As Election Day gets closer, Jerry McNerney, candidate for the 11th Congressional District, including Pleasanton, recently added Tor Michaels as the communication director to his campaign.
“The reason I’m here is because I got a call from a friend in Washington that said ‘Tor this is right up your ally. The volunteers out here need someone like you,'” Michaels said.
Michaels, 38, a native of Belfont, Pa., was in broadcasting at WBLF radio at State College, Pa. when he received the phone call from long time friend and McNerney’s fundraising coordinator, Ken Christensen. Michaels knew it was just the type of fight he wanted to get involved with after speaking with Christensen and meeting with McNerney in Washington D.C.
Michaels took the offer and arrived in California in early July, pleasantly surprised with the faint difference he found between Pennsylvania and the Tri-Valley.
While helping current campaign manager A.J. Carillo speak to the press and create relations with the media, Michaels’ overall focus is to tailor the message to voters in the 11th District.
The three big issues that the campaign will highlight are the strong ethics package McNerney intends to bring to Congress, a shift from foreign oil dependence and support for veterans, Michaels said.
With alternative energy sources being a key issue for voters in the upcoming election, Michaels expanded on McNerney’s plan to convert the agriculture-rich area of central California into a “Silicon Valley of renewable energy.”
“Our reliance on foreign oil has put us in a bad position. We need to be energy independent,” Michaels said. “The typography and incentives for businesses (in the Central Valley) lend itself to such an effort.”
At the headquarters for the McNerney campaign, located at 6250 Village Pkwy., Dublin, Michaels and the rest of the campaign staff address financial and scheduling matters, Web site design and communication networking.
“We want to blend the new media with traditional media,” Michaels said. Once Michaels sends out a press release to the more than 200 media contacts on his list, the information is easily transferable to Internet form. Michaels was also happy to announce the opening of their Stockton office, this Saturday, Aug. 5, that will help in efforts to publicize the McNerney campaign in many of the same ways.
For now, upcoming events are tentative and Michaels wouldn’t say much. Spotlighting the much needed support for veterans and a district tour of hospitals and day cares are on the horizon for McNerney and his followers.
