Kenneth B. Mehlman

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Kenneth B. Mehlman is a lawyer, Republican activist and partner in the law and lobby firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld. The Wall Street Journal described his Akin Gump work as providing "political intelligence" to corporate clients, while the firm said Mehlman will "focus on developing solutions for clients facing challenges in the legislative, regulatory, constituency, corporate and public relations arenas at the state, federal and international levels." [1] [2]

Mehlman formerly chaired the Republican National Committee, was campaign manager for George Walker Bush's 2004 re-elected bid, and served as Deputy Assistant to President Bush and Director of Political Affairs on Bush's White House Staff, as well as chief of staff to Rep. Kay Granger (R., Tex.). Mehlman and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D., Ill.) were classmates at Harvard Law School. [3]

Profiles

"In January of 2001, Ken Mehlman was appointed deputy assistant to the President and director of White House political affairs. In this role, Mr. Mehlman oversees all aspects of the President Bush's political agenda by working with members of Congress, federal agencies, state parties, and community groups.

"During the general election, Mr. Mehlman served as national field director for Bush/Cheney 2000. In this role he was responsible for working with the campaign's leadership in all 50 states to build strong grassroots teams and execute winning political plans. Mr. Mehlman directed the campaign's operation, and worked closely with the Republican National Committee and state parties to develop and implement Victory and voter contact programs.

"Mr. Mehlman served as Midwest regional political director during the primaries. As part of the 10 states for which he was responsible, he managed the Iowa team and wrote and implemented the plan that produced Governor [George Walker] Bush's historic Iowa caucus victory (the highest percentage of votes for a Republican in the history of the caucus). The Iowa grassroots model was subsequently used in primaries in South Carolina, Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, Maryland, and other states.

"From 1996-1999, Mr. Mehlman was Rep. Kay Granger's (TX-12) chief of staff and he oversaw the political, legislative, and communications operations. Previously, Ken was Rep. Lamar Smith's (TX-21) legislative director from 1994-1996.

"In addition to running Granger's campaign, Mr. Mehlman worked on William Weld's successful 1990 campaign for governor of Massachusetts, Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine's 1994 campaign, and House races in Virginia, Texas, and Georgia. He worked on Sen. Bob Dole's 1996 campaign, the 1996 Republican National Convention and President George Herbert Walker Bush's 1992 re-election campaign.

"Mr. Mehlman practiced environmental law for three years in Washington, D.C. and is a member of the D.C. and Maryland bars. He is a 1991 graduate of Harvard Law School and 1988 graduate of Franklin and Marshall College."

Copied from the American Democracy Conference web site.

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