At the helm: Women lead the way on Kelliher campaign
By Emily on 02/03/2010 @ 05:01 PM
When you walk into Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s campaign headquarters, you’ll see plenty of the expected fare: yard signs, ringing phones, empty coffee cups. You’ll also see something a little more unique: offices for the campaign manager, finance director, communications director, field director…all filled by women.
Kelliher’s campaign is headed up by a host of women leaders; in fact, her entire senior staff is made up of women. And with them, they bring years of experience -- having worked for the state party, aided the recount process on behalf of now-Senator Al Franken, and even staffed an EMILY’s List candidate or two along the way.
According to Allison Myhre, Kelliher’s communications director, having a woman-led team isn’t something that the busy campaign staff takes much time to ponder -- but it certainly has its perks.
“The team atmosphere here is great,” Myhre says. “Margaret sets a wonderful example for all of us -- staff, volunteers, interns -- and I think you can see that reflected in our work.”
And those volunteers and interns are also showing that when women join together, they can be a powerful political force. “Many of our volunteers and interns are women,” Myhre says. “Our Moms for Margaret group are regulars around here, and they certainly energize us at the end of a long day.”
For Myhre, it’s no surprise Margaret’s message resonates with young women and moms alike. “I joined Margaret’s campaign because I can really relate to her background. I felt a connection to her, and I believe other Minnesotans do, too,” she says.
In many ways, Myhre says Margaret’s broad appeal stems from how relatable she is for the state’s voters, particularly women. “Margaret is a middle-class mom who gets up and takes her kids to school, figures out their lunches and schedules,” Myhre says, noting that Margaret does all of that, with the help of her husband, before heading to a demanding job at the state capitol. “A lot of women admire [Margaret’s] toughness in dealing with the legislature -- they see that she’s really fearless in her work.”
“She’s exactly the candidate our state needs right now,” Myhre says.
We couldn’t agree more.
The women at the helm of Margaret’s campaign certainly have the experience and dedication Margaret’s going to need to win a competitive primary and tough general election to take back the governor’s seat for Democrats. Learn more about them here:
Campaign Manager Jaime Tincher
Jaime Tincher served as the Coordinated Campaign Manager for the Minnesota DFL Party in 2008. In that role, she directed a multi-million dollar program that supported Al Franken all the way through the Recount, helped President Obama win in Minnesota, and aided in increasing the majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate. Jaime is a graduate of Denison University. Before coming to Minnesota, she worked for the Virginia Coordinated Campaign and America Coming Together.
Field Director Mackenzie Taylor
Mackenzie Taylor joined the Margaret for Governor Campaign as Field Director in August 2009. In 2008 she worked at for the Minnesota DFL coordinated campaign as a Regional Field Director in MN-4. Mackenzie served as the Deputy Staff Director for Southern Minnesota on the Franken for Senate Recount and coordinated Ashwin Madia’s Endorsement race in MN-3. Mackenzie is a graduate of Minnesota State University -- Moorhead.
Communications Director Allison Myhre
Allison Myhre joined the Margaret for Governor team as Communications Director in January. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College, and previously worked as a newspaper reporter, a for the Minnesota House legislative candidates, and most recently as press secretary for Congressman Collin Peterson.
Finance Director Liz Connor
Liz Connor spent three years working closely with Speaker Kelliher as the Finance Director for the Minnesota House DFL Caucus campaign, and joined the Margaret for Governor team as Finance Director when the campaign began in August 2009. Liz is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and previously worked as the Deputy Finance Director for EMILY’s List candidate, Patty Wetterling in MN-6.
Additional staff include: Field organizers Susy Bates, Eric Nelson, Josh Nussbaum and Matt Scherer, Scheduler/office manager Elianne Farhat, Finance team members Liz Young, Sonal Patney and Ginger Wange, and intern Laura Sjoberg.
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