committee.  She is a native of Colombia who immigrated to the U.S. in 1997.
• Katie Beirne, the Staff Director for the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Center has replaced Jennifer Palmieri as Deputy Communications Director at the White House.  According to Politico, she will be in charge of outreach to surrogates and message coordination with outside groups.  (Politico)
• Sergio Gor has been named Spokesman for RAND PAC, the political action committee, and presidential campaign in waiting, of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).  Gor was formerly spokesman for Rep. Michele Bachman (R-MN) and on the campaign of Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA. (Politico)

RGA’s Schrimpf to run comms for IL-GOV candidate Rauner

First reported in Politico, Republican Governors Association Communications Director Mike Schrimpf is leaving to work for expected gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner (R-IL).

To date, Rauner has created an exploratory committee, raising $1.3 million, including a $250,000 contribution from himself.

Schrimpf has served at RGA since 2008.  He previously served as Communications Director for the Center for Competitive Politics.  He got his start working in Hamilton County government in Cincinnati, OH.

Schrimpf is a 2005 graduate of Tufts University.  (Politico)

Christie Shuffles Staff: Roberts and Morss to Campaign; Hires Reed

First reported by the New Jersey Star-Ledger, Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) has moved two press aides from his office to his re-election campaign and hired another to replace them.

Deputy Press Secretary Kevin Roberts is moving over to the re-election campaign, beginning April 15.  Roberts has been in the Governor’s office for three years and previously worked on the 2006 gubernatorial campaign of Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and for the California GOP.  He first came to New Jersey to serve as Communications Director for the New Jersey GOP in 2009.

Foster Morss has also moved over to be the campaign’s Research Director.  New Jersey native Morss worked on the 2008 presidential campaign of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-New York City) and as Deputy Press Secretary at the RNC.

Replacing Roberts is Colin Reed, a former Communications Director for former U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA).  Reed previously worked for then-Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) and for VP nominee Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK).  He also worked for the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2010.  (New Jersey Star-Ledger)

Booker Hires Griffis to run comms on expected U.S. Senate campaign

First reported by the New Jersey Star-Ledger, Newark, NJ mayor and likely U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker (D-Newark) has hired Kevin Griffis to run communications for his expected U.S. Senate campaign in 2014.

Griffis is currently a principal at The Podesta Group.  He was most recently Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he served for three years.  Griffis also served as Communications Director for the 2008 Obama campaign in several early primary states.

Earlier in his career Griffis served as Communications Director for the Democratic Party of Virginia and the state’s Coordinated Campaign during Tim Kaine’s successful bid for Governor in 2005.  He then joined Obama for America as an early state communication director, serving in South Carolina.  After running communications in Virginia in the general election, he went on to serve as a spokesperson for President-elect Obama’s inaugural committee.

Griffis began his career as a journalist in Maryland and Atlanta.

He is a graduate of Beloit College. (New Jersey Star-Ledger)

Campaign Vet Wilcox Joins Cuccinelli Campaign as Comms Director

Jahan Wilcox has been named Communications Director for the 2013 gubernatorial campaign of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R-VA).

Wilcox is a well-traveled campaign vet, having served as Press Secretary at the NRSC last cycle, a regional Press Secretary in the 2010 cycle and in the communications office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).  (PF tipster)

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”)