Wyoming Democratic Party names Owens new executive director

Contact:  Bill Luckett, Executive director   307-473-1457 (office)   307-473-1459 (fax)  

From the Wyoming Democratic Party

For immediate release

June 1, 2007

Contact: Bill Luckett

Communications director

307-631-7638

Wyoming Democratic Party names Owens new executive director

State party staff to focus on strengthening county parties

CASPER - Brandon Owens has been named executive director of the Wyoming Democratic Party, Chairman John Millin announced today. Owens brings extensive experience in rural politics to the position having most recently served as the campaign coordinator for the Alabama Democratic Party during the 2006 election cycle.

"Brandon impressed me with his understanding of rural issues and commitment to the Democratic Party," Millin said. "His knowledge of grassroots organizing and legislative campaigns will be a tremendous asset as we undertake the 2008 campaign."

Prior to organizing logistics for Democratic candidates in Alabama, Owens worked with the Alabama Restaurant Association and founded the Alabama Beverage Licensees Association to lobby the state legislature and municipalities. He has handled legislative matters for the Speaker of the Alabama State House and the chamber's Ways and Means Committee. Owens attended Auburn University as an undergraduate and taught courses on state and local government at the University of Alabama while completing graduate coursework.

Owens is eager to get to work in Wyoming, he said. One of his priorities is to meet with candidates, elected officials, and activists from each county to assess what their needs are.

"The state party has made a commitment to Democrats in each of Wyoming's 23 counties," Owens said. "We won’t take any county for granted."

Kyle DeBeer, who served as the party's executive director for the past four years, is moving to Washington, D.C., to take a position as the deputy director for the Association of State Democratic Chairs. That organization helps state Democratic parties work more closely together and share best practices.

"The last four years have been a great time to be a Democrat in Wyoming," said DeBeer. "I'm proud of the gains that our party has made and honored to have had this opportunity."

"Kyle's four years as executive director have been marked by an extraordinary level of professionalism and dedication," Millin said. "He has contributed immeasurably to the success of our candidates and will be missed."

Also Friday, the Wyoming Democratic Party announced that it has hired Thomas Schwarz to serve as its field director. Schwarz is a native of Idaho Falls and a recent graduate of Boise State, where he was active in the College Democrats group on campus. In 2006, he served as a field coordinator for the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee where he helped to recruit and train volunteers for voter outreach.

Both Owens and Schwarz assumed their new position with the Wyoming Democratic Party on Friday (June 1).

-END-