District 14 Senate candidate Karen Montgomery has hired a new campaign manager as her former manager has gone to work at the White House. Regardless of the reason, turnover at a critical position like campaign manager is usually not helpful (unless the old one was screwing up). Following is the press release.

For Immediate Release
July 6, 2010

For more information and/or interviews, contact Bronwyn Beistle
Montgomery4Montgomery@gmail.com

Karen Montgomery’s Campaign for State Senate Announces New Manager

OLNEY, MD – A new campaign manager has taken the helm of Delegate Karen Montgomery’s campaign for the District 14 State Senate seat. Bronwyn Beistle, a veteran of Democratic campaigns in Florida and Maryland, assumed the position of campaign manager last week.

She succeeds Peter Blaes who was recruited for a position in The White House with the Obama administration. Blaes served in the 2008 Obama campaign as a field director in the midwest.

Beistle worked on the Cardin-O’Malley coordinated campaign in 2006 and has extensive experience in environmental and energy issues, a strong focus of the Montgomery campaign. After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, she joined the 2004 presidential campaign of Senator John Kerry in her native state of Florida. Beistle also has worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute and was outreach director at The Carrots and Sticks Project, non-profit organization advocating for energy efficiency and clean transportation.

“Bronwyn brings a new level of energy and acumen to my State Senate campaign,” says Montgomery. “Her talent in establishing campaign strategies will be invaluable to our success and her dedication is unparalleled.”

Montgomery also praised Blaes on his departure to his new position at The White House. “I know I have terrific people working for me because they’ve been snatched away for other opportunities. President Obama is lucky to have Peter and his skills. His many talents ensure that he’ll be great in whatever role he has.”

A member of the Maryland House of Delegates since 2002, Montgomery is running for the District 14 seat in the State Senate in the 2010 Democratic primary election on Sept. 14. She has been endorsed by the Montgomery County Education Association, the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter, the League of Conservation Voters, Progressive Maryland, the Services Employees International Union and many other major organizations.

–30–