John Edwards-Campaign Organization, California
Edwards for President, Inc.
On January 2, 2003, Sen. Edwards announced formation of a presidential exploratory committee.  Edwards for President, Inc. is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Nick Baldick, a former top Gore operative, is the campaign manager. 
Edwards-CA

Edwards for President, Inc. California Leadership
Los Angeles Office: 3250 Wilshire Blvd., 4th Floor 
Sacramento Office: 980 9th St., #1900
(offices announced Feb. 20, 2004)

State Director Trent Hager
(announced Feb. 20, 2004)  Director of the Speaker's Office of Member Services; veteran of numerous California campaigns.
 
 
 
Political Director Courtni Sunjoo Pugh
(announced Feb. 20, 2004)  Over 12 years of campaign and issue organizing experience.  Manager of government relations mCapitol Management (mCM), Inc.  National field director at Rock the Vote, 2001.  Deputy base vote director and national director of Asian Pacific American outreach at the DNC for the 2000 cycle.  Worked for Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago), including as legislative director, 1997-99.  Community organizer for the Chinese American Service League in Chicago, 1994-96.
 
Deputy Political Director-No. Cal. Adam Gray
(announced Feb. 20, 2004) Native of the Central Valley.  Formerly worked for then Rules chair Dennis Cardoza.  Has worked in more than 10 California races.
 
Deputy Political Director-So. Cal. Herb Wesson III
(announced Feb. 20, 2004)  Southern California campaign experience includes Carol Liu for Assembly in 2000 and Gray Davis for Governor in 1998.
 
 
 
Field Director Chris Gregorich
(announced Feb. 20, 2004)  Worked on Edwards' campaign as Oklahoma field director (Feb. 3 primary) and Washington state coordinator (Feb. 7 caucus).  Community Development Specialist in the City of Seattle's Office of Policy and Management.  Campaign manager for the Sept. 17, 2002 Seattle housing levy campaign.  Field director on Greg Nickels' successful 2001 campaign for Mayor of Seattle.  Worked on Rep. Jay Inslee's (WA) campaign in 2000.

Regional Coordinators: 
Sacramento - Brian Brokaw
San Francisco - Pat McMahon
Oakland - Kenisha Smith
Orange County - Tyler Gernant
San Bernardino/Riverside - Kristy Young
 
 
 
Volunteer Coordinator Tom Wilhelm
(announced Feb. 20, 2004)  Formerly served as an assistant to Attorney General Bill Lockyer and has experience in labor politics.
 
 
 
Press Secretary Roger Salazar
(announced Feb. 20, 2004)  Started out doing some consulting for the campaign and named as national spokesman on Dec. 1, 2003.  Served as a vice president of Porter Novelli, the public relations firm.  Press secretary for Governor Gray Davis' successful re-election campaign in 2002.  Davis' deputy press secretary in the governor's office in Sacramento.  Director of communications and media advocacy for the American Cancer Society's national government relations department.  Deputy press secretary and acting national spokesperson for the Gore 2000 presidential campaign committee, 1999.  An assistant press secretary in the Clinton White House, 1998-99.  Deputy press secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1998.  Assistant press secretary for Vice President Al Gore, 1997-98.  News analysis coordinator and specialty press coordinator in the White House Press Office, 1995-97.  California native.
 
 
State Chair Herb Wesson
(endorsement/position as state co-chair announced on July 2, 2003)  Speaker of California State Assembly from Feb. 2002-Feb. 2004.  First elected to the Assembly in 1998, he represents the 47th district including the cities of Los Angeles and Culver City, as well as the communities of Ladera Heights, Baldwin Hills, View Park, Cheviot Hills, Westwood-UCLA, and Windsor Hills.  Previously Wesson served as chief of staff to L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and as chief deputy to L.A. City Councilmember Nate Holden. 
 

Endorsements
On Feb. 26, 2004, Sen. Edwards received the endorsement of the political arm of California ACORN at a rally in San Francisco.

 announced Feb. 26, 2004
 State Senate President pro Tem John L. Burton

 announced Feb. 24, 2004
 Carole Migden - Chairwoman Dist 1, State Board of Equalization
 Kerry Mazzoni - Former California Secretary of Education
 Conway Collis - Former Member of the Board of Equalization

 Assemblymember Darrell Steinberg
 Assemblymember Merv Dymally, Former Lt Governor and Congressman  (also on Kerry list)
 Assemblymember Jerome Horton
 Assemblymember Gloria Negrete McCleod
 Assemblymember Leland Yee, Speaker Pro Tem
 Assemblymember Christine Kehoe

 Supervisor Valerie Brown - Sonoma County
 Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke - Los Angeles County
 Supervisor Barbara McIver - Tehama County

 Daniel Zingale, Member, Agricultural Labor Relations Board
 Steve Maviglio, Member, Unemployment Compensation Insurance Appeals Board 

 Mayor Ronald Oden - City of Palm Springs
 Councilmember Albert Vera - Culver City 
 Councilmember Steve Pougnet - City of Palm Springs

 Councilmember Gary Bosworth - City of Desert Hot Springs
 Councilmember Louie Lujan - City of La Puente
 Councilmember Joseph Gonzales - City of South El Monte
 Councilmember Roger Hernandez - City of West Covina

 Warren Furutani - L.A. Community College Board Member
 Rose O Chi - L.A. Police Commission
 Boardmember Mark Pulido - ABC Unified School District
 Chris Pak - Board Member, Recreation and Parks Commission, City of Los Angeles
 John Frierson - Athletics Commissioner (State of CA); LA City Transportation Commissioner
 Charlie Woo - Former President LA Chamber of Commerce

 Fred Korematsu - Civil Rights leader
 Dale Minami - Civil Rights Attorney 

 Reverend Norman Copeland - Ward A.M.E. Church
 Reverend Carmi Woods - Brookins A.M.E. Church - Oakland
 Reverend Fredrick Murph - Brookins A.M.E. Church - Los Angeles
 
 
 

Fresno Bee (02/22/04)
Modesto Bee (02/25/04)

 

Copyright © 2003, 2004  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action