Gephardt for President, Inc.
On January 6, 2003, Rep. Gephardt filed papers with the FEC establishing
Gephardt for President Exploratory Committee. The campaign opened
its headquarters in a downtown Washington, DC office building in the first
part of February 2003. Gephardt formally announced his campaign on
February 19, 2003 in St. Louis, MO. Steve Murphy served as campaign
manager. Gephardt announced the end of his campaign on January 20,
2004.
Gephardt for President, Inc. Leadership
| Campaign Manager |
Steve Murphy |
Murphy co-founded Murphy Putnam
Media in Northern Virginia after working for seven years as a senior associate
and partner at Fenn-King-Murphy-Putnam Communications. In late 1987-88
Murphy managed Gephardt's winning campaign in the Iowa presidential caucuses.>
| Chief of Staff and Senior
Advisor |
Steve Elmendorf |
Chief of staff to Gephardt in
the House Democratic Leader's office from January 1997; deputy chief of
staff to Gephardt from July 1992. He earlier served as chief of staff
to Rep. Dennis Eckart (D-OH) and deputy chief of staff to Sen. Brock Adams
(D-WA). Elmendorf worked on the national field staff of Mondale for
President. He is a 1982 graduate of Trinity College in Hartford,
CT; he majored in history.
| Campaign Vice Chair |
Joyce Aboussie |
Aboussie volunteered on Gephardt's
first congressional campaign, in 1976, and has run all of his re-election
campaigns since, in addition to working on his 1988 presidential campaign.
Based in St. Louis, Aboussie is president and owner of Telephone Contact
Inc.
| Deputy Campaign Manager |
Richard Sullivan |
Vice president of the Washington
Group, a business development and public/legislative affairs firm.
From 1991-99 held a number of fundraising and advisory positions for Clinton/Gore,
the DNC, and the DSCC, most notably serving as national finance director
at the DNC in the 1996 cycle. He worked as a special assistant to
Gephardt, and was deputy scheduler during Gephardt's 1988 presidential
campaign. Sullivan received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law
Center in 1993 and B.A. from the University of South Carolina in 1986.
-regional directors and fundraising staff
in St. Louis, Florida, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
National
Finance Co-Chairs
| Deputy Campaign Manager |
Karen Hancox |
(effective April 2003)
Served in the Clinton administration starting in January 1993 in the Office
of Legislative Affairs; from March 1995-Jan. 1997 she served as deputy
political director under Doug Sosnik. In early 1998 Hancox worked
on Lewinsky damage control at the DNC.
P O L I T I C A L
| Political Director |
Maurice Daniel |
Director of political affairs
for Vice President Gore, 1997-2000. In June 2000 Daniel joined the
Dyer Ellis & Joseph, P.C. as senior government affairs advisor; in
fall 2000 served as Gore's campaign director in Maryland. Daniel
served as chief of staff to Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), 1993-97. He has
a B.A. from the University of South Carolina, 1986.
| Deputy Political Director |
Matt Rodriguez |
Previously at Gephardt's leadership
PAC, the Effective Government Committee.
| Senior Political Advisor |
David Plouffe |
Partner at Axelrod & Associates
in Washington, DC from winter 2000. Executive director of the DCCC,
1999-2000. Gephardt's deputy chief of staff, 1997-98. Managed
Bob Torricelli's 1996 campaign for U.S. Senate in New Jersey. Campaign
director at the DSCC in 1995. Managed Attorney General Charlie Oberly's
unsuccessful U.S. Senate race against Sen. Bill Roth in Delaware in 1994.
Managed Rep. John Olver's (D-MA) 1992 re-election campaign. Served
as a state field director for Sen. Tom Harkin's 1992 presidential campaign,
after serving as deputy field director in Harkin's 1990 U.S. Senate race.
| National Political Advisor |
Darrel Thompson |
Thompson has worked for Gephardt
for four years in the House Democratic Leader's office; he is a senior
policy advisor. Previously he worked as deputy director of the House
Democratic caucus under Martin Frost and in the Financial Services Division
of the DNC.
F I E L D
| Field Director |
Cathy Duvall |
(effective April 2003)
Field director at the DCCC in the 2002 election cycle. Ran Lois Capps'
congressional campaign in the March 1998 special election in California's
22nd CD. Duvall started her career in politics in 1985 as a campus
organizer with the state PIRGs at the University of Oregon .
C O M M U N I C A T I O N
S
| Communications Director |
Erik Smith |
Communications director to Gephardt
in the House Democratic Leader's office. Communications director
at the DCCC in the 2000 cycle.
Assistant Press Secretary
Iowa Kathleen Strand -Previously worked in Gephardt's leadership office
in Washington. Degree in Journalism from the University of
Missouri. Native of Chicago.
| Deputy Communications Director
and Spokesperson |
Kim Molstre |
(announced Deputy Press Secretary
on April 1, 2003) Prior to joining the campaign, Molstre worked in Gephardt's
leadership office and most recently in Democratic Leader Pelosi's communications
office. She also worked as a aide to Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).
Graduate of Lehigh University, 1998.
| Senior Communications Advisor |
Laura Nichols |
Nichols spent eight years as
press secretary and then communications director to Gephardt, before leaving
in May 2001 to work as senior vice president of corporate communications
and public affairs at PBS. Previously Nichols served as press secretary
to the DCCC, and she handled all media relations for the 1992 Democratic
National Convention. She first worked for Gephardt as Iowa press
secretary on his 1988 caucus campaign. Nichols is a graduate of the
University of Missouri.
R E S E A R C H
| Research Director |
Monica Lesmerises |
(Started early February 2003)
Research director on the Torricelli and then the Lautenberg U.S. Senate
campaigns in New Jersey in 2002. Communications assistant at Emily's
List. Part of Participation 2000. '98 Yale graduate.
A N D
| Director of Scheduling
and Advance |
Caleb Shreve |
(Started April 28, 2003)
Prior to joining the campaign Shreve was working at NYU's Wagner Graduate
School of Public Service. Shreve did advance work for the Clinton
White House for five years. He is a 1995 graduate of The College
of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio.
| Chief Financial Officer |
Janica Kyriacopoulos |
Treasurer at Steny Hoyer's AmeriPAC.
Treasurer at the DCCC.
Organization in the States
I
O W A
| Iowa State Director |
John Lapp |
Lapp ran Gov. Tom Vilsack's
2002 re-election campaign and also served briefly as Vilsack's communications
director after the election. He joined Vilsack in Oct. 2001 as deputy
chief of staff, after serving chief of staff for Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY)
and Rep. Ken Lucas (D-KY). He has a B.A. from the University of Virginia
and a M.P.A. from the George Washington University.
N
E W H A M P S H I R E
| New Hampshire State Director |
Erik Greathouse |
(announced April 25, 2003)
Prior to joining the campaign, Greathouse was working as chief of staff
to Rep. Mike Ross (AR-4). In 2002 he ran Mike Feeley's campaign for
the Colorado 7th congressional district seat; Feeley ultimately lost by
just 121 votes. In 2000 he ran Ross' congressional campaign, which
unseated incumbent Republican Jay Dickey. He was national finance
director for Jay Nixon's 1997 U.S. Senate race in Missouri.
S
O U T H C A R O L I N A (February 3 primary)
| South Carolina State Director |
Ike Williams |
(announced April 28, 2003)
Most recently a district aide to Rep. Jim Clyburn. During the 1960's
he helped to organize Charleston, Orangeburg and statewide desegregation
efforts. From 1969-1983, he served as field director of the South
Carolina conference of the NAACP.
A
R I Z O N A (February 3 primary)
| Arizona State Director |
Sondra Haltom |
(announced Oct. 22, 2003)
Haltom is a native of Texas and has worked in Texas politics since 1998.
During the 2002 election cycle, she served as deputy campaign manager for
Martin Frost's re-election campaign; she also has served as field director,
campaign representative and office manager during previous Frost campaigns.
Prior to joining the Gephardt campaign, she worked as an events coordinator
for Lone Star Strategies, organizing fundraising events for federal and
local candidates in Texas.
M
I S S O U R I (February 3 primary)
| Missouri State Director |
Jason Norton |
O
K L A H O M A (February 3 primary)
| Oklahoma State Director |
Julie Gibson |
(announced Oct. 22, 2003)
Gibson most recently served as chief of staff to Missouri's Lt. Gov. Joe
Maxwell and chief of staff to Gov. Bob Holden. During the 2002 election
cycle, she served as the Missouri Coordinated Campaign get-out-the-vote
director. In 2000 and 1996, Gibson served as campaign director for
the Missouri Democratic Party. In 1994, she managed Alan Wheat's campaign
for U.S. Senate, and in 1992, she served as Missouri state director for
the Clinton-Gore campaign.
D
E L A W A R E (February 3 primary)
| Delaware State Director |
Tom Pazzi |
(announced Jan. 5, 2004)
More than twenty years experience in Democratic politics. Deputy
national campaign manager for Cranston for President, campaign manager
for Levinson for Senate and a senior field representative during Sen. Edward
Kennedy's 1980 presidential campaign. In 1993 he served as administrative
assistant for Rep. James Barcia. In 1999 he served as chief of staff
at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters directing the transition
to president James Hoffa.
N
E W M E X I C O (February 3 caucuses)
| New Mexico State Director |
Moses Mercado |
| New Mexico State Chairman |
Jamie Koch |
(announced July 7, 2003)
A longtime Sante Fe businessman and political activist and former state
legislator. Koch put together the financing and framework for Bill
Richardson's successful 2002 run for governor. He ran four-time Governor
Bruce King's campaign and was a fundraiser for Martin Chavez's gubernatorial
run. Koch is also a former chair of the state Democratic Party.
N
O R T H D A K O T A (February 3 caucuses)
| North Dakota State Director |
Tessa Gould |
(announced Oct. 22, 2003)
Gould is a native of North Dakota, where she has worked for Rep. Earl Pomeroy
since 1998. Most recently, she served as Pomeroy's deputy chief of
staff and managed his successful re-election campaign in 2002. In
1997 and 1998, Gould worked for Sen. Byron Dorgan.
M
I C H I G A N (February 7 caucuses)
| Michigan State Director |
Ron Platt |
(announced October 16, 2003)
Platt is Senior Director for Government Affairs at Greenberg Traurig, LLP
in Washington, DC, chairing the firm's Legislative Practice Group.
He served as Michigan director for the Gore-Lieberman campaign in Fall
2000. In 1998 he was senior political advisor to the Nevada Democratic
Coordinated Campaign. In 1996 he directed the Iowa Democratic Coordinated
Campaign. During the 1991-1992 election cycle, Platt served as a
political advisor for the Clinton-Gore campaign in Kentucky. Platt
came to Washington, DC in 1969 to work for Congressman Jack Brooks and
also worked for some years for Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, including as political
director on Bentsen's 1976 presidential campaign.
V
I R G I N I A (February 10 primary)
| Virginia State Director |
Khalid Pitts |
(announced January 5, 2004)
Most recently served as state director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
and the Educational Fund to End Handgun Violence. A graduate of the
College of Holy Cross and the George Washington University School of Medicine
and Health Sciences.
T
E N N E S S E E (February 10 primary)
| Tennessee State Director |
Kevin Biggers |
(announced January 5, 2004)
Worked for Gov. Gray Davis (CA) in several capacities starting in 1998.
Most recently served as the Davis campaign's liaison to the African-American
community. Directed the Gov. Davis' Inland Empire office from 1999-2003.
Member of the Hesperia, Calif. City Council, 1996-2000.
W
I S C O N S I N (February 17 primary)
| Wisconsin Field Director |
Kevin Easton |
(announced January 5, 2004)
Campaigns include special elections in California and New Mexico, campaign
manager for Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and field director for Rep. Lois
Capps (D-CA) re-election campaigns.
(announced June 26, 2003) Attorney
and partner at the law firm of Friebert, Finerty & St. John, based
in Milwaukee, WI. Previously served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for
the Western District of Wisconsin in Madison, and as the state’s first
State Public Defender. Extensive experience in Democratic politics
including most recently served as the finance chair for Jim Doyle’s successful
campaign for Governor in 2002.
N
E W Y O R K (March 2 primary)
Leadership Committee announced
February 26, 2003.
C O N S U L T A N T S
| Media |
Morris, Carrick & Guma |
Bill Carrick, based in Los Angeles,
was campaign manager for Gephardt's 1988 presidential campaign.
A general consultant and fundraising
expert, principal of a consulting firm he started In Spring 1993..
Managed races in several states from 1988 until 1992. On Gephardt's
first presidential campaign he worked full time on the congressman's Iowa
caucus effort for 11 months in 1987-88. Created his first consulting
firm in 1986 and worked with candidates in Kentucky for governor and lieutenant
governor, an international union, and Gephardt's first presidential race.
Began working in politics in 1979 building organizations in state legislative
campaigns.
Also
Campaign Co-Chairs
Gregg S. Hymowitz
- (announced March 7, 2003) A principal of EnTrust Capital since
April 1997. Prior to forming EnTrust, Hymowitz was a Vice President
at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom. One of the top Democratic fundraisers in the
country, Hymowitz is a Trustee of the Democratic Leadership Council.
He served as Andrew M.Cuomo's Finance Chair for his 2002 gubernatorial
campaign; he serves as Senator Charles E. Schumer's Finance Chair for his
2004 Senatorial race and raised campaign funds for Senator Hillary R. Clinton
and several other local democratic candidates. Hymowitz regularly
appears on radio and television and is a weekly panelist on Neil Cavuto's
Cavuto on Business on Fox News Channel.
David Mixner - (announced
October 25, 2003) Involved in public policy for nearly forty years
and has worked in over seventy-five campaigns as campaign manager, fundraiser
or strategist; he served as senior campaign advisor for Bill Clinton's
1992 campaign for president helping him gain support from the gay and lesbian
community. Mixner has raised more than $15 million for candidates
and charity organizations and nearly $1 million for openly gay and lesbian
candidates across the country. He is an international public affairs/strategic-planning
consultant with expertise in HIV/AIDS.
David Bonior - (announced
December 18, 2003) A labor professor at Wayne State University.
Unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 2002.
Elected to Congress in 1976 and served as the Democratic Whip from 1991-2002,
when he retired. Served in the U.S. Air Force, 1968-72. Graduated
from the University of Iowa in 1967.
| Senior Advisor on Women's
Issues |
Roberta Ashkin |
(announced April 29, 2003)
A prominent New York trial attorney, Ashkin has been practicing law for
more than 23 years, including as resident partner in the New York office
of Baron & Budd; as managing attorney of plaintiff's tort practice
at Lipsig, Sullivan and Liapakis; and as a partner of Trolman, Glaser and
Lichtman, heading the medical malpractice department..
 |
 |
| The Gephardt for President
Exploratory Committee website was a modified version of the website for
Gephardt's 2002 re-election campaign. |
By the time of
Gephardt's announcement on February 19, 2003, a re-vamped site was up.
Websites by Campaign
Advantage. |
.
2001-02
Rep. Gephardt raised $4.7 million for his 2002 re-election campaign
(the Gephardt in Congress Committee), spent $3.2 million and finished with
$2.6 million in cash on hand. Joyce Aboussie ran the campaign.
Gephardt's leadership PAC, the Effective Government Committee, formed in
1985, raised additional sums and made over $1 million in contributions
to Democratic candidates and committees in the 2001-02 cycle; over half
of the contributions went to candidates in the key states of Iowa ($302,910),
South Carolina ($162,550) and New Hampshire ($121,900). As leader
of the Democrats in the House, Gephardt helped raise additional millions
for the DCCC. Richard Sullivan is Gephardt's finance man, while Matt
Rodriguez did political. See Finances.
|