John Kasich organization, Pre-Campaign

John Kasich Organization—Pre-Campaign
more recent edition >

(to July 20, 2015...page updated August 6, 2015)

John Kasich for America
...presidential campaign committee taking shape

Likely Campaign Manager Beth Hansen

(reported by the Plain Dealer on July 13, 2015) Kasich's chief of staff in the governor's office, announced Nov. 3, 2010 to July 13, 2015. Took leave in 2011 to work on Building a Better Ohio. Campaign manager on Kasich-Taylor for Ohio, the 2010 campaign. State director to U.S. Sen. George Voinovich for 11 years, and worked in the U.S. House of Representatives. Moved to Ohio from Lansing, MI in 1998. Graduate of University of Michigan.

Fundraising Pam Kinsey

(reported by the Plain Dealer on July 13, 2015) President of PKL Consulting since 1988. Over 30 years of fundraising experience for Republican candidates across the Midwest, including serving a role in every presidential cycle since she began her career during the Reagan administration. Midwest region fundraising consultant on Pawlenty for President.

Fundraising Paige Marriott

(reported by the Plain Dealer on July 13, 2015) Over 20 years of grass-roots communication, government affairs, fundraising and strategic business development experience. In 2011 she served as senior financial consultant for national fundraising on Pawlenty for President, in 2010 she was the national finance director for Carly for California and in 2008 she served as the Western States finance director for the McCain-Palin 2008 campaign.

New Day for America
527 organization announced/filed with the IRS on April 20, 2015
NewDayforAmerica.com

Board of Directors
Philip H. Geier, Jr.

Founder (2001) and chairman of the Geier Group, LLC. Served for 20 years as chairman and CEO of the Interpublic Group of Companies through Dec. 2000; started in adversiting at McCann-Erickson in 1958.

Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu

Adjunct senior policy advisor to Akin Gump from July 2010. Defeated in 2008 Senate re-election bid by Jeanne Shaheen. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002, defeating U.S. Sen. Bob Smith (R) in the primary and Gov. Jeanne Shaheen in the general election. Elected to the U.S. House in 1996 (seat vacated by Bill Zeliff) and served three terms, Jan. 1997-Jan. 2003. Worked in high tech. M.B.A from Harvard University, 1991; B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from MIT, 1987.

Jo And Davidson

Co-chair of the Republican National Committee from 2005-09. Ohio Valley regional campaign chair of Bush-Cheney ’04. Member of the Ohio House of Representatives for 20 years, first elected in 1980, and served as Speaker of the House from 1995-2000. Chairman of the Ohio House Republican Campaign Committee from 1986-2000. Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party Central Committee for 25 years. Chairman of the Taft for Governor campaigns in 1998 and 2002. Served a decade on the Reynoldsburg City Council, first elected in 1967 after an unsucessful run in 1965. Resident of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

Bruce Soll

Senior vice president at L Brands, a Columbus-based retailer.

Executive Director Matt Carle

Campaign manager on Kasich's 2014 re-election campaign. Director of legislative affairs in the Governor's Office from Jan. 2011. Campaign manager on DeWine for Senate, March 2005-Dec. 2006. Campaign manager on Voinovich for Senate, Jan. 2003-Jan. 2005. Campaign chairman and political consultant, Jan. 2002-Dec. 2003. Field staff director in the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Dec. 1998-Jan. 2002. J.D. from Capital University Law School, 2003; B.A. in political science and sociology from The Ohio State University, 1994.

Senior Strategist John Weaver

(reported by the Washington Post's Dan Balz on June 9, 2015) Senior advisor on Jon Huntsman's presidential campaign in 2011-12. Chief strategist on Rick Snyder's 2010 campaign for governor of Michigan. Chief strategist on John McCain 2008 until resigning in July 2007. In 2002 Weaver moved to Manhattan and switched to the Democratic Party. He worked for years, on numerous races, as a Republican political consultant based in San Antonio, Texas. Political director on Sen. McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. National field director on Sen. Phil Gramm's 1996 presidential campaign; after Gramm withdrew he joined Lamar Alexander's campaign. Executive director of the Texas Republican Party. Worked on Bill Clements' successful gubernatorial campaign in 1986. Deputy campaign manager of Phil Gramm's successful 1984 Senate race. Graduate of Texas A&M University. Native of Kermit, Texas (near Odessa). Now based in Austin, TX.

Communications Chris Schrimpf

Communications director of the Ohio Republican Party from June 2013. Communications director at the Georgia Department of Community Health, July 2012-June 2013. Communications director to Gov. Scott Walker, Jan. 2011-July 2012. Political communications director at the Republican Governors Association, Aug.-Dec. 2010. Press secretary to Gov. Sonny Perdue, Jan. 2009-Aug. 2010. Communications director for the Republican Governors Association, Aug. 2007-Dec. 2008. Deputy press secretary to Gov. Sonny Perdue, Dec. 2006-Aug. 2007. Deputy communications director on Perdue for a New Georgia gubernatorial campaign, 2006. B.A. in government from Cornell University, 2005. twitter

Political Jeff Polesovsky

Deputy communications director on Kasich's 2014 re-election campaign. Director of Boards and Commissions for the State of Ohio from Jan. 2011. Owner at Powe Productions, Oct. 2007-Dec. 2010. Political director on Kasich for Ohio, June 2009-Nov. 2010. Director of Recharge Ohio PAC, July 2008-April 2009 (Kasich, honorary chairman). Account executive at Pierce Communications, Inc. Dec. 2007-July 2008. Client relations and public affiars coordinator at The 316 Group,, LLC, Jun 2006-Nov. 2007. Communications specialist in the Ohio Treasurer's Office, Jan. 2005-June 2006. Graduate of The Ohio State University, 2004. twitter

Consultant Dave Luketic

(May 2015) Executive director of Balanced Budget Forever, Jan.-April 2015. Political director on Kasich Taylor for Ohio, Aug. 2013-Jan. 2015. Political director for the Ohio Republican Party, April 2012-Aug. 2013. Political director on Building a Better Ohio, July 2011-Jan. 2012. Coalition director in the Office of Gov. John Kasich, Jan.-July 2011. Northeast Ohio field director on Kasich/Taylor for Ohio, July-Dec. 2010. Administrative assistant for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, April 2009-July 2010. Political director of the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County, Dec. 2007-March 2009. B.S. in political science from University of Dayton. twitter

Advisor Former U.S. Rep. Bob Walker

(reported by the Washington Post's Roberty Costa on April 22, 2015) Executive chairman of Wexler | Walker, an independent subidiary of Hill & Knowlton. National campaign chairman of Newt 2000. Served 20 years in Congress representing southeastern Pennsylvania (16th CD), first elected 1976 and did not seek re-election in 1996. In the 104th Congress he chaired the Committee on Science. Prior to his election to Congress Walker was an assistant to Rep. Edwin D. Eshleman and earlier taught in Millersville public schools. M.A. in political science from the University of Delaware; B.S. in education from Millersville University.

Pollster Linda DiVall

(reported by the Washington Post's Dan Balz and Robert Costa on May 27, 2015; announced May 28) Founder, president and CEO of American Viewpoint; has provided research and strategic direction for political and corporate clients for close to 30 years, and "has been part of the polling team for every GOP Presidential candidates since 1988." Graduate of Arizona State University. Originally from Mt. Prospect, IL.

Washington, DC- based Steering Committee
(announced July 7, 2015; first reported by USA Today's Deirdre Shesgreen on July 6, 2015) >
Chair U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (OH-12...district extends north and east of Columbus)
Co-Chair Bob Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America

The Honorable Steve Stivers
The Honorable Michael Turner
The Honorable Mike Oxley
The Honorable Bob Walker (Pennsylvania)
The Honorable Pete Hoekstra (Michigan)
The Honorable Jim Walsh (New York)
The Honorable Spencer Bachus (Alabama)
The Honorable Deborah Pryce
The Honorable Tom Davis (Virginia)
Sue Andres, Union Pacific
Steve Clark, CGCN Group
Paul Miller, Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies
Stewart Young, Corley Consulting
John Downs, National Confectioners Association
Barney Skladany, Akin Gump
Adam Francis, Washington Council Ernst & Young
Ginger Vuich, former staff for Congressmen Ashbrook, Parris and Kasich, and consultant

Treasurer J. Matthew Yuskewich, CPA

Founder (1988) of Winterset CPA Group.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

State Director Paul Collins

(reported by WMUR-TV's John DiStaso on May 26, 2015) Campaign manager on Dan Innis' 2014 Republican primary campaign in the 1st CD. Campaign manager on Ovide Lamontagne's 2012 campaign for governor. Consultant on Jon Huntsman's 2011-12 NH primary campaign. In the 2010 cycle he served as senior political strategist on businessman Bill Binnie's U.S. Senate campaign for about four months, then managed Sean Mahoney's unsuccessful bid for the 1st CD seat in the Sept. 2010 primary. Executive director of the NH Republican Party, 1999. Managed John E. Sununu's congressional and Senate campaigns, 1996 through Jan. 2009. Managed Pete Wilson's brief NH primary effort (summer 1995), then when he withdrew served as state director on Steve Forbes NH campaign (from Oct. 1995). District director to Rep. Charlie Bass to July 1995. During the Administration of President George H. W. Bush, when John H. Sununu was chief of staff, he served as Deputy Director of the Office of National Service (1,000 points of light) and then Special Assistant to the President for Political Affairs. Worked for John H. Sununu starting in 1982, serving key roles on his three campaigns for governor and as a gubernatorial aide. NH political director on Pete du Pont's NH primary campaign (announced July 17, 1987; started Aug. 1).

New Day Independent Media Committee Inc.
...527 organization reported on July 6, 2015. (appears to be alternative to super PAC, seeking clarification, ed.)

Media Strategist Fred Davis

(reported by Bloomberg Politics' Mark Halperin on June 9, 2015) Principal at Strategic Perception, Inc. in Hollywood, CA. Presidential work includes Jon Huntsman in the 2011 pre-campaign period and then for the pro-Huntsman super PAC. Chief creative consultant to the McCain-Palin campaign from summer 2008; also brought on by the RNC to serve as creative director for the 2008 Republican National Convention. Part of the creative team on Bush Cheney '04, Inc.. His first presidential campaign was Morry Taylor's longshot bid in 1996; Davis did his first political work for his uncle Jim Inhofe. He had a twenty-year career in corporate advertising, starting in 1972 with his father's PR firm and buiding it into Davis & Matos, Inc..

Treasurer Susan Jones
Winterset CPA Group.

Balanced Budget Forever
501(c)(4) formed Nov. 13, 2014
balancedbudgetforever.com | fb/BalancedBudgetForever | @balancedbudget

Executive Director Dave Luketic

(Jan.-April 2015) Political director on Kasich Taylor for Ohio, Aug. 2013-Jan. 2015. Political director for the Ohio Republican Party, April 2012-Aug. 2013. Political director on Building a Better Ohio, July 2011-Jan. 2012. Coalition director in the Office of Gov. John Kasich, Jan.-July 2011. Northeast Ohio field director on Kasich/Taylor for Ohio, July-Dec. 2010. Administrative assistant for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, April 2009-July 2010. Political director of the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County, Dec. 2007-March 2009. B.S. in political science from University of Dayton. twitter

Sarah Nelson

(various news reports Dec. 2015) Western regional political on Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign (reported by The New York Times on April 19, 2012) Served as Romney's Nevada state director for the caucuses, announced Aug. 4, 2011, and later managed field operations in Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii, Oregon and California. Deputy political director managing paid voter contact programs on the Meg Whitman for Governor campaign in California, 2009-10. Consultant at the Nevada based Ryan Erwin & Associates, 2005-09, including work on Brian Krolicki for Nevada Lt. Gov. in 2006 and Romney's Nevada team in 2008. Associate at November Inc., 2004-05. Degree in journalism and political science from Brigham Young University, 2001.

Governor's Office

Chief of Staff Wayne Struble

(reported by Cleveland Plain Dealer on July 13, 2015) Previously Kasich's director of policy.

Senior Advisor Jai Chabria

(since Jan. 2011) Asoociate at Schottenstein Property Group, Nov. 2008-Jan. 2011. Owner of Jane's Montessori Academy, July 2006-Dec. 2010. Worked in investment banking at Barclay's Capital (Sept.-Nov. 2008) and Lehman Brothers (Jan. 2001-Sept. 2008). Did special projects for Kasich's New Century Project, July 1999-Dec. 2000. Political assistant for Kasich 2000, Feb.-July 1999. Political assistant at Citizens for Kasich, the congressional re-election campaign, Oct. 1996-Feb. 1999. twitter

Spokesman Rob Nichols

former
Chief of Staff Beth Hansen ...to campaign

(announced Nov. 3, 2010 to July 13, 2015) Campaign manager on Kasich-Taylor for Ohio (2010). State director to U.S. Sen. George Voinovich for 11 years, and worked in the U.S. House of Representatives. Moved to Ohio from Lansing, MI in 1998. Graduate of University of Michigan.

Pre-Campaign Organization (to Nov. 4, 2014)

Kasich Taylor for Ohio (2014 re-election)

Campaign Manager Matt Carle

Director of legislative affairs in the Governor's Office from Jan. 2011. Campaign manager on DeWine for Senate, March 2005-Dec. 2006. Campaign manager on Voinovich for Senate, Jan. 2003-Jan. 2005. Campaign chairman and political consultant, Jan. 2002-Dec. 2003. Field staff director in the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Dec. 1998-Jan. 2002. J.D. from Capital University Law School, 2003; B.A. in political science and sociology from The Ohio State University, 1994.

Deputy Campaign Manager Jeff Polesovsky

Director of Boards and Commissions for the State of Ohio from Jan. 2011. Owner at Powe Productions, Oct. 2007-Dec. 2010. Political director on Kasich for Ohio, June 2009-Nov. 2010. Director of Recharge Ohio PAC, July 2008-April 2009 (Kasich, honorary chairman). Account executive at Pierce Communications, Inc. Dec. 2007-July 2008. Client relations and public affiars coordinator at The 316 Group,, LLC, Jun 2006-Nov. 2007. Communications specialist in the Ohio Treasurer's Office, Jan. 2005-June 2006. Graduate of The Ohio State University, 2004.

Field Director Scott Blake

(Jan. 2014) Legislative liaison in the Governor's Office from Nov. 2011-Jan. 2014. Field director on Building a Better Ohio, Aug.-Nov. 2011. Associate at The Credo Company, Nov. 2010-Aug. 2011. Campaign manager on Carle for State Representative, Feb.-Nov. 2010. M.B.A. from Capital University, 2014; B.A. in political science from The Ohio State University, 2009.

Communications Director Connie Wehrkamp

(Jan. 2014) Deputy press secretary in the Governor's Office from 2011. Assistant grassroots coordinator and legislative assistant at NFIB. B.A. degrees in political science and communication studies from The Ohio State University, 2008.

also

Political Advisor Doug Preisse

Principal at Van Meter, Ashbrook & Associates, Inc.. Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party, first elected in 2004. Executive director of the 1992 and 1996 Republican presidential campaigns in Ohio. Campaign manager on Gov. George Voinovich's 1994 re-election; political director for George Voinovich's 1990 campaign for Governor of Ohio.