ABBOTT FOR GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES KEY STAFF
Steve Abbott assembles group of veteran Maine campaign staff
January 19, 2010 – Steve Abbott today announced his campaign staff – a seasoned group of Mainers with statewide and national campaign experience.
“I’m very pleased to have so many experienced and capable hands joining me in this campaign,” said Abbott. “They’re all from Maine, most have spent some time in public service on behalf of Maine people, as well as in the private sector. Most important, they all have as deep a love for this state as I do.
“To run an effective, successful campaign in Maine, I think it’s important that your key people know the state. They should understand the history and the needs of our state. Plus, as Maine citizens, you know they have as strong an interest in the outcome of this race as other voters because Maine is their home too. My team is with me because they believe in what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Abbott for Governor Senior Staff:
Campaign Manager, Ben Gilman
Ben@abbottforgovernor.com
Raised in Westbrook and a graduate of the University of Maine and the University of Maine School of Law, Ben has worked for Senator Olympia Snowe, the Maine Senate Republican Caucus, the Maine House Republican Caucus, and the Maine Republican Party. Ben was the Executive Director of Maine Victory for the Republican National Committee during the 2008 election and was recognized for organizing one of the leading Get Out The Vote operations in the nation.
Ben’s campaign experience in Maine goes back more than a decade, having worked on or overseen campaigns for the State Legislature, Maine Governor, Congress and President of the United States.
In addition to his experience in public service and politics, Ben also has done policy work for Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine and the Maine Energy Marketers Association. Ben also has served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Thomas College in Waterville, teaching Political Science.
Ben resides in Gorham, ME with his wife, Jessica and their daughter.
Deputy Campaign Manager/Finance Director, Sylvia Most Sylvia@abbottforgovernor.com
As President of S. J. Most Consulting, Sylvia Most has provided program management, facilitation and policy research services to private companies, government, and non-profit agencies. Before starting her firm, she was employed in Operations Management and Staff Process Engineering positions at semiconductor, bio-tech, and precision manufacturers in Maine and Massachusetts.
She recently completed her third term on the Scarborough Town Council, and volunteers on many civic boards and committees.
Sylvia has achieved ABD status in pursuit of a Doctorate in Public Policy and Management at the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University.
Sylvia grew up in Cape Elizabeth and now lives in Scarborough with her husband Alan Cardinal, and sons Adam and Michael Cardinal.
Communications Director, Felicia Knight
Felicia@abbottforgovernor.com
Felicia Knight grew up in Camden. In 1998, she left an award-winning, 20-year career in broadcast journalism in Maine to become Communications Director for Senator Susan Collins in her Washington, DC office. In the Senator’s successful 2002 re-election campaign, Felicia served as Communications Director, campaign spokesperson, and chief communications strategist.
In 2003, Felicia accepted a presidential appointment as Director of Communications at the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC, the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, where for five years she supervised all aspects of the agency’s communications efforts and strategies. In March 2008, Felicia left that position to become Deputy Campaign Manager for Senator Collins’s re-election campaign.
In January 2009, she established Knight Vision International, LLC, a strategic media consulting firm. Felicia volunteers on several state and local boards. She lives in Scarborough with her husband, Towle Tompkins.
Political Director, Mark Ellis
Mark@abbottforgovernor.com
A longtime GOP activist in Maine, Mark J. Ellis is a former volunteer chairman of the Maine Republican Party, and has worked on countless campaigns including the successful Senate campaigns of both Maine’s U. S. Senators – Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Mark also has done field work for Presidential campaigns in Maine. He has been a delegate to national Republican conventions, and in 2008 was elected Assistant Chairman of the Credentials Committee for the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.
Ellis most recently served as Director of Information Technology for Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C., where he led a team of computer, network, and software experts in manufacturing facilities located in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Maine. He has worked in the information technology field for 30 years with companies such as Fisher Engineering, Forster Manufacturing Inc., Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp., and Digital Equipment Corp. (now Hewlett-Packard).
Ellis lives in Augusta with his wife, Rachel Boucher Ellis. They have three children, Quincy, 24, Chelsea, 22, and Samuel, 17.
Deputy Treasurer, Amy Abbott
Amy@abbottforgovernor.com
Amy Abbott is a 1989 graduate of Bates College whose graduate work was at the University of Southern Maine. Amy was a finance director at Unum for 15 years. A veteran of many Maine political campaigns, she has worked for Collins for Senator since 1998, focusing on FEC reporting and compliance issues.
Amy knows this gubernatorial candidate better than anyone on the campaign as she has been married to Steve Abbott for 11 years. Amy was most recently treasurer of the Hall Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization in Portland. She and Steve live in Portland with their two children, Hannah and Henry.
Field Director, Jessica James
Jessica@abbottforgovernor.com
Born and raised in Hanover, Maine, Jessica James is an honors graduate of the University of Maine with a degree in Political Science. Her honors thesis entitled "A Study of the Gender Dynamic in Congressional Campaigns" was awarded highest honors.
Jessica has worked in the Senate Republican Office in Augusta and was a key field coordinator on Senator Susan Collins's 2008 re-election campaign. She went on to work as a staff assistant in Senator Collins's Washington, D.C. office. Jessica currently lives in Old Town.
Field Director, Becky Pratt
Becky@abbottforgovernor.com
Becky Pratt is a University of Maine graduate who has put her degrees in journalism and public relations to use with non-profits and businesses from Maine to Washington State. Her professional background also includes marketing, events planning, and fundraising.
Most recently, she was self employed as a graphic designer. Her community involvement includes board and volunteer service with Abnaki Girl Scout Council and Bangor High School Project Graduation. She lives in Bangor with her husband Joe and her twin daughters who attend college in Maine.
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I've known Steve Abbott for a number of years and have worked with him during that time on issues relating to Maine and the state's business climate. Anyone who knows Steve Abbott or has worked with him comes away with a positive impression. In the 12 years that he has worked with Senator Collins, he has gained invaluable experience and has developed many relationships at the federal level. He has a tremendous work ethic, superior intelligence, and integrity. Those qualities, coupled with his knowledge of Maine and his proven commitment to the state's people, will make him an excellent Governor.
