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Manchin Announces New DGA Staff; Expansion will Help Lead to Unprecedented Victories through 2010

Washington, D.C. – After a record-breaking year, Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Chair Gov. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia today announced a staff expansion designed to continue the DGA’s historic successes and achieve the goals of its four-year strategy. He named Colleen Turrentine National Finance Director and announced an expansion of the finance and political departments.

“I am thrilled that Colleen has agreed to join the DGA team,” said Gov. Manchin. “Colleen brings to the organization a wealth of experience, and I am confident that her drive, professionalism and skill set will put the DGA on course to raise record amounts in 2008.”

Turrentine was most recently the National Finance Director for Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign. She also served as the National Finance Director at the Democratic Leadership Council. She has worked to raise funds for such organizations as America Coming Together, the New York State Democratic Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Mark Dayton for U.S. Senate.

In addition to Turrentine, the finance staff expands with Paul Schnaitter, who was named Deputy Finance Director. Schnaitter was previously a Regional Finance Director for the Bill Richardson for President campaign. The political staff expands with Ray Glendening, who was named Deputy Political Director. Glendening served as Deputy National Field Director also in Gov. Richardson’s presidential campaign and spent five years at AFSCME International prior to that. Brinkley Serkedakis and Lindsay Baker were promoted to Deputy Political Director and Deputy Finance Director, respectively.

“The recent additions to the political and finance teams will position the DGA to continue its unprecedented successes from 2006 and 2007,” said Gov. Manchin. “In 2008, we will be looking to break our all-time fundraising record of $18.3 million and expand the ranks of Democratic governors. This team is the key to making that happen.”

In January 2007, the DGA launched an unprecedented four-year political plan to continue Democratic governors’ political success through 2010. This effort, called Project 2010, calls for early and strategic political engagement, as well as financing strategies that have an eye on the DGA’s long-term political goals. In the first year of this plan, the DGA achieved its financial and political goals by shattering its previous fundraising record and defeating an incumbent Republican governor for the second year in a row. By contrast, no Democratic governor has been defeated since 2004. At the end of 2007, the DGA banked more than $7.2 million – roughly six times its previous cash-on-hand record – thereby erasing the Republicans’ traditional cash advantage. In the second year of Project 2010, the DGA aims to continue its momentum by retaining its incumbents and open seats, while defeating a Republican incumbent for the third year in a row.

Discussing Project 2010 and this year’s 11 gubernatorial races, DGA Executive Director Nathan Daschle said, “Less than two years ago, the idea of holding more than 28 governorships was a distant fantasy. Today, because of the foundation we laid over the last year, it’s a probability.” Daschle added, “When Matt Blunt announced last month that he was not going to seek re-election, the news must have hit Mitch Daniels the hardest. Daniels is now the most vulnerable incumbent in 2008.”

This year is one in which Democratic governors hold tremendous sway over the presidential election. It is the first presidential election since 1992 when Democrats hold the majority of governorships, and Democratic governors have 8 of the ten closest states in 2004. Further, there are 294 electoral votes in states that have elected Democratic governors – 24 more than what are needed to win.

“The DGA is stronger today than ever before,” Gov. Manchin said. “More and more Americans are putting their confidence in Democratic governors, and the DGA has played an important role in shaping the current political landscape.” He added, “With the exciting additions to our finance and political teams, we are well-positioned to continue our record-breaking success in 2008 and beyond.”

After a record-breaking year, Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Chair Gov. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia today announced a staff expansion designed to continue the DGA’s historic successes and achieve the goals of its four-year strategy. He named Colleen Turrentine National Finance Director and announced an expansion of the finance and political departments.

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