Bush promotes key campaign aides into administration - Miers Background

Austin American-Statesman | 9-18-94 | Stuart Eskenazi

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Austin American-Statesman (Texas)

November 18, 1994 FRIDAY

SECTION: CITY/STATE

LENGTH: 731 words

HEADLINE: Bush promotes key campaign aides into administration

BYLINE: Stuart Eskenazi

BODY: Gov.-elect George W. Bush on Thursday elevated some of the principals of his successful campaign into crucial positions in his new administration. He also turned to an old college chum to help further assemble his flock.

The Bush staff includes Joe Allbaugh, executive assistant; Karen Hughes, communications director; Vance McMahan, policy director; Clay Johnson, appointments director; Margaret LaMontagne, deputy appointments director; retiring Sen. Dan Shelley, legislative liaison; and Stacie Lawson, deputy legislative liaison.

Bush also called upon Dallas businessman James Francis to oversee the transition and Harriet Miers to provide legal advice to the transition team. Bush this week had pegged Cameron County Judge Tony Garza as secretary of state.

"I pledged to attract people of excellence to serve our state, and the senior members of my transition and administration are individuals who are known and respected for achieving excellence in their fields," Bush said. "They will bring a conservative, business approach to state government and will be dedicated to making Texas a beacon state and a better place for all of us to live and raise our families."

Allbaugh, 42, Bush's campaign manager, will oversee personnel and administrative matters as one of several senior advisers who will report directly to the governor. He previously worked as legislative director for former Oklahoma Gov. Henry Bellmon and deputy secretary of transportation in that state.

Hughes, 37, will direct all aspects of communications for the new governor, including media relations and speech writing. A former television journalist in Dallas, she was executive director of the Republican Party of Texas under Chairman Fred Meyer before becoming communications director for the Bush campaign in June.

McMahan, 32, a Houston attorney, will research policy for the new governor - as he did for the candidate during the campaign.

Johnson, 48, was Bush's roommate at Yale University. He is now deputy director and chief operating officer for the Dallas Museum of Art. He previously served as president and chief executive officer for Horchow Mail Order in Dallas.

In naming Johnson to the political appointments job, Bush chose a business background over political experience. "Johnson is a trusted friend and a senior business executive who will be very capable in evaluating talent," Hughes said.

While Johnson boasts no political experience, his deputy has plenty. LaMontagne, 37, was associate executive director for governmental and external relations for the Texas Association of School Boards before joining the Bush campaign this year. The pair will screen applicants for the several hundred appointments to boards and commissions that fall within the governor's purview.

Shelley, R-Crosby, did not run for re-election to the Senate after redistricting made him an odd man out. Shelley, a 45-year-old attorney, served three terms in the Texas House before moving to the senate in 1993.

Lawson, 30, was associate legislative director for the Texas Farm Bureau before joining the Bush campaign's political division this year. She has been a legislative aide to two former House members.

Each of the staff members also will serve on Bush's transition team, which will be headed by Francis. His successful track record includes chairing the Bush campaign and the 1993 special election campaign of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. After Bush is inaugurated, the 46-year-old Francis will concentrate his efforts on chairing the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm.

Miers, 49, is the former president of the State Bar of Texas who served as general counsel to the Bush campaign. She will remain in that role through the transition.

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Article speaks for itself.

Points out strengths and weaknesses of appointment.