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August 6, 2007

Ex-Fogarty aide joins Edwards campaign

In the Rhode-Islanders-moving-to-far-flung-lands-for-campaign-jobs department …

Adam W. Bozzi, the spokesman for Charlie Fogarty’s campaign for governor last year, is now the spokesman for the presidential campaign of John Edwards in Nevada.

And Peter I. Asen, former communications director for the advocacy group Ocean State Action, is field director for Michael Brennan, a candidate for a congressional seat in Maine.

Bozzi started his job in Nevada on June 27. He had been working for Bruce Lunsford, a gubernatorial candidate in Kentucky, but Lunsford lost the Democratic primary on May 22.

He said he was attracted by Edwards’ focus on universal health care and raising the minimum wage. He also said Edwards was the first candidate to speak out in favor of increasing the tax rate for certain private equity and hedge fund partnerships that go public, a proposal Congress is considering. “He’s just out in front on a lot of important issues,” Bozzi said. “I think it shows leadership, and I’m impressed by that.”

Bozzi, 28, a graduate of North Providence High School and Syracuse University, has also worked in the office of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, and briefly for Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.

He said he still follows the headlines from his home state: “What could be more interesting than Rhode Island politics?”

The Nevada presidential caucus, scheduled for Jan. 19, is the second in the nation after Iowa.

Asen has longer to prepare for his day of reckoning. The Democratic congressional primary in Maine will be held in June. Asen started his new job in June of this year.

After graduating from Brown University in 2004, Asen stayed in Rhode Island, working as a stringer for the Associated Press and briefly holding a staff position at the Seekonk Star. More recently, he worked for Ocean State Action, served as campaign treasurer for state Rep. David A. Segal, and contributed to the political blog Rhode Island Future.

Asen, 25, grew up in Portland, Maine, and returned there when Brennan, a family friend, announced his run for Congress.

Brennan, one of four Democrats in the race, is former majority leader of the Maine state Senate. Asen said he supports Brennan because of his stances on education, health care and the Iraq war — Brennan sponsored a bill to waive college tuition for former foster children, was one of the leaders in Maine’s Dirigo universal health-care initiative, and founded a group called Legislators for Ending the War.

On a personal note, Asen said his mother and Brennan share the same career field, social work. “The idea of electing a social worker to Congress is really exciting to me,” he said. “I grew up with those kinds of values and that’s part of what shaped my political values.”

Brennan is running for the seat being vacated by Tom Allen, who is running for U.S. Senate. The district stretches along the Maine coast from Kittery to Camden. Asen said he invites visitors, who may find it especially pleasant in the summer: “It’s a very good district for campaign volunteer tourism.”

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 11:20 AM | Permalink

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