John Kerry for President Inc. California Leadership

State Director

Larry Grisolano

(started Feb. 15, 2004)  A partner in The Strategy Group's Los Angeles office, Grisolano has two decades of campaign experience.  Most recently he did the direct mail for Kerry's Iowa caucus campaign.  Served as Senior Consultant to the Gore 2000 primary campaigns in Iowa, Washington State and California.  Served as field director of the California Democratic Party in 1994.  Oversaw the Clinton-Gore coordinated campaign in California in 1992.  Worked in press and research for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's re-election in 1991.  Managed Bill Hoppner's campaign for Governor of Nebraska in 1990.  Worked for U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg's re-election in 1988.  Began his career as an organizer for Tom Harkin's upset victory for the U.S. Senate in 1984.  B.A. degree with honors in political science from the University of Iowa; MBA candidate in marketing and entrepreneurship at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
 

Deputy State Director

Doug Herman

Works with Grisolano in The Strategy Group's Los Angeles office.
 
 

Los Angeles

Southern California Political and Field Director

Beth Leonard

Served as the Central Regional Field Director on Kerry's Iowa caucus campaign starting in March 2003. Directed Iowa Democrats' Coordinated Campaign in the 3rd CD in 2002 including the successful re-election of Congressman Boswell.  Grassroots coordinator for 25 states for the American Cancer Society's government relations department.  Worked in the press office for Tipper Gore at the White House.  M.A. in political management from the George Washington University.  B.S. in developmental psychology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. 
 

Deputy Southern California-Field Director

Tim Delmonico

 

Deputy Southern California-Electeds and Vols.

Ari Melber

 

Deputy Southern California-L.A. and OC Electeds

Steve Duron

 

Deputy Southern California-Labor

Michael Teter

 

Student Coordinator

Ian Graves

 

Latino Outreach

Celine Cordero Jenny Carreon-Lacey

 

Communications Director

Laura Capps

Served as Communications Director on Kerry's Iowa caucus campaign starting in June 2003.  Director of Government Affairs at UC Berkeley from summer 2000 to 2003.  Served on the White House staff from 1995-98, first as executive assistant to Clinton senior advisor George Stephanopoulos, and then as a  presidential speechwriter.  Daughter of the late Congressman Walter Capps and now Congresswoman Lois Capps. 
 
 

Deputy Press Secretary

Greta Lundeberg

 

California Scheduler

Jessica Love

 

San Francisco

Northern California Political and Field Director

Theo Yedinsky

Served as Political Director on Kerry's New Hampshire primary campaign starting in June 2003.  Caucus director for New Hampshire State Senate Democrats during the 2002 cycle.  Worked for the Democratic Leadership Council from 1999-2002 and for the New Democrat Network from 1997-99.  Previously a middle school teacher for three years. 
 

Deputy Northern California

Chris Hayler

 

Deputy Northern California-Legislators

Bridget Petruczok

 

Deputy Northern California Political Director

Puja Pathak

 

Northern California Press Secretary

Nathan Ballard

 

African American Outreach

Wally Adeyemo

 

Women's Outreach and Fundraising

Dolcy Anderson

 

Environmental Outreach

Michael Schoenfeld

 

San Diego

Deputy Director-Congress

Lisa Klebenaw

 

Veterans Outreach

Zac Palmer

 

Endorsements
Sen. Dianne Feinstein     09/16/03
Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-1)    02/ /04   ...had backed Clark
Rep. Ellen Tauscher (CA-10)   02/13/04   ...had backed Lieberman
Rep. Tom Lantos (CA-12)    02/ /04
Rep. Lois Capps (CA-23)     01/24/04    ...had backed Gephardt
Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-27)    01/26/04
Rep. Howard Berman (CA-28)   02/ /04    ...had backed Gephardt
Rep. Adam Schiff (CA-29)    02/10/04    ...had backed Gephardt
Rep. Lucille Roybal Allard (CA-34)     02/ /04   ...had backed Dean
Rep. Juanita Millender McDonald (CA-37)
Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-39)   01/26/04

Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante  ...had backed Lieberman
Attorney General Bill Lockyer   ...had backed Dean
Treasurer Phil Angelides
Controller Steve Westly 
Board of Equalization John Chiang 
 

Los Angeles City Councilman and former Speaker of the California State Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa (also DNC Member)   07/28/03

Lynn Schenk, Chief of Staff to Gov. Gray Davis
Former SBA Administrator Aida Alvarez
 

State Legislators (list as of Feb. 17, 2004)
Senator Dede Alpert    D-39
Senator Jack Scott       D-21
Senator Nell Soto         D-32

Assemblymember Patty Berg D-1
Assemblymember Rudy Bermúdez D-56
Assemblymember Ronald Calderon D-58
Assemblymember Joseph Canciamilla D-11
Assemblymember Wilma Chan   D-16
Assemblymember Edward Chavez D-57
Assemblymember Judy Chu         D-49
Assemblymember Ellen Corbet    D-18
Assemblymember John Dutra D-20
Assemblymember Mervyn Dymally D-52
Assemblymember Dario Frommer D-43
Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson D-35
Assemblymember Mark Leno      D-13
Assemblymember Sally Lieber     D-22
Assemblymember Carol Liu D-44
Assemblymember Alan Lowenthal D-54
Assemblymember Barbara Matthews D-17
Assemblymember Cindy  Montañez D-39
Assemblymember Gene Mullin D-19
Assemblymember George Nakano D-53
Assemblymember Joe Nation       D-6
Assemblymember Jenny OropezaD-55
Assemblymember Nicole Parra   D-30
Assemblymember Fran Pavley     D-41
Assemblymember Sarah Reyes    D-31
Assemblymember Simón Salinas  D-28
Assemblymember Juan Vargas     D-79
Assemblymember Lois Wolk       D-8

DNC Members
Steven K. Alari (Long Beach) 
Jeremy Bernard (member-at-large, LosAngeles) 
Christine Pelosi (Washington, DC) 
Robert Rankin (Carson) 
Alexandra "Alex" Gallardo-Rooker (First Vice Chair CDP) 
Vernon R. Watkins (member-at-large) 
Rosalind Wyman (Los Angeles)

Newspapers
Sacramento Bee (02/22/04) 
San Jose Mercury News (02/25/04) 
Los Angeles Daily News (02/ /04) 
San Bernardino County Sun (02/28/04) 
San Francisco Chronicle (02/29/04)