Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray has announced his campaign team, a list that includes numerous veterans of local and national political efforts.
Gray, who so far doesn't have a big campaign account, appears to be sending a signal that he has quickly put together a real campaign that will be a serious threat to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), who has about $3.5 million in the bank.
Lorraine Green, a vice-president for Amtrak and a former deputy director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, will be Gray's campaign chairman.
Adam Rubinson, who served as deputy chief technology officer for former Mayor Anthony Williams, will serve as Gray's campaign manager. Rubinson does not have recent campaign management experience, but served as U.S. Rep. Nita Lowery's (D-NY) campaign manager in 1990, according to Gray associates.
Mo Elleithee, one of the architects behind U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner and former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's rise to power in Virginia from 2001 through 2009, will be a senior advisor. Elleithee also served as Secretary of State's Hillary Clinton's senior spokesman and traveling press secretary during her 2008 presidential bid.
Traci Hughes, a former communications director of the D.C. Police Department, will be Gray's press secretary.
Steve McMahon and Tom Ochs, of McMahon, Squier & Associates, will be Gray's media consultants. McMahon has worked on on three presidential campaigns and dozens of Senate, gubernatorial and mayoral campaigns.
Ron Lester, a veteran Democratic pollster, will do Gray's polling. In 1990, Lester helped former Mayor Sharon Pratt pull off her upset victory in the mayor's race.
Andrew Kennedy, of Kennedy Communications, will handle Gray's direct mail. Kennedy's biography includes work in more than 27 states.
Ian Koski, who has worked for President Obama and Maryland Gov. Martin J. O'Malley (D), will handle Gray's new media strategy.
Gray has also retained Potomac Waves, a media company that specializes in reaching out to minority voters. The company is well-known for its radio ads that target black and Hispanic voters, signaling that Gray will try to take advantage of Fenty's unpopularity within the African-American community.
Stephanie Reich, who former Council Chairwoman Linda Cropp's chief of staff, will be Gray's personal assistant.
Gray said he will be making additional staff announcements in the coming weeks.
"This team, along with countless volunteers who have already joined our campaign, share my commitment to restoring character, integrity and leadership to the mayor's office," Gray said. "I look forward to spending the next few months taking that message directly to the people of the District."
--Tim Craig
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