The exodus of Arizona Democrats to Washington, D.C., continued as state party spokeswoman Emily DeRose announced that she is leaving her post. Another high-profile Democrat, former Gov. Janet Napolitano’s spokeswoman, Jeanine L’Ecuyer, is staying in Arizona, and announced that she is joining Ziemba Waid Public Affairs as the firm’s director of communications.
DeRose, who has served as communications director for the Arizona Democratic Party since August 2007, is taking the same position with the Democratic Governors Association. She said the job is an extraordinary opportunity to help Democrats win the many gubernatorial seats that are up for grabs in 2010.
“The governors’ races in 2010 are going to be incredibly critical to not only what’s happening in the states, but also what happens in Congress. There are three dozen races in 2010, and I think that it will be an enormous challenge and is incredibly important to work to elect common-sense Democrats all over the country,” she said.
L’Ecuyer, who spent five years as Napolitano’s press secretary and deputy chief of staff for communications, said her work at Ziemba Waid will be similar to her work in the Governor’s Office, and will include handling strategic communications, risk assessment and planning. The firm’s client list includes the city of Phoenix, Arizona State University, Service Employees International Union and United Healthcare Group, as well as numerous political campaigns.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’m really grateful to them, Tom Ziemba and David Waid, for giving me the opportunity. I’m really looking forward to working with both those guys. They’re both very, very good at what they do, and have terrific resumes,” L’Ecuyer said. “I’m really excited, especially as we’re coming into another election cycle and it will be, as usual, great fun to see what happens in Arizona, and always great fun to participate in that.”
Though she will no longer be in Arizona, DeRose is also looking ahead to the state’s next election cycle, when Democrats will attempt to retake a Ninth Floor that was ceded to Republican Jan Brewer when former Gov. Janet Napolitano resigned to head the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“It means that I get to continue to work where my heart is,” she said of the 2010 gubernatorial race.
DeRose, a former reporter for ~The Arizona Republic~ and Bloomberg news service, said she starts at her new job immediately and will move to Washington as soon as she finds a place to live. Her husband, Chris DeRose, a Valley attorney and active Republican, will continue to live in Phoenix.
“It looks like we will have a commuter marriage,” she said.
L’Ecuyer spent more than 20 years in broadcast news, including as the top manager of the KPNX-TV news division. She also worked as a spokeswoman for Sky Harbor International Airport and project manager for the Phoenix Fire Department before joining Napolitano’s administration.
In a press release, Ziemba Waid stated, “We are thrilled to have Jeanine on board. Her vast experience and expertise will be an invaluable asset to our team and our clients.”
DeRose’s announcement continues a recent trend of Democrats leaving Arizona for Washington that started when Napolitano accepted a position in President Barack Obama’s Cabinet. That L’Ecuyer bucked that trend by not going to DHS and continuing her work for Napolitano was a surprise to some observers.
“I’ve heard some people ask why I didn’t (go to Washington), and I have some very personal reasons for making the decision to stay here,” L’Ecuyer said. “I’m really grateful to Governor Napolitano for all the opportunities that she’s given me. … Our professional relationship will continue in some form or fashion, I’m sure.”
Working for Napolitano, L’Ecuyer said, was the “greatest experience of my life, without a doubt.”
DeRose said her work with the party over the past two years was a rewarding experience, and said she is confident about the future of the Arizona Democratic Party. The Minnesota-raised DeRose added that “Arizona is my home, my adopted home, and I fully expect to find myself back here sometime in the future.”
L’Ecuyer will replace director of communications Katie Paquet, who will step into a new role as Ziemba Waid’s director of operations.
DeRose said she did not know who might replace her as communications director for the state party.