Potomac Flacks

Longtime Pence Aide Lloyd Moving to Indianapolis to Serve as Governor’s Communications Director

First reported by The Indianapolis Star, Matt Lloyd, a former longtime aide to Gov. Mike Pence (R-IN) when he was in Congress, is returning to work for him as Communications Director in the Governor’s office.  He will move to Indianapolis and begin working there in late May.

As the Star reported, “Christy Denault, Pence's communications director since summer 2012, announced last week that she would be resigning. Denault cited family responsibilities, including raising triplets, in her resignation letter.”

Lloyd has been serving as Communications Director for Koch Industries.  He also served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN).

He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Indianapolis Star & PF reporting)

Former Aide to Sens. Kyl & Flake Andrew Wilder Hired by Gov. Brewer

First reported by The Arizona Republic, Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) appointed Andrew Wilder as her new Communications Director and official spokesman.  He replaces Matthew Benson, who left to join the lobbying and public affairs firm Veridus.

Wilder was most recently spokesman for the Arizona Department of Corrections.  Previously he was Communications Director for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of then-U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and before that, for Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ).

Wilder is a graduate of the University of Arizona and a native of Phoenix.  (Arizona Republic)

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)

Allen moving from Capitol Hill to Newark

Per Politico’s “Huddle,” James Allen, who has served as Communications Director and Campaign Manager for Rep. John Carney (D-DE) for the past 2 ½ years, is heading to Newark City Hall.

Allen is the new Communications Director for Mayor Cory Booker (D-Newark, NJ), a likely U.S. Senate candidate.

He previously worked at the PR firm Weber Shandwick, as a Field Organizer for the 2008 Obama campaign and he started out as an intern for U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY).

Allen is a 2007 graduate of the State University of New York at Albany.  (Politico’s "Huddle”)

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)

Jindal Snags NRSC Vet Reed

Michael Reed, the former Research Director for the NRSC, is moving to Baton Rouge, LA to be Deputy Communications Director for Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA).  Reed is also a veteran of the 2008 Romney presidential campaign.

He is a native of Andover, MA and a graduate of Hobart College.  (PF tipster)

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)

Longtime O’Malley Flack Abbruzzese Departs for RLLS

The Baltimore Sun reported that Rick Abbruzzese, Communications Director for Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-MD), is departing to work for lobbying firm Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan and Silver, LLC (RLLS).  There he will join Josh White, who managed O’Malley’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign.

Gov. O’Malley called Abbruzzese, “a trusted political advisor and friend to me personally, and a strong, effective advocate for the people of Maryland.”

Abbruzzese started working for O’Malley in 2003 and since then he has served as Deputy Press Secretary, Press Secretary, Deputy Campaign Manager and Communications Director.  (Baltimore Sun)

Former Gov. Perdue Flack Takes New Job

Jon Romano has been named the vice president of communications for the Campaign to Fix the Debt. Most recently, Romano served as the director of communications for North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue (D-NC), where he provided daily communications guidance and strategic direction. He also served as the campaign manager on a mayor's race in Boston and was the chief of staff to a Boston City Councilor.

According to the press release, The Campaign to Fix the Debt is a non-partisan movement to put America on a better fiscal and economic path. The Campaign will mobilize key communities who want to see elected officials step up to solve our nation's fiscal challenges. (PF Tipster)