Attorney General Sorrell announces campaign team

Attorney General Bill Sorrell announced today the campaign team that will assist him in his bid for an eighth term as Vermontâ s Attorney General.
Sorrell is facing a rare Democratic primary challenge from Chittenden County State's Attorney TJ Donovan (STORY).
â It has been a great honor to serve the people of Vermont as Attorney General for 15 years. I look forward to the opportunity to talk with Vermonters about my record and the priorities I have for my next term,’said Sorrell.
â I have assembled a terrific team with a blend of experience, energy and youth to help me bring my message to every corner of Vermont and win this election.’
Richard Watts and Kate Oâ Connor will serve as senior political advisors to the campaign. Watts managed gubernatorial campaigns for Peter Welch and Howard Dean and ran a Vermont-based strategic consulting business. He is currently a communications and policy researcher at the University of Vermont. Oâ Connor served as a policy and political advisor to Howard Dean during his years as governor and throughout his presidential campaign.
Senator Claire Ayer will serve as the campaignâ s Treasurer. First elected to the Vermont Senate in 2002, Senator Ayer serves as Chair of the Health and Welfare Committee and Vice Chair of the Government Operations Committee. Senator Ayer previously served as Majority Whip of the Vermont Senate.
â Bill is one of the greatest public servants in Vermontâ s history. Bill has a remarkable record of standing up to powerful out-of-state corporations; especially when the interests of everyday Vermonters are at stake.’said Senator Ayer.
Mike Pieciak, a native of Brattleboro and an attorney at the Burlington office of Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, will serve as Campaign Manager. Mike graduated from Union College in 2006 with honors in political science and graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 2009 where he served as Editor in Chief of the Miami Law Review. After law school, Mike joined the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom working in their corporate restructuring group and later clerked in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida before returning home to Vermont. During the 2008 election, Mike served as a Vermont delegate to the 2008 Democratic Convention and Florida Voting Rights Coordinator for the National Democratic Law Students Council.
Taylor Bates, a native of Williston will serve as Director of Finance and Communication. Taylor attended Champlain Valley Union HS and Tufts University. Taylor got his start working as a fundraising assistant for Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markeyâ s campaign, and more recently worked for the Center for American Progress development team, Senator Patrick Leahyâ s Washington, DC office, and the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. He is also working as a Generation 44 fundraiser for the Obama campaign. In the fall, Taylor plans to begin his legal studies at Harvard Law School.
Will Bedford-Sutro, a senior at the University of Vermont will serve as Field Coordinator. Will has extensive field organizing experience, having worked for the Solar Energy Industry Association in Washington D.C. and the Sierra Club assisting their grassroots programs. More recently, Will has worked with the Vermont Democratic Party and the Miro for Mayor campaign on voter outreach initiatives. He also serves as the treasurer of both the Young Democrats of Vermont and the University of Vermont College Democrats.
Sorrell Campaign 5.7.2012