State Senator Tarryl Clark today announced key members of her campaign team, who bring a wealth of Minnesota experience and a record of unseating incumbents to Clark's campaign for Congress in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District against Michele Bachmann.
"This is a winning team, with years of experience in the 6th District and in high-profile, competitive campaigns across Minnesota and across the country," said Clark. "I look forward to working with them to build a true grassroots campaign as we address the issues that really matter to Minnesota's families: creating jobs and rebuilding the economy, making healthcare more affordable, investing in transportation and infrastructure, and ensuring fiscal responsibility in Washington."
Clark's campaign team includes:
Zach Rodvold is serving as Campaign Manager. Rodvold joins the campaign from the office of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, where he served as State Director. Rodvold led Klobuchar's field operation during her 2006 campaign for Senate, winning the 6th Congressional District with over 50% of the vote, and defeating 6th District Congressman Mark Kennedy in his own district. Rodvold has also served as GOTV Director for the Obama-Biden campaign in Minnesota; 6th District Field Director and, later, State Director for Americans United to Protect Social Security; and on a variety of political and issue campaigns in Minnesota and beyond, beginning with the 2002 campaign of the late Senator Paul Wellstone.
Lauren Beecham will join the campaign as Finance Director, having most recently served in the same capacity for Chris Coleman's landslide victory in the Saint Paul Mayor's race this year. Prior to leading Coleman's fundraising efforts, Beecham was Deputy Finance Director for Senator Al Franken's campaign.
Rounding out the Clark campaign staff: Nicole Wittig-Geske, who previously served as Deputy 6th Congressional District Field Director for the DFL's 2008 Coordinated campaign; Stacey Springer, a former Chair of the St. Cloud State College Democrats; and policy adviser Emily Lawrence, who previously served as Legislative Director for Congresswoman Betty McCollum and as Leadership Assistant to Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe.
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (GQRR) has been chosen as the campaign's pollsters. GQRR has a long history of working with Minnesota candidates and organizations, including Vice President Walter Mondale, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak, State Senator Ted Mondale, the Minnesota DFL Party, Education Minnesota, the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota and Growth and Justice. GQRR is a Democratic polling firm that provides research and strategic advice, with experience in over 80 countries and a list of clients that includes President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and South African President Nelson Mandela.
Leading the research and strategic consulting effort is firm President Al Quinlan, who has advised a broad range of political candidates and elected officials, including Vice President Walter Mondale and Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tim Johnson, Tom Daschle, Mary Landrieu, Chris Dodd, and Jeff Bingaman. Quinlan also provides strategic guidance to Governors Bill Richardson, Ed Rendell, John Lynch and David Paterson. In the 2008 cycle, Quinlan advised several winning candidates, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Tom Udall, and Representatives John Adler and Gary Peters.
Laguens Kully Klose Partners will serve as the campaign's media consultants. LKK Partners are veterans of nearly a dozen Minnesota campaigns, including: the ballot initiative campaign to pass the historic Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which won the 6th Congressional District in 2008; Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak; and the Minnesota DFL House Caucus' 2006 and 2008 efforts that increased the DFL majority by more than 20 seats. LKK Partners has a particular specialty in beating Republican incumbents, having helped elect Senators Jon Tester (MT) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Congressmen Walt Minnick (ID), Jim Himes (CT), Tom Udall (NM), and Dennis Moore (KS), all over sitting Republicans. The firm has won more than 25 "Pollie" awards for its efforts, including more awards in 2008 for online video communications than any other Democratic media firm.
The Southpaw Group, led by Justin Buoen, continues to advise the campaign's fundraising efforts. Buoen served as Midwest Finance Director for John Edwards for President and as Deputy Finance Director for Senator Amy Klobuchar, where he led her Minnesota fundraising efforts. Justin has worked on numerous campaigns, including as 6th District Field Director for the Kerry/Edwards campaign in 2004. In Clark's first quarter of fundraising, Buoen led the campaign's efforts to raise more than $308,000 in just nine weeks, making Clark one of the top fundraising challengers in the nation.
