Democratic State
Party Executive Directors
2010
COMPILED
BY
DEMOCRACY IN
ACTION - Updated June 5, 2010
ALABAMA - JIM SPEARMAN
ALASKA - DEBORAH E. WILLIAMS
ARIZONA - LUIS HEREDIA
ARKANSAS - MARIAH HATTA
CALIFORNIA - SHAWNDA WESTLY
COLORADO - JENNIE PEEK DUNSTONE
CONNECTICUT - JUSTIN KRONHOLM
DELAWARE - JOSH SCHOENBERG
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - DAVID MEADOWS
FLORIDA - SCOTT ARCENEAUX
GEORGIA - MATT WEYANDT
HAWAI'I - CHARLES FREEDMAN
IDAHO - JIM HANSEN
ILLINOIS - TIM MAPES
Chief
of staff to Chairman Madigan since
late 1992. Previously special assistant to Madigan,
has served on Madigan's research and issues staff since 1977.
Graduate
of Western Illinois University.
INDIANA - JENNY HILL WEISER
(from March 2007)
Previously served as the party's finance director. Director of
communications and special events for the Damien Center.
Residence director for former First Lady Maggie Kernan. Hill
Weiser has worked in financial and political roles on various statewide
and national campaigns and served on the planning committee for the
2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Graduate of
Indiana University.
IOWA - NORM STERZENBACH
(announced Feb.
6, 2009) Political director and caucus director for the IDP
during the 2008 cycle. Deputy campaign manager for
Chet Culver's successful 2006 gubernatorial campaign, after running
Patty Judge's campaign. In 2004 he
served as caucus director for the American Association of Retired
People
(AARP). In 1999-2000 he served as the eastern Iowa field director
on
Bill
Bradley’s campaign. Native of Cedar Rapids.
KANSAS - KENNY JOHNSTON
(Dec. 2008) Started at the party as technology director.
Deputy communications director on Rep. Dennis Moore’s 2006 re-election
campaign.
BSE in e
ngineering
physics, computer engineering from University of Kansas, 2006.
KENTUCKY - SHERMAN BROWN, interim
(interim following resignation of Kyle Cox effective Jan. 1,
2010) Finance director for the party. Finance director on
Bruce Lunsford's 2008 rrimary campaign. Member of the
Beshear/Mongiardo campaign in 2007. In 2006, he managed Jerry
Rhoads’ successful state Senate campaign. First campaign was Rep.
Ken Lucas' 2002 reelection effort. Graduate of Xavier University.
LOUISIANA -
MAINE - ARDEN MANNING
(since Spring 2007)
Started at the party as a regional field organizer, then served as
communications director. Graduate of the University of Southern
Maine. Winter Harbor native.
MARYLAND - TRAVIS TAZELAAR
(July 2009; had been interim executive director following departure of
Quincey Gamble in May 2009) Political director for the party; in
2008 served as coodinated campaign director. Managed Baltimore
City Councilman Edward
L. Reisinger's re-election campaign in 2007. In 2006 worked for
Mayor Martin O’Malley's gubernatorial campaign and Rep. Benjamin L.
Cardin's U.S. Senate campaign. Served in the U.S.
Marine Corps for four years. Aquasco native.
MASSACHUSETTS - STACEY MONAHAN
(appointed April 2007)
Statewide labor
coordinator on Deval Patrick’s campaign for Governor and a staffer
during the transition period. District director to U.S. Rep.
Stephen F.
Lynch, 2001-06. Candidate in the
March 2005 special election primary for the 12th Suffolk House District
seat. Graduate of
Boston College with a degree in history, concentrating in women's
studies and black studies.
MICHIGAN - SYLVIA PERKINS
Worked for the State House of
Representatives for 22 years before joining the state party staff in
1993.
MINNESOTA - ANDY O'LEARY
(started in Sept. 2005) Formerly
political director for the Indiana Democratic Party.
MISSISSIPPI - SAM HALL
(March
2009) Campaign manager for the Committee to Elect Jim Kitchens
(for Supreme Court). Vice president and publisher of
The Demopolis Times, 2006-08.
Executive director of the Democratic caucus of the Mississippi House of
Representatives, 2005-06; also communications director of the
Mississippi Democratic Party, 2005-06. Journalist from 1998-2003
(news editor at the
Rankin Record,
1998-2001; editor and publisher of the
Times-Post, 2001-02; editor and
publisher of the
Scott County Times,
2003-05). B.S. in political science from Millsaps College, 1998.
MISSOURI - BRIAN ZUZENAK
(May 2009)
Campaign manager on Judy Baker for Congress (9th CD, Columbia),
2008. ERP consultant for the State of Tennessee, 2007-08.
Graduate of Missouri State University, 2000.
Graduate of Raytown High School in Raytown, MO.
MONTANA - DAVID BENSON
(Nov. 2009) Deputy campaign manager on Al Franken's ultimately
successful 2008 campaign for U.S. Senate; worked on Franken's Midwest
Values PAC starting in 2006. Worked on Sen. Tom Daschle's
unsuccessful 2004 re-election. Graduate of Augustana College in
Sioux Falls, SD, 2002; chaired College Democrats. From Brandon,
SD.
NEBRASKA - JIM ROGERS
(Feb. 2009) Campaign manager for 2nd CD candidate Jim Esch in
2008.
NEVADA - TRAVIS BROCK
(announced March 29, 2007) National field director Tom Vilsack
for President. Political director
for the Iowa Democratic Party. In Fall 2004 Brock served as state
director of the Kerry-Edwards '04 Kentucky campaign (he started Aug. 1,
2004 and the campaign stayed there for about 6 weeks); he then returned
to Iowa, where he served as Johnson County GOTV director for the
coordinated
campaign. Brock's earlier experience includes Midwest political
director
at the DNC, deputy communications director for Vilsack/Pederson 2002,
an
organizer for the AFSCME Florida Political Organizing Project, field
director
for the 2000 Wisconsin Democratic Coordinated Campaign, field staff for
Gore 2000, and field staff for the1998 Iowa Democratic Party
Coordinated
Campaign. B.A. in communications from University of Wisconsin at
Madison, 1993.
NEW HAMPSHIRE - MICHAEL BRUNELLE
Political director
for the NHDP in Fall 2008. Manchester regional field director on
Chris Dodd's NH primary campaign. Deputy political
director for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Served one term
as State Representative
for Manchester Wards 10, 11, 12; elected Nov. 2006, did not seek
re-election. Worked for Manchester City Democrats starting in
2003 and became executive director in 2005. Graduate of the UNH
Manchester, 2007; two years as student body president. Native of
Manchester.
NEW JERSEY - ROBERT (ROB) ANGELO
(Jan. 2007) Previously political director for the Mason Tenders
District Council of Greater New
York PAC, Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA).
A political
representative for the American Federation of State, County &
Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Graduate degree from Rutgers
University's Eagleton Institute of
Politics; undergraduate degree from Boston University. Raised in
East Brunswick and lives in Highland Park.
NEW MEXICO - SCOTT FORRESTER
(started Dec. 1, 2009) Previously chief of staff to Albuquerque
Mayor Martin J. Chávez; started working for Chávez in
Dec. 2005. Did advance/college outreach on Colorado Victory 2004
(coordinated campaign). Bachelor's degree in political science
from Regis University in Denver, 2004. Attended St. Pius X High
School. Albuquerque native.
NEW YORK - CHARLIE KING
(announced April 13, 2010) In April 2009 King and Frank Hoare
formed War Room Consulting. Acting director of Rev. Al Sharpton's
National Action Network. Candidate for Democratic nomination for
Attorney General of New York in 2006, finished distant fourth.
Running mate on Andrew Cuomo's unsuccessful campaign for the 2002
Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Regional director for the
U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for New York and New Jersey, 1999-2001.
Candidate for lieutenant governor in 1998, finishing second to Brighton
Town Supervisor Sandra Frankel. J.D. from New York University,
1987. Undergraduate degree from Brown University, 1981.
NORTH CAROLINA - ANDREW WHALEN
(late April 2009) Came to the party from position as
communications director to Rep. Heath Shuler. Worked for Shuler
starting in Feb. 2006; deputy campaign manager and communications
director on Shuler's 2006 campaign; communications director to Shuler
in the U.S. House; managed Shuler's 2008 campaign. Worked on a
couple of delegate campaigns. Communications director on Jon
Jennings for Congress in Indiana, 2003-04. Denison University,
2000-03.
NORTH DAKOTA - JOE ARONSON
(August 2009) A regional
field director (7th CD) for the Minnesota DFL in 2008, then worked on
Al Franken's recount operation. Legislative assistant in the
Minnesota House of Representatives, 2007-08; field organizer for the
DFL House Caucus. B.A. in political science from St. John's
University, 2006. Born in Minneapolis.
OHIO - DOUG KELLY
(2007) Prior
to joining the ODP, Kelly
served director of political affairs for the Mario Morino Family of
Cleveland and special advisor at Venture Philanthropy Partners, June
2005-2007. Previously Kelly spent 10 years at the
DNC in Washington, DC including as technology director starting in 2001
and research director during the Clinton years. Director
of tax analysis at Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ). He has
authored numerous publications and studies, and provided the research
for Paul Begala's 2000 book, Is Our
Children Learning? Bachelor’s degree in government from
Harvard University, 1987. Native of Adrian, Michigan.
OKLAHOMA - [TODD GOODMAN]
Chairman Goodman fulfills the
responsibilities of executive director.
OREGON - TRENT LUTZ
(April 2007) Previously deputy legislative director to Gov. Ted
Kulongoski. Finance director on Kulongoski's 2006 campaign for
governor. Finance director on David Wu for Congress, 2004.
Deputy field director on the 2002 Coordinated Campaign in Oregon.
Worked for the Legislative Affairs Department at the Oregon School
Board Association. Moved to Oregon to run a field
office for the Democratic Party in Clatsop County in Fall 2000.
Graduated from
Rhodes College in Memphis, TN in 2000. Born and raised in rural
Ponca City, Oklahoma.
PENNSYLVANIA - MARY ISENHOUR
(Feb. 2007)
Took leave from executive director position to serve as state director
of Hillary Clinton's Pennsylvania primary campaign. Directed the
2006 Democratic coordinated campaign in Pennsylvania. Kansas
native.
RHODE ISLAND - vacant
SOUTH CAROLINA - JAY PARMLEY
(executive director during the 2008
campaign) Started at the party as technology director. Directed
Mississippi Democrats' coordinated campaign in 2007. Chairman of
the Oklahoma Democratic Party, 2001-05. President of the Young
Democrats of America, 1999-2001. Chancellor's student relations
liaison for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,
1995-97. M.P.A from University of Oklahoma, 1995; B.A. in public
administration from University of Oklahoma, 1993; A.A. degree from
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Wyandotte native.
SOUTH DAKOTA - ERIN MCCARRICK
(end of April/ea. May 2009) Customer service
representative/field representative to Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin,
2005-07, and deputy campaign manager on her 2008 re-election
campaign. Graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder.
From Rapid City.
TENNESSEE - JENNIFER BUCK WALLACE, director of operations
(annouced May 6,
2009) Field director on Obama's Tennessee primary campaign and
key role in his general election effort in the state.
Producer/writer at Country Music Television, 2001-07. J.D. from
University of Tennessee College of Law, 2000. Undergraduate
degree in political science from Maryville College, 1997. Native
of East Tennessee.
TEXAS - RUBEN HERNANDEZ
(Oct. 1, 2005) A deputy regional political director for the
Service Employees International Union. In
1999, Hernandez moved to Washington where he worked as campaign
communications specialist for the national AFL-CIO, and political
director for Grassroots Democrats. Worked for Rep. Nick Lampson
(TX) and
Rep. Martin Frost (TX); also worked as a regional field organizer for
the DCCC
where he helped coordinate the Dallas Co. coordinated effort.
Field and convention staff for the Texas Democratic
Party in 1996.
UTAH - TODD TAYLOR
VERMONT - ROBERT DEMPSEY
(May 2009) Midwest candidate services director at the DCCC,
June 2007-Dec. 2008. Political director for Ohio Senate
Democrats, 2005-07. Regional representative for Rep. Marcy Kaptur
(OH), Dec. 2002-June 2005, also served as her campaign manager in Fall
2004. Field director on Jacobs for Congress, Fall 2002.
Regional director for the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign
Committee. Campaign manager on Kalamazoo Against Discrimination,
Fall 2001. Legislative assistant in the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives. Campaign manager on Mark Chilutti for PA State
Representative, 2000. State University of New York at Buffalo,
1999.
VIRGINIA - DAVE MILLS
(announced March 8, 2010) Mills had been serving as the party's
finance
director. Finance director on Brian Moran's 2009 campaign for the
Democratic gubernatorial nomination, then worked on Creigh
Deeds' campaign. Western regional finance director for Tim Kaine's 2005
campaign for governor; then served on the Kaine Inaugural Committee.
Worked to pass Mark Warner's 2004 historic investment in Virginia
schools. Mills has also managed a campaign for Congress in
Charlottesville and a race for House of Delegates in Hampton Roads.
WASHINGTON - JAXON RAVENS
(since 2005)
Has
been working for the Washington State
Democrats since 2004 when he managed the caucus cycle. Executive
director for the King County
Democrats for a couple of years around 2000. President of the
Washington State Young Democrats, 2000-01. Spent the 1990s
traveling overseas. Bachelors degree in politics and economics
from the University of California at Santa Cruz and an M.B.A. in
international management from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School
of International Management. Grew up in Missoula, MT.
WEST VIRGINIA - DEREK SCARBRO
(announced Jan. 29,
2009) Started at the party as a field organizer in Aug. 2003,
served as field director during the 2006 cycle, as deputy
executive director during the 2008 cycle and most recently oversaw the
party's finances. Scarbro has also served as State President for
the Young Democrats. Graduate of Marshall
University. Graduate of St. Albans High School. Resides in
Huntington.
WISCONSIN - MAGGIE BRICK
(August 2009)
Communications director in the Offfice of Assembly Majority Leader
Thomas Nelson, Jan.-Aug. 2009. Campaign manager for Alison Page
for State Senate, June-Nov. 2008. Campaign director on Citzens
for Dane County's Future, Nov. 2007-April 2008. Campaign manager
for Ann Hraychuck for State Assembly, June-Nov. 2006. B.A. in
political science from University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008.
WYOMING - BILL LUCKETT
(from April 7,
2008)
Joined the Wyoming Democratic Party staff in August 2005 as
communications director. Before that, he spent nine years as a
reporter for the Casper Star-Tribune,
the
last
six covering politics and state government from the
newspaper's capital bureau in Cheyenne. Bachelor's degree in
journalism from the University of Wyoming. Born and raised in
Sheridan.
DEMS ABROAD - LINDSEY REYNOLDS
(held this position
during the 2008 campaign) Executive director of the Virginia
Democratic Party during the 2004 cycle; started at the party in March
2002 as finance director. In 2000, she became the finance
director for the Joint Democratic
Caucus in Virginia. Started her career
in Virginia Democratic politics in 1998 as the legislative assistant to
Stanley C. Walker of Norfolk, then President pro tempore of the
Virginia
Senate. B.A. in political
science from Virginia Wesleyan College, 1998.