Organization  |  LINDSEY GRAHAM page  

Lindsey Graham 2016

(page updated November 17, 2015)


announced June 1, 2015.
Headquarters: ...
see also: pre-campaign organization  |  pro-Graham super PAC.


Campaign Manager  Christian Ferry

A founding partner at The Trailblazer Group.  Deputy campaign manager on McCain-Palin '08; started on the campaign in Jan. 2007 as national eCampaign director.  Strategic consultant at Davis Manafort, Inc..  Deputy director for political affairs at the Union Pacific Corporation, 2000-03.  Assistant campaign manager on the McCain 2000 campaign.  Special assistant for the Virginia Department of Natural Resources in the late 1990s during the Jim Gilmore administration.  Northwestern field director on the Gilmore for Governor campaign, 1997.  Worked on the Bob Dole for President campaign and the 1996 Republican National Convention.  B.A. in government and history from University of Virginia.  twitter

Senior Advisor  Scott Farmer

Longtime Graham advisor.  Owner of Farmer Strategies, LLC since Jan. 2009 and founder and partner of Lovell Investments LLC from Nov. 2008.  Campaign manager at Team Graham, Inc., Sen. Graham's re-elect, from Jan. 2013.  Campaign manager on Lindsey Graham for Senate, Jan. 2007-Dec. 2008.  Finance director on Lindsey Graham's campaign, Jan. 2001-Dec. 2006.  Finance director at the South Carolina Republican Party, 1998-2000.  Campaign coordinator on Mike Fair for Congress, 1997-98.  Polling division of the Dole-Kemp '96 campaign. twitter


Senior Political Advisor  Jon Seaton

(March 7, 2015; reported by Politico on March 16)  Managing partner of East Meridian Strategies, LLC.  Political director on Pawlenty for President, 2011.  In the 2008 cycle Seaton served as regional campaign manager for Ohio and Pennsyvlania for the McCain-Palin campaign; briefly Northwest regional political director at the RNC, state director on McCain's Iowa caucus campaign; and the McCain campaign's national field director prior to the July 2, 2007 restructuring.  Associate director (West/Northern Plains) in the White House Office of Political Affairs.  Executive director of Bush-Cheney '04 in Washington State, and in the last three weeks transferred to Iowa where he oversaw Election Day strategy and GOTV.  Field representative at the National Association of Realtors®.  Worked at the NRCC and in the first part of 2002 he managed John Redwine's primary campaign in Iowa's 5th CD.  He worked on the field teams of the National Federation of Independent Business and Associated Builders and Contractors.  Graduate of the University of Colorado. Native of Berkeley, CA.  twitter


Senior Advisor  Bob Heckman

Principal at Capital City Partners.  Veteran political consultant with 30 years of experience in national campaigns including seven presidential campaigns.  Senior advisor/coalitions on Bachmann for President.  Director of conservative outreach on McCain-Palin.  Senior consultant to Gary Bauer's presidential campaign.  Liaison to conservative organizations on Phil Gramm's presidential campaign.  Deputy director for national coalitions on the Bush-Quayle campaign in 1992.  Senior consultant to the Jack Kemp campaign.  Directed the "Citizens for Reagan" independent-expenditure campaigns in 1980 and 1984.  Chairman and CEO of the Fund for a Conservative Majority, 1979-1996.  B.A. in political studies, psychology from Adelphi University, 1974.

Communications Director  Brittany Bramell

(reported by Politico on March 16, 2015)  Deputy campaign manager on Neel Kashkari for Governor in California, Dec. 2013-Nov. 2014.  Press secretary in House Speaker John Boehner's congressional office, Feb. 2011-Dec. 2013.  Deputy communications director on Chris Dudley for Governor in Oregon, Dec. 2009-Nov. 2010.  Spokesperson for Chris Christie's gubernatorial campaign in New Jersey, Jan.-Nov. 2009.  Graduate of Santa Clara University, 2007.  twitter

Deputy Press Secretary Christiana Purves

...twitter


Director of Policy  Rachael Leman

(started April 2015 as policy director for Security Through Strength)  Leman is principal at Leman Strategies since July 2013; she does public policy and strategic communications consulting.  Policy advisor for the Annenberg-Dreier Commission at Sunnylands in Los Angeles, July 2013-April 2015.  Deputy staff director on the House Rules Committee, July 2003-July 2013.   Legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson (IL), Jan. 2001-July 2003.  Finance director at Friends of Tim Johnson, May-Dec. 2000.  Bachelor's degree in political science and Spanish from Grove City College, 2000.


Finance Director  Elizabeth Conatser

Owner of Elizabeth Conatser Consulting and e2c Consulting, Inc. since 2003.  Previously a fundraiser at Eudy Nelson & Associates for three years.  B.A. in chemistry, math from The University of Kansas, 1995.

Deputy Finance Director  Caroline O'Neal

(reported by The State on April 3, 2015)  Deputy finance director on Sen. Graham's 2014 re-election campaign from Jan. 2013.  Finance coordinator (May 2011-Dec. 2012) and finance assistant (May 2010-May 2011) at Farmer Strategies.  Also served as a fellow in the Office of U.S. Rep. Henry Brown and in 2009 as an intern in Graham's Senate office and on his campaign.  B.A. from University of South Carolina, Columbia, 2011.

National Finance Committee

(announced June 4, 2015)
National Finance Chairman  David H. Wilkins, Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

National Co-Chairs: Safra A. Catz, CEO, Oracle Corporation  -  Scott Ford, CEO, Westbrook Group  -  Jeff Immelt, Chairman & CEO, General Electric  -  Barry Mannis, Managing Member, Samuel Capital Management, LLC  -  Ronald O. Perelman, Chairman & CEO, MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated  -  Bobby Rechnitz, Chairman, Iron Dome Tribute  -  Michael Steinhardt, Steinhardt Management  -  Anita Zucker, CEO, The Inter Tech Group


Director of Treasury and Administration  John Cooney



Chief Counsel  Brendan Parets

(May 2015)  Associate at Covington & Burling LLP, Oct. 2013-April 2015.  Legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett (SC-3), July 2007-May 2009.  J.D. from Columbia Law School, 2012; B.A. from Davidson College, 2007.



IOWA

State Director  Tracie Gibler

(reported by the Des Moines Register on March 12, 2015 as Iowa advisor to Graham's testing the waters effort)  Consultant to the Iowa Senate Republican Majority Fund and Miller-Meeks for Congress from June 2014.  Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Steve King, June 2013-March 2014.  Worked in the Office of the Senate Republican Leader, Jan.-June 2013.  Director of the Senate Republican Majority Fund, March-Dec. 2012.  Iowa political director on Pawlenty for President.  Campaign manager on Miller-Meeks for Congress, 2010.  Director of development for Americans for Limited Government, 2009.  Research analyst for Berman & Company, 2008.  Southeast Iowa regional field director and also worked field in Florida for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee, 2007-08.  J.D. from Drake University Law School, 2007; undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, 2003.  twitter

Field Directors 
Tyler Church

(June 2015)  A field director for RNC Victory in OR, KS and LA, Aug.-Dec. 2014.  Owner of Tyler Church Landscaping.  Bachelor's degree in political science from Lewis and Clark College, 2014.

Alex Etgeton

Student at Drake University.

Alex Hayes

(May 2015)  Prior to the campaign Hayes served as a congressional intern in the Office of the Majority Whip.  B.A. in history from The Citadel, 2014.

Mercedes Blackwood

(source: the Des Moines Register)  Studied pre-law at the University of Idaho.  From Twin Falls, Idaho.  twitter

Iowa Veterans Coalition Leadership

(announced June 5, 2015)
Chairman  Lt. General  (Ret.) Ron Dardis, Former Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard
Brigadier General (Ret.) J. Daniel McGowan, Iowa Army National Guard
Aviation Command Sgt. Major (Ret.) Chris Fox, Lindsey Graham 2016 Military Liaison
Brigadier General (Ret.) Steve Bogle, Iowa Army National Guard
Colonel (Ret.) Ron Randazzo, Iowa Army National Guard
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mike Olson, Iowa Army National Guard
Mr. Bob Holliday, Chairman of the Board, Iowa Gold Star Military Museum


NEW HAMPSHIRE

Headquarters: 1750 Elm St. (the Brady Sullivan Tower), Manchester


New Hampshire Advisor  Paul Young

(reported by WMUR on May 4, 2015 as NH advisor to Graham's testing the waters effort)  Currently founder (Jan. 1996) and president of Novus Public Affairs in Portsmouth and a principal at Hynes Communications since Jan. 2006.  In the 2012 cycle Young served as NH senior advisor to Gov. Rick Perry, and earlier as a volunteer advisor to Gov. Haley Barbour.  He was NH campaign manager for Jack Kemp, and a senior national campaign advisor to Bob Dole and Steve Forbes.  Young founded and headed Calypso Communications, also in Portsmouth, from Jan. 2000-Dec. 2010, and before that he headed Paul Young and Associates.  Director of community relations for Wheelabrator Technologies, April 1989-Dec. 1995.  Young started his career as a legislative correspondent, legislative assistant and special assistant to U.S. Sen. Gordon Humphrey.  B.A. in government from The American University, 1983, after studying two years at UNH.  twitter

State Director  Joe Doiron

(reported by NH1 on May 21, 2015)  State director and earlier deputy New Hampshire director for GenOpp, Aug. 2014-May 2015.  Political director at the Massachusetts Republican Party, March 2013-July 2014.  Human resources assistant at MACOM, Dec. 2012-March 2013.  Field director on Bass for Congress, May-Dec. 2012.  Field representative at Jon Huntsman for President, June 2011-Jan. 2012.  M.P..A. from Norwich University, 2014; B.A. in political science from New England College, 2011.  twitter

Field Representatives

Hillsborough  Karli Miller

M.A. in international relations and affairs from Webster University, 2012; bachelor's degree in political science and government from New England College, 2011.

Rockingham and Strafford  Stephen Bowen

(June 2015)  Project assistant at the Maine Energy Marketers Association, Aug.-Sept. 2014.  B.A. in politics from Saint Anselm College, 2014.

Coos, Grafton and Carroll  Mike Garcia

Most recently admissions counselor at Southern New Hampshire University.  B.S. in environmental science from Plymouth State, 2014; served as vice president of Plymouth State University Republicans.

Merrimack and Belknap  Colby Kofoed

(Aug. 2015)  Bachelor's degree in economics and marketing from Sacred Heart University, 2015.  Interned at Morgan Stanley; owner/manager of  Finishing Touch Painting.

Sullivan and Cheshire  Erin Murphy

(July 2015; started in the SC office)  Administrative assistant to state Rep. Chip Limehouse, May 2014-July 2015.  Bachelor's degree in political science from the College of Charleston, 2015. 


Statewide Leadership

Chairman  Gary Lambert

(announced Oct. 6, 2015)  Owner and patent/trademark attorney at Lambert & Associates.  Candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in NH CD-2 in the Sept. 2014 primary, finishing second to Marilinda Garcia.  Served one term in the state Sentate, 2010-12 representing District 13 (Nashua); did not seek re-election. Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps.  M.S. in strategic studies from Army War College in 2003; J.D. from Drake University Law School in 1984; B.S. in chemistry/biology from Valpariso University in 1981.

Co-Chairs

Eric Jostrum - North country GOP activist; Chairman of Ipswich Investment Management Company
Bing Judd - Former State Representative; Former NH Fish and Game Commissioner; Former Coos County Commissioner
Jan Pouliotte - Independent voter, political activist
Peter Spaulding - Merrimack County Commissioner; former Executive Councilor

State Finance Chairman  Clark Lindley

President and CEO of Agricultural Insurance Management Services.



SOUTH CAROLINA

SC Political Director  Shell Suber

(reported by The State on April 3, 2015)  Comes to Security Through Strength after serving as vice president for public affairs and business development at The Felkel Group in Columbia, started there in April 2009.  Co-campaign manager on Kevin Hall for SC GOP chairman Jan.-March 2009.  Political director and Victory 72-hour director on Lindsey Graham for Senate and the SC GOP, June 2007-Dec.  2008.  Director of legislative affairs for Capitol Consultants, Dec. 2005-May 2007.  From 1993-2005 Suber worked in various non-political jobs as a marketing officer, vice president of operations, insurance agent and regional sales director.  Staff assistant and deputy press secretary in the office of Sen. Strom Thurmond, 1990-93.  Sports editor at The Messenger Newspaper in Clemson, 1989-90.  Degree in English from The Citadel, 1989.  twitter


South Carolina Finance Committee

(announced June 2, 2015)
Chairman  David Wilkins

(Served as president of Graham's testing the waters effort).  Partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.  Chaired Nikki Haley's governnment transition team in 2010.  Served as U.S. Ambassador to Canada from June 29, 2005 to Jan. 20, 2009.  Served in the South Carolina House of Representatives for 25 years, first elected in 1980 through June 11, 2005, 11 years as speaker of the House; practiced law for 34 years in Greenville.  South Carolina state chairman of the Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign and co-chair of the South Carolina Bush for President campaign in 2000.  Undergraduate degree from Clemson University and his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.  Native of Greenville.

Co-Chairs: Terry S. Brown  -  Walllace Cheves  -  E. Bart Daniel  -  C.Edward Floyd, Jr.  -  George D. Johnson, Jr.  -  E. Smythe McKissick, III,  Robert V. Royall  -  Bill H. Stern  -  Joe E. Taylor  -  Douglast P. Wendel  -  Thad H. Westbrook  -  John B. White, Jr. -  Anita G. Zucker


South Carolina Grassroots Leadership Team

(announced June 30, 2015)  "100 political leaders from all 46 counties"

South Carolina National Security Coalition

(announced August 11, 2015)  twenty-four "retired flag officers, former prisoners of war, current and former adjutant generals of the South Carolina National Guard"




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