Critz announces campaign team
Congressman Mark Critz's campaign announced its reelection team today, following a similar announcement from fellow Democrat Jason Altmire in the (new) 12th congressional district.
The campaign is being headed up by Tony Coppola, a congressional campaign vet and lead field organizer for America Votes in Western PA in 2006. His 2010 CM Mike Mikus remains involved as strategic consultant, and the campaign also announced its polling, mail, media and fundraising team members.
Full statement after the jump:
Critz announces campaign team
Assembles organization with a winning track record
Congressman Mark Critz today announced that he has assembled a top flight campaign team with a track record of winning tough races. Critz said that Tony Coppola will serve as his campaign manager and the consulting team that guided him to victory in the May 2010 special election to fill the term of the late Congressman John Murtha and again in the fall will remain intact.
“We have assembled a team that is second to none and I am confident that we will have the organization and resources to spread our message of creating jobs and standing up for the principles of the Democratic Party in the upcoming election,” Critz said. “We hired the best and the brightest in this business, all of whom have track record of winning tough election fights.”
Team Critz
Campaign Manager – Tony Coppola
Tony Coppola brings experience in managing races from the local to the Congressional level. Most recently, Coppola guided Mark Padgett for Mayor campaign in Knoxville, TN. Prior to the Padgett campaign, Coppola managed the Lori Edwards for Congress campaign and the Jim Wansacz for State Senate campaign in Scranton, PA. He also has significant experience in Western Pennsylvania, having served as the Lead Field Organizer America Votes in Western PA in 2006, and as Field Director for Patrick Dowd’s successful campaign for Pittsburgh City Council.
Strategic Consultant – Mike Mikus
Mike Mikus, a native of Western Pennsylvania, is returning to the Critz campaign. He has been involved in politics in campaigns for 18 years running campaigns ranging from mayoral to gubernatorial races. Mikus has extensive experience in Western Pennsylvania having run the successful special election campaign for Mark Critz in 2010 and serving has his strategic consultant in the general election in the fall. In 2011, Mikus served as campaign manager for Rich Fitzgerald’s successful campaign for County Executive. He also served as Jason Altmire’s campaign manager in his first re-election campaign in 2008.
Pollster – Global Strategy Group
Global Strategy Group is a public affairs and polling firm with clients in all levels of government from coast-to-coast, including U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. GSG’s extensive experience in Pennsylvania includes former Congressman and Attorney General candidate Patrick Murphy, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee.
Media Consultant – Murphy Vogel Askew Reilly
Murphy Vogel Askew Reilly is a national Democratic media firm with a proven record of winning tough Congressional and statewide races. Over the past two cycles the firm has won four Congressional Special Elections including electing Mark Critz in 2010 and most recently Kathy Hochul in Western New York. MVAR has extensive experience in Pennsylvania politics and is part of Senator Casey’s media team.
Direct Mail – Mack Crounse Group
Mack/Crounse Group (MCG) is the “go to” direct mail firm for candidates, party committees, labor unions and progressive organizations. Using cutting-edge design and advanced micro-targeting, MCG delivers your message and helps win the toughest campaigns. Partner Kevin Mack is from Western Pennsylvania. His current and previous clients include Senator Bob Casey, Governor Ed Rendell, Congressman John Murtha, Congressman Mark Critz, the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee, Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee and Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Campaign Committee. He also works for the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, IAFF, NEA, UAW, UFCW and many other labor unions and organizations.
Fundraising – The Angerholzer Team
The Angerholzer Team is a fundraising and political fundraising firm that specializes in House Politics. Lindsay Angerholzer, President of the firm has been in democratic fundraising for over 10 years and has experience working with a diverse group of Democratic House Members. In recent years she has worked on a variety of Pennsylvania races including, but not limited to the Congressional races for Former Congressman Patrick Murphy, and Congressman Jason Altmire.