Remember Jessica Gutierrez, the Hispanic outreach agent for Farouk Shami‘s campaign whose unauthorized press releases sent Shami’s campaign staff into an apoplectic fit that then made them quit? Guess what? She’s his new director of public and media relations.
This makes her the third person to hold that media relations position (back in November, before the recent cull, Shami dumped a seeming superstar team of hard-hitting Democratic campaign pros including Jason Stanford, who has since joined Kinky Friedman‘s campaign for the Democratic nomination for agriculture commissioner as it has gone wildly negative.)
Confirming the departure of campaign manager Vince Leibowitz, communications director Kelly Love Johnson and spokesman Charlie Ray, Shami’s campaign sent out this press release with Guiterrez’s name at the bottom:
Shami’s Campaign is Focused on Winning
“I want to thank Vince Leibowitz, Kelly Love Johnson and Charlie Ray for their hard work on the campaign. After a meeting with my senior staff, we came to an understanding that there were strategic differences between a few of us. Three of my senior staff members resigned, so I accepted their resignations on amicable terms.
Please do not underestimate my camp because my campaign is stronger than ever! I am the spokesperson, and I have a Communications team that has experience and believes in my vision. This morning we all woke up ready to fight because today is just one more day closer to the election. We have our soldiers in place all over the state of Texas, working their hearts out for a candidate that is bringing them new ideas, new jobs and new hope for Texas. I look forward to victory on March 2nd.” – Farouk Shami
This article appears in February 12 • 2010.
