Kerry and Allies-Organization, Arizona

Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.  |  2910 North Central Avenue  |  Phoenix 
State Director Douglas Wilson
(Announced May 16, 2004)  In 1996 Wilson coordinated the Clinton-Gore campaign in Arizona, helping carry the state.  Vice president of the Cohen Group, a Washington, D.C.-based international business consulting firm headed by former Defense Secretary William Cohen.  Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and the senior communications strategist for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, latter part of 2000.  National political director for the Democratic Leadership Council.  Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, 1997-99, and, for the first four years of the Administration, Director of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Information Agency.  In 1987, working for the City of Phoenix, he set up the city's international office under then-Mayor Terry Goddard.  Deputy campaign manager for Gary Hart's Democratic presidential campaign, 1984.  Chief foreign policy advisor to Sen. Gary Hart.  Served at U.S. diplomatic posts in Naples, Rome, and London. Graduate of Stanford University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.  Native of Tucson; attended Rincon High School.
 
 
Communications Director Sue Walitsky
Prior to joining the campaign, Walitsky worked in media operations for the state of Pennsylvania.  She was Director of Broadcast Media for the DNC in the 2002 cycle.  Walitsky finished the Clinton-Gore Administration as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs after serving three years as Director of Regional Media and Press Outreach for the U.S. State Department and over four years as the White House Liaison for the U.S. Information Agency.  In 1992 she was responsible for tracking and coordinating special events in eight western states for the Clinton-Gore campaign.  She also has experience on three Democratic National Conventions.
 

Arizona Democratic Coordinated Campaign   Field
The Democratic Coordinated Campaign had more field offices in Arizona than in any state except Ohio, and at one point the staff was over 80 strong.  In early August, however, the DNC decided to pull its funding.  With support from the Arizona Democratic Party most of the offices were kept open and the campaign continued to organize.
Coordinated Campaign Director Ana Ma
(started June 15, 2004)  Chief of staff for Congressman Raúl Grijalva; worked on then Supervisor Grijalva's successful 2002 congressional campaign for the newly created 7th District seat.  Western States Political Director for the Democratic National Committee, 2001-02.  Arizona Coordinated Campaign Director, 2000.  Political appointee under U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, 1997-2000.  Graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree in Political Science, 1991.  From Tucson.
 
 
Deputy Coordinated Campaign Director - GOTV Kris Garcia
Previously field director for the state party.  Canvas director on Arizona Democrats' 2002 Coordinated Campaign.  Involved in campaigns since working to elect his uncle to a County Clerk's Office in Texas at 15.  B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas - San Antonio.  Born, raised and schooled in Texas.
 
 
Deputy Coordinated Campaign Director - Base Vote Alexis Tamerón
Resigned from position as Arizona Organizing Director for America Votes to join the Coordinated Campaign.  Deputy State Director on Howard Dean's Arizona primary campaign.  Prior to joining the Dean campaign Tamerón served as Political Director for the Arizona Democratic Party; she previously held positions of Assistant Director of Compliance, Database Manager and Hispanic Outreach Director.  In 2002, Tamerón was elected president of the Young Democrats of Arizona and she was re-elected to serve another year in January 2003; she is also national committeewoman for Young Democrats of America.  Graduate of Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in public policy.
 
 
Political Director Georgie Aguirre-Sacasa
Briefing and policy coordinator on Sen. John Edwards' presidential campaign.  Worked as a program assistant at National Democratic Institute. 
 
 
Field Director Mike Moffo
A field director in Kerry's Sioux City office during the Iowa caucus campaign starting in Aug. 2003; field director for Kerry the Feb. 3 Delaware primary campaign. Graduate of Boston University.

29 field offices and 37 field staffers
list >>


Non-Traditional Campaign Director (turnAZblue.com) Tony Cani
Prior to joining the Arizona Democratic Party, Cani served as Dean for Arizona's Director for Youth Vote, and he was one three "National Directors" of Generation Dean, Dean's youth outreach program.  He was President of the Georgetown University College Democrats, and has organized youth in every election cycle since the 1992 Clinton/Gore Campaign.
 
State Volunteer Coordinator Natalie Thorpe

 
Out of State Volunteer Director Jennifer Axsom
Graduate of Harvard University with a degree in government, 2004.
 
 
Press Secretary and Specialty Press Janet Meza
(based in Tucson)  Joined the campaign from Congressman Ciro Rodriguez's (D-TX) office.  Previously worked with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and as vice-president of communications for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
 
 
Election Protection Director Lena Amanti
Before law school Amanti worked for two years at the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington, DC.  J.D. from University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2003.  B.A. in Public Policy Analysis/Anthropolgy from Pomona College.  From Tucson.
 
 
IT Director Robin Gandhi

 
Operations Director Tad Wooten

General Consultant-DNC: Fieldworks (Marie Therese Dominguez) 
 

The State Party housed the Coordinated Campaign ("we -- Coordinated & the State Party -- were like one big happy family during those months")
Arizona Democratic Party  |  2910 North Central Avenue  |  Phoenix 
State Chair Jim Pederson
(elected chair in 2001)  In 2000 Pederson led a successful initiative effort (Prop. 106 Fair Districts, Fair Elections) that took redistricting away from the legislature and gave the task to an independent commission.  President of the Pederson Group, a commercial real estate development firm he formed in 1983.  In 1970 started working in commercial development first for the Grossman Company and then for Westcor; he rose to become manager for all of Westcor’s shopping centers.  Worked for the Research and Budget Division for the City of Phoenix, then as Administrative Assistant to Phoenix Mayor Milt Graham.  Undergraduate degree in political science and masters in public administration from the University of Arizona. Born and raised in Casa Grande, Arizona.
 
 
Executive Director Paul Hegarty
Hegarty served as political director of the Arizona Democratic Party in the 2002 cycle.  He worked with the U.S. Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closing Commission, and with the Office of Vice President Al Gore.  Hegarty earned a B.A. degree from George Washington University.  He is an Arizona native and a graduate of Brophy College Preparatory. 
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Communications Director Sarah Rosen
Previously served as communications director for Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) starting in Nov. 2003.  Press secretary for Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.).  A former assistant producer for NBC's "Dateline." 
 
 
Finance Director David Waid
(started as Finance Director in January of 2004)  Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Sheldon Silver.  Campaign organizer and consultant on races in Massachusetts, New York and California.  Bachelor's degree from Binghamton University in New York and graduate degree from the Graduate School of Political Management, then located in Manhattan.  Born and raised in New York City.
 
 

Allies
Americans Coming Together  |  525 East McDowell Road  |  Phoenix
Western State Director (AZ, NM, NV, OR) Luis Navarro
Before joining ACT, Navarro served as Kerry for President's natonal political director starting in Jan. 2003.  His previous experience includes national political director of the SEIU; he directed regional desks at the DNC; Southeast Coordinator at the DCCC; Voter File Director for the North Carolina Democratic Party; Admin. Assistant to Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA) and to Rep. Al Wynn (D-MD).  Navarro earned a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.
 
Arizona Director Michael Frias
Previously served as deputy director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Arizona.  Senior staff on the Coordinated Campaign in 2002.  He also worked on a congressional race in Arizona, and a Mayoral and City Council race in Los Angeles. 
 
Field Director Victoria Tinajero
Served as field director of Wesley Clark's Arizona primary campaign.  Former executive director of the Democratic Party in Pima County.  Worked as a regional field director on the Sanchez for Governor campaign in Texas. 
 
Communications Director Sean P. Carr
Previously worked in the Union County, NJ Clerk's Office.
 
Deputy Communications Director Sandra A. Lyon
Deputy director of Women's Senate Network at the DSCC.  Communications coordinator for the DNC, 2002-03.
 
IT Director Dirk Wiggins
Maricopa Field Director Niall O'Connor
Maricopa Volunteer Coordinator Maria Del Mar Mateo
Phoenix Office Manager Lisa Underhill

Tucson - 4811 East Grant Road, Suite 261 
Pima County Field Director Maria Witt
Previously worked with AFSCME in San Francisco.  (finished the campaign in NM after AZ out of play) 
 

America Votes  | Phoenix 
Arizona Organizing Director Alexis Tameron
(resigned and joined the Arizona Democratic Party)
 
 

Arizona AFL-CIO5818 N 7th Street, Suite 200  |  Phoenix 
President: Rebekah Friend
Battleground Desk/State Director: Dave Gregory (also CO, NV, NM)

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