Calif. Commissioner Announces Team in Bid for Lieutenant Governor

November 18, 2005

California Insurance Commissioner and Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi has announced his 2006 campaign team, which includes key participants in the successful campaign to defeat Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ballot initiatives.

Earlier this month, all of Schwarzenegger's key proposals were defeated on election day. "On November 8th, the people of California sent a message to Sacramento that they expect results and solutions, not special interest business-as-usual," Garamendi said.

Larry Grisolano of The Strategy Group, will join Garamendi's team as senior strategy consultant.

David Dixon and Rich Davis of Dixon/Davis Media Group will head Garamendi's media team. The two created media on behalf of the Alliance for a Better California to defeat Proposition 74, which Garamendi said unfairly targeted the state's public schoolteachers.

Steve Smith and Jason Kruger of Dewey Square Group will spearhead the campaign's coalition-building communications and will direct outreach to organized labor.

Heidi von Szeliski and David Mermin of Lake, Snell, Perry, Mermin Decision Research will conduct the campaign's public opinion polling.

And Gerry Kavanaugh and Josh Fryday of DCS Politics will handle Garamendi's Internet communications. Zain Khan of Constituents Direct will provide email communication services.

Julie Sandino will serve as Northern California finance director, with Rebecca Suter assuming finance director duties for Southern California. And Christine Lally will oversee and coordinate all campaign activities from the Garamendi campaign's new headquarters in Old Sacramento.