NEWS RELEASE: Graves Announces Experienced And Talented Campaign Team

7.6.2009 (Ranger, GA) – Republican State Representative Tom Graves (R-Ranger), candidate for the 9th Congressional District of Georgia, today announced an experienced campaign consulting team and staff to lead his campaign.

“Having built a small business and served seven years in the Georgia General Assembly has taught me that it takes a team to win,” said Graves. “We’ve put together the most experienced and talented team of campaign consultants and staff members that will work with our incredible grassroots organization to help me win this election. Julie and I are extremely proud of our team, and thrilled that so many North Georgians are joining our campaign and responding to our message of less government and more personal freedom.”

Leading the Graves’ team will be General Consultant Scott Rials, who has spent the last 16 years in campaign management, consultation and state GOP party leadership with an unparalleled track record of success.With his start on the national level working with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Rials has influenced a winning streak for Republicans in Georgia since 1993 including two victories for Governor Sonny Perdue and the successful gain of control in the Georgia State House and Senate. Rials continues to expand his efforts serving as General Consultant and Advisor to candidates throughout the Southeast.

Working hand-in-hand with Rials and responsible for the day-to-day operations of the campaign will be Campaign Manager Tim Baker. A veteran political strategist who has managed and consulted Republican campaigns for nearly 15 years, Baker has developed and implemented paid and earned media, mail, grassroots and fundraising plans all across the southeast. His career stops have included Chief of Staff for former Georgia Congressman Max Burns, Southern Field Representative at the National Republican Congressional Committee and serving on the political and congressional staff of then-Congressman Saxby Chambliss. Baker is a partner in Capitol Strategy Group and heads up the General Consulting division of the firm.

Diana Klenske Kincaid and Laura Willis Dunaway, two of the most highly sought after and successful political finance consultants in Georgia will direct the fundraising operations of the campaign. Both are partners in Capitol Strategy Group, Inc. and oversee the fundraising division. Kincaid jointly started Capitol Strategy Group in 2003, and Dunaway joined the firm in early 2005. Kincaid has 20 years of fundraising experience and has raised funds for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, former Congressman Bob Barr, and currently for Congressman Tom Price. Dunaway oversees the day-to-day fundraising operations for Congressman Lynn Westmoreland and manages the firm’s numerous Georgia State Senate and State House clients. Kincaid and Dunaway first worked together on U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss’ historic 2002 election and jointly consulted former Congressman Max Burns’ and Mac Collins’ campaigns, the Friends of Fred Thompson presidential campaign's fundraising effort in Georgia and are the current fundraising consultants for Congressman Nathan Deal’s campaign for Governor.

The campaign’s Finance Director will be Ericka Pertierra, who has served as Graves’ legislative aide since the beginning of this year. Pertierra’s experience in fundraising and public policy began in 1993while working for Congressman Jack Kingston and spans over 16 years of activities including various congressional and senatorial campaigns such as former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole. Ericka was the Finance Director for Herman Cain for Senate, and then launched and syndicated the Herman Cain Show, a news talk radio show on WSB-750 AM in Atlanta and Cain’s spin-off political commentary for FOX News. Recently, Pertierraco-produced the Karachi Kids, a documentary on Islamic extremism.

Justin Tomczak will serve as Political Advisor to the campaign. Tomczak served as Political Director for the most recent campaigns of U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss and Governor Sonny Perdue. In 2004, he served as Grassroots Director for the Georgia Republican Party and helped elect U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson and take a majority of the State House for the first time since reconstruction. Recognized as one of the most successful, respected and politically connected operatives in the state, Tomczak is a welcome addition to this grassroots campaign.

Dave Sackett of The Tarrance Group, one of the most respected and successful Republican survey research and strategy teams in American politics today will serve as the campaign’s pollster. Sackett has an extensive background in campaign strategy, political media and message development and demographic targeting. Sackett serves as the pollster and strategic consultant for over thirty Republican Governors, U.S. Senators,Members of Congress and State Leaders, and during the 2008 election cycle Sackett and The Tarrance Group helped elect over a third of the Republican freshman class, and served as the pollster for two Members of Congress that beat Democrat incumbents - Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins of Kansas and Tom Rooney of Florida.Roll Call has twice named Sackett as one of the top twenty consultants in the country, calling him “one of the most influential pollsters in the business.”

Ron Butler of Creative Direct will design and produce the voter contact mail for the campaign. Butler was a key part of Sonny Perdue’s 2002 campaign for Governor, as well as the Governor’s 2006 re-election effort, and worked with Karen Handel’s 2006 successful campaign for Secretary of State. In addition,Butler has been involved with numerous legislative campaigns in Georgia and worked closely with the Georgia Republican Party during the 2004 effort when Republicans won control of the Georgia House of Representatives.Creative Direct clients include Governors Bob Riley (AL), Bobby Jindal (LA) and Congressman Eric Cantor(VA) and in the past helped U.S. Senators John Thune (SD), Mel Martinez (FL), Tom Coburn (OK) and Bob Corker (TN) win some of the toughest races in the country. Prior to forming Creative Direct, Ron managed many successful campaigns, including the campaign of Virginia Lieutenant Governor John Hager, served as Political Director for the Republican Party of Virginia and as Field Director for the Republican National Committee.

Directing and producing the media will be DMM Media’s Pat McCarthy and Mike McElwain. DMM Media brings decades of political experience to the team and the partners have been called some of “the most talented operatives” in the business today and praised for producing “some of the best commercials.” McCarthy has served as media consultant for five Governors races, several U.S. Senate races and was the lead media consultant for the NRCC in 2002, 2004 and 2006 cycles. McCarthy won an award for best ad for a U.S. House race in 2006 and directed the media for 12 winning congressional campaigns during the tough 2006 and2008 cycles. McElwain oversaw open seat congressional wins in 2008, served as Political Director for the NRCC from 2001-2006 and helped House Republicans increase their majorities in 2002 and 2004.

Graves’ Campaign Team

• General Consultant – Scott Rials
• Campaign Manager – Tim Baker of Capitol Strategy Group
• Fundraising Consultants – Diana Klenske Kincaid and Laura Willis Dunaway of Capitol Strategy Group
• Finance Director – Ericka Pertierra
• Grassroots and Political Advisor – Justin Tomczak
• Pollster – Dave Sackett of The Tarrance Group
• Voter Contact Mail – Ron Butler of Creative Direct
• Media Consultants – Pat McCarthy and Mike McElwain of DMM Media