PRESS RELEASE from Democratic Party of Virginia
June 26, 2012


Richmond, VA - VA Victory 2012, the Democratic Coordinated Campaign in Virginia, announced the expansion of their organizing efforts today across the Commonwealth. Today, the coordinated campaign announced nine new senior hires, including seven Regional Field Directors, who will oversee a team of more than 30 organizers statewide. 
 
In addition to bringing on 30 new organizers, the coordinated campaign will open up more than half a dozen offices across the Commonwealth, including Roanoke, Hampton Roads, and Northern Virginia. These are in addition to flagship coordinated offices in Richmond, Alexandria, and Virginia Beach.
 
These new organizers will build on the early grassroots enthusiasm for Democratic candidates by engaging voters over the phone and at their doors, recruiting volunteers, and communicating with friends and neighbors about the importance of this election. Since the campaign began, the VA Victory 2012 campaign has made 125,993 phone calls to voters about the choice in the upcoming elections.
 
"We are very excited to bring on so many energetic staffers dedicated to getting out the Democratic message in communities across the state," said Keren Charles Dongo, Director of VA Victory 2012. "This will be a very close election and voter-to-voter contact will be key to making sure millions of Virginians know what's at stake in this election. This coordinated effort builds on the success of Governor Kaine in 2005, Senator Webb in 2006, and Senator Warner and President Obama in 2008, and will cover every corner of the Commonwealth in order to be successful in November."
 
"These new staff members and the grassroots campaign they will manage reflect the Democratic Party of Virginia's commitment to winning elections by talking directly to Virginians about how Democrats are working to create jobs and expand economic opportunity for all," said Brian Moran, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. "We are  building an unprecedented campaign effort to carry our candidates forward this year and in the years to come and today's new hires are a great step in that direction." 
 
Over the next 4 ½ months, the VA Victory 2012 campaign will advocate for candidates up and down the ballot. New additions to the coordinated field effort include:
 

Arthur Scott - Deputy Field Director

Arthur Scott was born and raised in Scott County, Virginia and graduated from Emory & Henry College before beginning his career as a Regional Planner with the Lenowisco Planning District Commission. In addition, Arthur worked on Congressman Rick Boucher's campaign as the Field Director, and for U.S. Senator Jim Webb's office managing all federal level appointments and nominations for Virginia.

 

John Davis - Targeting and Data Director

John Davis joins the campaign after spending the last year as a Data & Targeting Analyst for the Atlas Project.  John served as Regional Get Out the Vote Director for the Virginia Gubernatorial race in 2009 and Regional Field Director in 2008 for the Obama Campaign.

 

Laura Blevins - Regional Field Director, Southwest Virginia

Laura Blevins is from Abingdon and worked her way up from intern to Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Rick Boucher. Laura is excited to be back in Virginia politics working to organize communities in Southwest Virginia. 

 

Kyle Blankenship - Regional Field Director, Lower Hampton Roads

Kyle was born in Norfolk and has lived in Virginia Beach for most of his life, attending Kempsville High School and Old Dominion University. Kyle first began working in campaign politics in 2009 as a political intern with the McAuliffe campaign.  Since 2009, he has gone on to work as an regional field director for Congressman Nye's re-election effort in 2010, and most recently managed Janet Oleszek's campaign during the Fairfax Board of Supervisors Primary. 

 

Sarah Showalter - Regional Field Director, Upper Hampton Roads

Sarah was born in Richmond, and grew up in Chesterfield County. She moved down to Hampton Roads after high school to attend Christopher Newport University. Sarah has spent the majority of the past three years working for Democrats in the Hampton Roads region.  She served as a regional field director for Glen Nye's 2010 campaign and was John Miller's Field Director in 2011.

 

Chris Chapek - Regional Field Director, Richmond/Central VA

Chris has worked in Democratic politics for seven years, including Tim Kaine's gubernatorial bid in 2005.  In early 2011, he was Campaign Manager for a Chicago Aldermanic Candidate and in 2010 he worked as a Regional Field Director for the Illinois Coordinated Campaign.

 

Voltaire Cortez - Regional Field Director, Charlottesville/Shenandoah Valley

Voltaire attended American University in Washington, DC.  Shortly after graduating in May of 2010, he moved back to Texas to work for the Travis County Democratic Party as a field organizer.  More recently, Voltaire helped to re-elect State Senator Toddy Puller in Northern Virginia.  

 

Phil Newell - Regional Field Director, Outer Northern Virginia

Phil Newell recently served as a Legislative aide in the General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia. He has worked for Delegate Luke E. Torian for three legislative sessions and on his 2009 and 2011 campaigns. Previously, Phil worked as a field organizer for the Virginia Democratic Party during the 2008 campaign in Prince William County.

 

Chris Collins - Regional Field Director, Inner Northern Virginia

Before the campaign, Chris Collins spent two years at the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities building a nation-wide grassroots network for a volunteer member association with over 1,800 members. Prior to working at APSCU, Chris worked on Brian Moran's 2009 Gubernatorial Primary as the Deputy Political Director.

 

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