President George W. Bush-Campaign Organization, West Virginia
Ohio Valley Regional Chairman - Jo Ann Davidson
Central Regional Political Director - Dave DenHerder
Bush-Cheney '04, Inc.  | 300 Capitol Street  |  Charleston 
(Grand Opening April 6, 2004...Chairman Gov. Marc Racicot)
Chair Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito
(announced Jan. 7, 2004)  Capito, from Charleston, represents the 2nd CD and was first elected to Congress in 2000.
 
General State Co-Chair Bill Phillips, Jr.
(announced Jan. 7, 2004)  Bush-Cheney Co-Chair in 2000.  Described as "the Lee Atwater of West Virginia politics." Campaign manager for Cecil Underwood's successful gubernatorial campaign in 1996; went on to work as chief of staff in the governor's office. 
 
State Finance Chair James H. "Buck" Harless 
(announced Jan. 7, 2004)  After graduating from high school, Harless worked as a miner at the Red Jacket Coal Co.  He became part-owner and manager of a lumber company, the Gilbert Lumber Company, and built it up to International Industries, Inc.  >
 
 
Executive Director Brian Donahue
Campaign manager to to Mike Ferguson for Congress (NJ) to Steve Pearce for Congress (NM) and to State Sen. Diane Allen in her unsuccessful bid for the 2002 primary campaign for U.S. Senate (NJ).  Deputy chief of staff to Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ).  Named by PoliticsNJ.com as a 2001 New Jersey Rising Star.
 
 
Coalitions Director Andy Rajec
Worked at the U.S. Department of Labor, 2001-03.  Formerly worked for Sen Mitch McConnell (R-KY).  Graduate of Marquette University.
 
 
Field Director - Huntington Mike Ankrom
Graduate of Marshall University.
 
Field Director - Morgantown Grant Hewitt
Former head of Students for Bush in WV.
 
Field Director - Clarksburg Justin Hogan

- The Bush campaign was up and running early in West Virginia.  An April 6 press release from the campaign stated, "The office is occupied by five campaign staff members and has a phone bank that operates Monday through Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  In addition to the headquarters staff, there are three field staff members working in other regions of the state."
 

RNC Victory 2004 200 Capitol Street  |  Charleston
Executive Director Brent McGoldrick
Senior project director at Public Opinion Strategies.  Worked in market research in New York.  In 2000 worked with Pew Charitable Trusts and Third Millenium to study and poll voter turnout among 18-34 year olds.  MBA from Georgetown University; President of the Class of 2004.  Undergraduate degree in public policy from Duke.
 
 
72-Hour Director Adam Feldman
Field director for the Fletcher for Governor campaign in Kentucky, 2003.  Previously worked at the NRSC and for the Republican House Caucus in Pennsylvania.  Graduate of Eastern Kentucky University.
 
 
Press Secretary Mary Diamond
Press secretary for Rep. Shelley Moore Capito.  Worked at the Department of Commerce in 2001.  Did press on Bush's 2000 campaign.  Graduate of the University of Rhode Island.
 
 

F I E L D

Field Director - Wheeling Scott Santamaria
Prior to the campaign Santamaria served as National Membership Coordinator for the American Watercraft Association.  Executive Director of the Republican Youth Majority.  Vice President of Club Development and Membership for Maryland State Young Republicans.  Deputy Campaign Manager for Francis Corcoran for Assembly in New York, 2000.  J.D. from Pace University School of Law.  B.A. in East Asian Studies from Manhattanville College. 
 
Field Director - Princeton Drew Biemer
Graduate of the University of Richmond.
 
Field Director - Charleston Kevin Graney
Graduate of the University of Virginia.  From Charleston.
 
Field Director - Beckley J.B. McCuskey
Graduate of the George Washington University.  From Charleston.
 
Field Director - Martinsburg Kirsten Rowe
Attorney and associate chairperson of the WVGOP.  Served as executive director of the Personal Watercraft Association starting in Aug. 2002 through 2004.  Federal Liaison for the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action.  Starting in 1995 served two evenings a month as the Municipal Court judge for Charles Town, WV.  J.D. from Tulane University Law School.  Undergraduate degree from Wellesley.
 
Field Director - Parkersburg Wendy Whitenack
Graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX.  Intern/Staff Assistant in Congressman Henry Bonilla (R-TX)'s District Office.  Intern/Office Manager on Texas Victory 2002.  
 
 
Technology Mike Howerton
Graduate of West Virginia University at Parkersburg.  From Parkersburg.
 
 
Absentee/Early Vote Coordinator Meredith Nance
Formerly worked for the Republican Party of Kentucky.  Graduate of Auburn University.
 
 
HAVA Director Richard St. Paul
New York attorney.  Earlier in 2004 he served as manager on Richard Hoffman's congressional campaign in NY's 18th CD.  He also served as  Director of Campaign Operations for State Assembly candidate, Tony Sayegh.  St. Paul worked for Pennsylvania Governors Mark Schweiker and Tom Ridge.   J.D. from Widener Law School.  Native of the Bronx.
 
 
Voter Registration Director Bryan Gaus
Graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University.  From Wheeling.
 
 

West Virginia Republican Party | 5019 MacCorkle Avenue SW | South Charleston
Chairman Kris Warner
From Morgantown, partner in Grand Central Business Centers.  Brother of 2004 Republican gubernatorial candidate Monty Warner.
 
 
Executive Director Gary Abernathy
Prior to joining the West Virginia GOP in 2001, Abernathy served as communications director of the Ohio Republican Party from 1998-2001.  Previously he served as deputy district director for former Ohio Congressman Frank Cremeans.  He has worked as a reporter, columnist and editor for various newspapers in Ohio.  [Abernathy provides a useful description of the workings of and tensions in the state party in his book ELEPHANT WARS: Why fight the Democrats when we have each other? (iUniverse, Inc., June 20, 2005)].
 
 
Political Director Ben Beakes
Joined the WVGOP as Political Director upon graduation from the University of Charleston in 2002.  Born and raised in Charleston, WV.
 
 
Finance Director Olivia Kelley
Finance Director for the WVGOP starting in January 2003 and continuing through Nov 2004.  Began working for the Party in August 2002 as the Asst. Victory Director for the mid-term elections.  2002 graduate of WVU.  Born and raised in West Union, Doddridge County, WV.

Copyright © 2004, 2005  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action