NEWS RELEASE

Posted: Feb. 4, 2003

STATE DEMOCRATS: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HIRED

NEWPORT -- Jon Pugsley begins working on a new election cycle today as the Democratic Party's new executive director, succeeding Brenda Mayrack, who ended her tenure last week.

"I'm excited to be relocating to Delaware to serve my party for 2004, and to inherit such a well-oiled machine," Pugsley said.  "Brenda has done an outstanding job organizing the party and putting it in a good position to move forward." 

Pugsley, 30, hails from Oregon, where he served as county chair for the Democrats, in addition to serving as a staff person in the state legislature.  In 2001, he worked with the AFL-CIO to defeat an anti-union state question in Oklahoma, and during the 2002 campaign season Pugsley worked in two different states for EMILY's LIST.  Most recently, he aided Senator Jean Carnahan's efforts as Kansas City field director for the Missouri Democratic Party, where he coordinated a voter turnout effort that exceeded estimates by ten percent.

"Jon's a great addition to our team, and I'm confident that he can help us achieve victory in the upcoming election cycle, in addition to building the Democratic Party," Chairman Rick Bayard said.  "His background in grassroots campaigning will be vital to a victorious 2004 for the party, particularly in the governor and lieutenant governor races."   

The party's outgoing executive director, Brenda Mayrack, 25, is leaving Delaware for Vail, Col., where she plans to take some time off to pursue her non-political interests, particularly snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains, before heading to graduate school.  She has been assisting the party during the transition.

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