Romney eyes press secretary candidate
Former Bush aide could get nod
Governor Mitt Romney is strongly considering the woman who ran President Bush's 2004 New Hampshire reelection campaign as his next press secretary, as he looks for a replacement for longtime spokeswoman Shawn Feddeman, aides and Republican operatives said yesterday.
Julie Teer, a 29-year-old who was Bush's spokeswoman during the 2004 presidential campaign in the Granite State, has spent much of the past decade speaking on behalf of Republican senators in Washington. She has worked for former US senator Spencer Abraham of Michigan, the Senate Republican Conference under Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, and later for Senator John E. Sununu of New Hampshire.
The governor's office announced yesterday that Feddeman would be leaving soon to work in the private sector. Feddeman intends to stay until her replacement starts.
Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's communications director, said yesterday that the administration is in talks with Teer, as well as others whom he did not name. He said the governor was not ready to announce who will ultimately take Feddeman's place. ''We've talked to some people, including Julie, but we don't have an announcement to make at this point."
The Union Leader of New Hampshire reported last month that Romney's aides and Teer were in talks. At that time, Fehrnstrom said, ''We have spoken with Julie and we think she'd make a great addition to the team."
Teer could not be reached for comment, but told the Union Leader in March that she is also considering posts in the Bush administration or with Santorum again.
Romney, who has said he plans to seek reelection next year, is also testing the waters for a possible presidential run in 2008. Last year, a group of supporters formed a series of federal and state political action committees that pumped more than $250,000 into the campaign coffers of Republican candidates and committees in key states such as South Carolina, Iowa, and Michigan. In addition, Romney has published a book about his turnaround of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and more recently has spoken to Republican political groups in several states.
Warren Henderson, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Committee and a former colleague of Teer's, said ''she was among the most competent, aggressive, thorough, enthusiastic political operatives that I've ever worked with."
''She's certainly top flight," Henderson said. ''Her skill set is certainly substantial in communications and media relations, but it goes beyond that. Very good organizer, very savvy about politics, a very quick study."
Feddeman, spokeswoman for the last three Massachusetts governors, informed Romney in mid-January that she was looking to diversify her resume after nearly a decade serving Republican governors of Massachusetts.
The 31-year old press secretary and former Republican campaigner has been one of the few constants in the executive office suite of the State House, having worked for the US Senate campaign of William F. Weld against Democrat John F. Kerry in 1996 and then in the press office of Republican governors Paul Cellucci, Jane Swift, and now Romney. The Holy Cross graduate said that, after roughly a decade in Massachusetts politics, it was time to seek ''other opportunities."
''It's time for me to take the skills I've learned in the governor's office and apply them to the private sector," Feddeman said.
A native of the Washington area, Feddeman said she intends to continue her career in Massachusetts.
''Shawn has been a tremendous asset to the administration," Fehrnstrom said. ''The governor is sad to see her go, but we all understand she's been in government for a long time and wants to try something new. It's a natural progression."
In August 2003, Feddeman was featured in the cable television show ''While You Were Out," which surprises unsuspecting people by renovating and redecorating their homes and offices. After the show fixed up Feddeman's State House office, she was so pleased, she exclaimed, ''I'm going to have to stay forever." 