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Press Release
Republican National
Committee
September 12, 2017
RNC Announces First Wave Of State Director Hires
Key State Director Hires Lay Groundwork For Most Expansive Midterm Field Program In Party History
WASHINGTON –
Republican
National
Committee
(RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced
the completion of the first wave of state director hires in 17 key
states across the country as a part of the most expansive midterm field
program in the Party’s history.
"These hires represent the long-planned evolution of the RNC’s
permanent data-driven field program that has been on the ground
virtually uninterrupted in key states since 2013," said Chairwoman
McDaniel. "We are committed to winning elections and will hold nothing
back to ensure we protect the near historic number of Republicans
holding office at all levels across the country. As our candidates
emerge from their primary races, they will inherit an RNC field program
years in the making to help push them to victory."
Alex Melendez, Arizona State Director
With almost a decade of experience working in politics, Alex Melendez
has worked for Republican candidates in nearly every region of the
United States. Prior to taking on his new role, Alex most recently
worked on a number of successful congressional campaigns in Florida.
Alex also served as a regional field director for Attorney General Ken
Cuccinelli’s 2013 campaign for Virginia Governor, Governor Mitt
Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, and Florida Governor Rick Scott’s
2010 campaign.
Adam Johnson, Colorado State Director
Adam Johnson's political experience began in 2002 working on the
successful re-election of Governor Bill Owens in Colorado. Since that
time, Adam has been involved in nearly a dozen political campaigns from
local city council races to managing statewide elections. Most
recently Adam served as Victory's Regional Field Director in the West
Metro Region in Colorado.
Andrew Brey, Florida State Director
Andrew Brey spent the 2016 cycle as Political Director for Wisconsin
Senator Ron Johnson—one of the biggest upsets of the 2016 cycle. Prior
to Wisconsin, Andrew worked on Senator Marco Rubio’s presidential
campaign in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida.
Andrew’s previous Florida experience includes time with the Republican
Party of Florida as a field director for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny
Curry’s campaign as well as Governor Rick Scott’s reelection. His prior
experience includes municipal, state senate, gubernatorial, and
congressional campaigns in Nebraska and North Carolina.
Alex Johnson, Indiana State Director
Alex most recently worked as the Statewide Field Director for the
Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee during the 2016 election
cycle winning 70 of 100 seats in the House. He previously worked as a
Project Manager for Mark It Red working numerous local races throughout
Indiana. In 2014, he managed two campaigns in Indiana that defeated
longtime incumbent Democrats.
Joshua Findlay, Georgia State Director
Josh Findlay joins the RNC with a decade of successful grassroots
campaign experience across Georgia. He spent the last two and a
half years serving as the Chief Legal Counsel and District Director for
his hometown representative, Congressman Jody Hice. In 2013 Josh
co-founded War Room Strategies, a full-service political consulting
firm with clients at all levels of government throughout the eastern
United States.
Joe Turcotte, Maine State Director
Joe is a seasoned veteran, who recently served as the Political
Director for the Maine Republican Party since January of 2015. In this
position, Joe was a key player in helping reelect Congressman Bruce
Poliquin and capture President Trump’s historic victory in the Second
Congressional District. Joe has a wide-range of experience in Maine
politics, starting from his position as the State Field Director for
Maine GOP focusing on Governor LePage’s re-election in 2014.
Lx Fangonilo, Michigan State Director
Before joining the RNC, Lx Fangonilo most recently served as the State
Field Director for the Michigan Republican Party focused on protecting
the Republican majority in the State House of Representatives and the
overall success of our Republican nominees in the 2016 election cycle.
Before moving to Michigan, Lx worked in both Virginia and California
for candidates and elected officials running for City Council, State
House, State Senate, and Congressional offices.
Alex Meyer, Missouri State Director
Alex previously served the RNC in the Data Department as Political Data
Support and Data Analyst. Before joining the RNC, he worked for the
Presidential Inaugural Committee heading the efforts to organize the
countless volunteers for the events leading up to Inauguration Day. He
also served as Regional Field Director for Sen. Roy Blunt's successful
reelection campaign during the 2016 cycle.
Brandon Zanon, Montana State Director
Brandon Zanon most recently managed the field operation as Director of
Field Operations for Stothert for Mayor in Omaha, NE immediately after
serving as Regional Field Director for the Ohio Republican Party in
2016. Before Ohio he worked for the Michigan Republican Party where he
got his start as a field operative as Lansing Victory Director before
transitioning to Youth Director for the State Party in 2014. Previous
to volunteering in the 2012 presidential race, he served as Operations
Director for a municipal ambulance service and was the Foreman for a
large produce farm.
Dan Coats, Nevada State Director
Dan Coats most recently served as a Deputy State Director with the
Republican Party of Florida during the 2016 cycle. Prior to working in
Florida, Dan served campaigns in Georgia including Senator Johnny
Isakson, Governor Nathan Deal, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, and other
local, state, and federal campaigns. Dan has a degree in Political
Science from the University of Georgia.
Ashley Walukevich, New Hampshire
State Director
Ashley is an experienced political operative who most recently spent
the 2016 cycle working as a Regional Field Director for the New
Hampshire Republican State Committee. Prior to 2016, Ashley spent
several years working for Senator Susan Collins in her DC and Maine
Offices, and assisted with securing her re-election in 2014. She spent
the 2012 cycle working for the Florida Republican Party as a Field
Director for Governor Romney's Presidential Campaign.
Robert Andrews, North Carolina State
Director
Robert Andrews previously worked on Pat McCrory’s re-election campaign
in North Carolina. Prior to that, he has worked on a variety of local
and congressional campaigns across the state of North Carolina from
2011 to 2016. He has worked in both the State House and State Senate as
a legislative assistant, and is a proud graduate of Appalachian State
University.
Rob Lagergren, Ohio State Director
Rob most recently served as RNC State Director in Michigan for the 2016
Election Cycle. Before joining the RNC, he worked for the
Michigan Republican Party and held numerous positions with the Ohio
Republican Party for several victory cycles.
Brittney Robinson, Pennsylvania State
Director
Prior to serving as the State Director for Pennsylvania, Brittney was
the Deputy Director for the RNC in the GA06 special election. Before
joining the RNC Political team in 2015, she worked on campaigns in
Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana and Wisconsin.
Kristy Wilkinson, Texas State Director
Kristy recently served as the Regional Political Coordinator for the
Republican National Committee during the 2016 Presidential
Cycle. During this cycle she helped maintain and manage the
operational needs for 12 states including 4 targeted states: Florida,
Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. Kristy started her political
career as a Regional Field Director in Louisiana for the greater New
Orleans region focusing on Congressman Bill Cassidy’s successful bid
for US Senate.
Elliott Echols, Virginia State
Director
Elliott most recently ran the RNC’s Victory operation in the GA-06
special election, which was the most expensive congressional race in US
history. Elliott and his team helped Congresswoman Karen Handel get
elected to replace former Congressman Dr. Tom Price. During the 2016
election cycle Elliott started and led the RNC’s Republican Leadership
Initiative (RLI) program that trained over 6,000 young operatives and
activists in 33 states. The RLI program continues to be utilized this
year in preparation for the 2018 mid-terms. Echols worked in state and
local politics in Georgia before joining the RNC in 2013.
Phil Curry, Wisconsin State Director
Prior to serving as the Republican National Committee’s State Director
in Wisconsin, Phil has been working for the Republican Party of
Wisconsin since 2012. Most recently, Curry was hired as RPW’s
Political Director in January of 2017, and worked as RPW’s Deputy
Political Director during the 2016 election cycle.