RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman and eCampaign Director Mike Turk Announce New Staff Members

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Republican NationalChairman Ken Mehlman and eCampaign Director Mike Turk announced todaythat they have asked Mindy Finn, Katie Harbath, Eric Livingston,Franz Zedlacher, James Rodriguez and Lisa Burgess to join the neweCampaign division at the RNC.

"This group of individuals is at the forefront of technology inpolitics," Mehlman said. "I look forward to what they will do toexpand our use of the Internet in mobilizing grassroots supportersand spreading our message."

"These six people are the best when it comes to the Internet andpolitics. Working together we will combine the party's traditionalvalues with innovation in order to help pass the President's agendain Congress, help build and grow our party and help Republicancandidates up and down the ticket," Turk said.

Mindy Finn will serve as deputy eCampaign director. Finn servedas deputy Webmaster for Bush-Cheney '04, where she facilitated emailoutreach and online grassroots activism. She came to the campaignfrom Capitol Hill where she worked for Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), aslegislative correspondent and Webmaster, and Senator Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.). Prior to entering politics, Finn worked as a congressionalcorrespondent for a Connecticut daily newspaper. She is originallyfrom Houston, Texas.

Katie Harbath is the associate director for eCommunications.During the 2004 campaign she was a Senior Communications Assistant atthe RNC in charge of the RNC Web site, GOP.com, and Rising Tide, thecommittee's quarterly magazine. She is from Green Bay, Wisconsin anda University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate.

Eric Livingston is the associate director for ePolitics. Duringthe 2004 election cycle he worked as a political analyst for theRepublican National Committee, gathering and tracking voterregistration data from targeted areas. Previously, he interned forBush-Cheney '04 and the RNC's Political Department. Eric is fromMarshalltown, Iowa and attended the University of Iowa.

Lisa Burgess is the associate director for Special Projects.Previously, she worked in the political department at Bush-Cheney '04 for the Northwest region and also worked for New Hampshire Victoryas a College Coordinator. She is from Wichita, Kansas and attendedthe University of Kansas.

Franz P. Zedlacher is a staff assistant for the eCampaign. He isoriginally from Snowmass Village, Colorado and previously worked forBush-Cheney '04. Zedlacher has been instrumental in the design ofseveral companies' websites within the private sector. In Colorado,he worked as a co-assistant manager for a grocery store, and servedas a firefighter and ambulance driver for the Snowmass FireDepartment, where he received several awards, including the "Chief'sSpirit of Service Award," and the "Award for Actions above and Beyondthe Call of Duty."

James Rodriguez is a staff assistant for the eCampaign. Jamespreviously worked at the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee staffand was an eCampaign intern at Bush-Cheney '04. He also worked on the2003 Texas Inaugural Committee staff and interned with the Gov. RickPerry 2002 election campaign. James is from Fort Worth, Texas and isa University of Texas -- Austin graduate.

http://www.usnewswire.com