U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz on Tuesday announced the appointment of nine top operatives for her campaign for the 2014 Democratic nomination for governor:
Rich Davis, partner in the Davis/Dixon Media Group, will be the media consultant. Davis has worked with Schwartz for 14 years, including her 2004 election to Congress. The firm's clients include Govs. Martin O'Malley (Md.) and Maggie Hassan (N.H.) as well as U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill (Mo.) , Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (N.Y.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii),Mark Udall (Colo.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), and Brian Schatz (Hawaii).
Pete Brodnitz, Beneson Strategy Group, will be the pollster. In Pennsylvania, he worked for Kathleen Kane last year, helping her win the Democratic primary and go on to become the first woman elected attorney general in state history. He is perhaps best known for two wins in Virginia – Gov. Tim Kaine in 2005 and Sen. Jim Webb in 2006 – widely considered the breakthrough that turned the perception of the state from red to purple.
Ed Peavy, Adnaan Muslim, Mark Bergman, of Mission Control Inc., will handle direct mail. The firm has worked with Schwartz since 2004. Clients include Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York; Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, the only female Democratic governor in the U.S.; and Jay Nixon of Missouri.
Rachel Hirschberg, president, Berger Hirschberg Strategies, will be a fundraising strategist. She has two decades of national experience, including serving as vice president of development and senior adviser to the New Democrat Network, and working with EMILY's List, the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Governors Association, among others.
Pat Millham, senior adviser. Millham comes to Team Schwartz after serving as Pennsylvania political director for President Obama's reelection campaign. He was a regional political director for former Gov. Ed Rendell's 2006 campaign, and was the statewide political director for Dan Onorato's 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
Aubrey Montgomery, Finance Director. Montgomery, a Philadelphia native, most recently left the position of Finance Director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party after bringing in about $20 million dollars during her tenure. She has worked on a number of campaigns in the state.
Reesa Kossoff, Communications Director. Kossoff was director of regional press in Ohio for the 2012 Obama campaign. She helped shape the campaign's strategy of stressing the financial bailout of the automobile industry in the critical swing state. In addition, Kossoff has worked on high-profile governor's races in Ohio and Washington state.
Neil Deegan will be political director. He joined Schwartz's staff in 2006 and, since 2008 has been a senior member of her political team, handling finance and political operations.
Erin Gorman will be deputy finance director/national. She worked on fundraising for Gov. O'Malley's successful 2010 campaign in Maryland and for the Democratic Governors Association.