Goddard shakes up campaign staff

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Terry Goddard has shaken up his campaign staff, releasing his campaign manager and hiring two new media consulting firms.

The Arizona Attorney General, the only serious contender for the Democratic nomination for governor, will apparently be hiring a new campaign manager soon.

A release from his campaign late Friday said that campaign manager Rodd McLeod, of MSHC Partners, Inc., will be leaving the campaign "to fulfill commitments to other clients."

Party insiders have been critical of the pace of Goddard's campaign, and a shakeup has seemed imminent for some time. Will the new Goddard for Governor team pull attention away from the hotly contested primary race on the Republican side?

Much may depend on who is chosen to fill the campaign manager's slot.

McLeod will continue to manage the campaign during the transition. Further changes may be in store; "Goddard for Governor will have other announcements in the coming weeks," the release said.

Cathy Nichols will join the campaign as Southern Arizona director. Aaron Marquez will be the candidate's political director.

Goddard hired WebStrong Group to relaunch his website, TerryGoddard.com. WebStrong consulted on the winning campaigns of U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Mark Warner of Virginia.

Strother Strategies will do media consulting for Goddard. Raymond and Dane Strother have served as media consultants to U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini and New Mexico Attorney General Gary King.

Goddard campaign news release

Goddard Campaign Announces Transition of Staff

Phoenix---Goddard for Governor has several announcements regarding campaign staff and consultants as it enters the final two months of the primary season.

Rodd McLeod, of MSHC Partners, Inc., has served as campaign manager for the launch of Goddard for Governor.  As the campaign's contract with MSHC ends and McLeod returns to fulfill commitments to other clients, he leaves a strong infrastructure for the next stage of the campaign. McLeod continues to manage during the transition.  Goddard for Governor will have other announcements in the coming weeks.

Catherine Nichols joins Goddard for Governor as Southern Arizona Director.  Nichols has served as an advisor and strategist to the campaigns of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and to statewide initiatives.

Aaron Marquez joins Goddard for Governor as Political Director.  Marquez is an Army Reservist and a veteran of Senator John Kerry's 2004 effort in Arizona.

WebStrong Group has been retained for new media and social networking.  They are responsible for the relaunch of TerryGoddard.com.  WebStrong Group served as consultants on the winning campaigns of US Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Mark Warner of Virginia.

Strother Strategies has been retained for media consulting.  Raymond and Dane Strother have deep roots in Arizona and the Southwest, having served as media consultants to US Senator Dennis DeConcini, New Mexico Attorney General Gary King, and numerous officials from Texas and Nevada.