PRESS RELEASE from RNC
May 10, 2012


WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus released the following statement announcing the RNC's Regional Political Directors for the 2012 presidential cycle:

"I am proud to announce a talented and dedicated Regional Political team for the 2012 cycle," said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. "There will be seven directors who will be responsible for coordinating the ground operation and voter contacts across the country to ensure Republican victories in the House, Senate and White House this fall. They will work side by side Mitt Romney's team and the campaigns for our Republican candidates up and down the ticket. After three and a half years of broken promises and failed economic policies, President Obama is vulnerable across the country and we intend to elect Mitt Romney as the next President of the United States."
 
Mark Jefferson
Utah/Wyoming/Colorado/Kansas/Oklahoma/South Dakota/Minnesota/Iowa/Wisconsin
Mark Jefferson has served the RNC as Midwestern RPD since May 2011. Before joining the RNC, Mark worked for over four years as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. A native of central Wisconsin, Mark has run several house races and was the statewide director for the state Republican Assembly Campaign Committee. He has also served as a legislative aide in the Wisconsin State Capitol for more than a decade.
 
Emily Cornell
Washington/Oregon/Idaho/Arizona/New Mexico/Texas/Alaska/Missouri
Emily Cornell has worked with the RNC since 2010, most recently as RNC Deputy Political Director since March 2011 and as Regional Victory Director, during the 2010 cycle. Emily has worked Victory and campaign operations in multiple states since 2008 including Texas, Virginia, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky and Oregon. Cornell also worked as Regional Political Coordinator for Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign in 2007-08.
 
David Raad
Arkansas/Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama/Georgia/South Carolina/Florida
Since 1996 David Raad has been active in campaign and election operations throughout southeast United States in both field and leadership roles. In 2011-2012, David led Governor Mitt Romney's South Carolina campaign as state director. In 2010 David was a part of the historic GOP landslide victory effort as the RNC's National Field Director. He has served as Executive Director of President Bush's reelection effort in Missouri in 2004, and has served in a number of campaign and political operations including the 2000 RNC Convention.
 
Darren Bearson
Indiana/Kentucky/Tennessee/Ohio/Pennsylvania
Darren Bearson brings more than 16 years of party and campaign management experience to the RNC. Most recently, he served as the executive director of the Ohio Republican Party. Previously, he served in key leadership positions for the RNC, the White House and the Republican Party of Minnesota. During his previous tenure at the RNC, Bearson served as Regional Political Director for eight central states in the 2010 midterm elections. Prior to joining the RNC for the 2010 election cycle, Bearson worked as the executive director of the Republican Party of Minnesota. He also served in the Bush Administration as the White House Liaison to the U.S. Department of Energy and previously as Associate Political Director in the White House Office of Political Affairs.
 
Jayme Odom
Hawaii/California/Montana/North Dakota/Nebraska/Illinois
Jayme Odom most recently served as Campaign Manager for Congressman Adam Kinzinger's successful 2012 primary election. In 2010, she worked for the RNC as the Nevada Victory Director. Odom has also served as Illinois Political Director for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee and as Director of Field Operations for the Illinois Republican Party.
 
Matt Mason
Michigan/West Virginia/Virginia/North Carolina
Matt Mason got his start in politics in the late 90's in Southeast Ohio managing 5 successful local races while studying political management at Ohio University. Mason got involved with state wide races in 2000 when he became the Victory Coordinator for the Ohio Republican Party. He also worked for the state party as a Field Representative in 2001 and also served as the State Victory Director for Ohio in the '04, '06, and '08 cycles. In 2007 Mason served as the Regional Political Director for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee covering the Great Lakes region. In 2009, Matt worked for the RNC in Virginia as the State Victory Director and then went on to become the Executive Political Director in Michigan in 2010. Mason is also a Combat Veteran with the United States Marine Corps. having served with Lima Company 3rd Battalion 25th Marines in Iraq in 2005.
 
Allison Coccia
Nevada/Maine/New Hampshire/Vermont/Massachusetts/Connecticut/Rhode Island/New York/New Jersey/Delaware/ Maryland
Allison Coccia most recently worked for the National Republican Congressional Committee directing the Young Guns program and as National Finance Director for US House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. From 2008 through 2009, she served as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Virginia. Prior to Virginia she served as Executive Director of the New York Republican Party and Political Director of the Pennsylvania Republican Party. Allison has run several state house races in Pennsylvania and has previously worked for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, served as a Finance Director for a Congressional race, and as Deputy Finance Director and Finance Director for the Pennsylvania Republican Party.