Woolson takes the reigns

Eric Woolson has a long history in Iowa politics.  Woolson is a former Waterloo Courier political reporter who served as the Courier’s editorial page editor.  He was the press secretary for Joe Biden’s aborted 1988 presidential campaign in Iowa and then reentered the field of journalism, back at the Courier.  He was a press secretary for Governor Terry Branstad, notable in this context because Branstad is running for governor again.  Woolson also served as campaign manager for Mike Huckabee’s 2008 presidential campaign in Iowa.

Woolson has been a long-time advisor to Bob Vander Plaats.  Woolson worked on BVP’s first bid for governor, in 2002, before Woolson left to work for former Branstad colleague Doug Gross’ campaign for governor.  Woolson has been advising BVP on his third bid for governor and a news release issued this morning indicates Woolson will be BVP2010’s campaign manager.  Read the release below.

WOOLSON ASSUMES CAMPAIGN MANAGER ROLE
FOR TEAM VANDER PLAATS 2010
 
 DES MOINES – Iowa political veteran Eric Woolson, who managed Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign to victory in the 2008 precinct caucuses, has taken on the role of campaign manager for Sioux City GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats.
 
 “Eric Woolson has a record of results – and that’s exactly what we expect of him as he assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operations and success of this campaign,” Vander Plaats said today. “The foundation for a winning campaign has been set through much hard work and diligence by our team in 2009. We now look to Eric to successfully lead us over the finish line on June 8. He’s the right person at the right time.” 
 
 Woolson has been a leader in the fields of journalism, politics and public relations in Iowa for more than three decades. He was Gov. Terry Branstad’s communications director and press secretary during Branstad’s final term in office. He served as Iowa communications director to George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign and was the communications director for the Doug Gross for Governor campaign in 2002.  

 Woolson, a Norfolk, Va., native who has lived in Iowa since 1972, was also a member of the Iowa press corps for 20 years.  He started his newspaper career in Boone in 1976 and worked for newspapers in Madrid, Guthrie Center, Webster City and Keokuk before joining United Press International in 1983. He wrote for the Waterloo Courier for 11 years, including nine as its political reporter/columnist and two years as its editorial page editor.

In 2002, he founded The Concept Works, a West Des Moines firm that provides public and government relations counsel, marketing services and crisis management for corporate, political and individual clients.