SHAHEEN ANNOUNCES KEY WASHINGTON STAFF ADDITIONS

(Washington, D.C.) -  U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today announced the following staff additions in her Washington, D.C. office: Michael Yudin, Legislative Director; Colleen Murray, Communications Director; and Alex Reese, Press Secretary.

“I’m pleased today to announce further members of my senior staff in our Washington, D.C. office,” said Shaheen. “Michael brings years of Senate experience and expertise in a broad range of legislative issue areas, and I’m excited he’ll be leading our legislative team as Legislative Director. Colleen and Alex will lead our outreach to the press, and together they bring years of media relations experience both on political campaigns and on Capitol Hill. They’re great additions to our team, which is already working hard to serve the people of New Hampshire.”

Information on the new staff members follows:

Michael Yudin, Legislative Director

Michael Yudin joins Senator Shaheen’s staff with nearly 20 years of policy, legal and legislative experience.  As Legislative Director, Yudin will assist Senator Shaheen in developing and promoting her legislative agenda and shaping her legislative priorities to best serve the people of New Hampshire and their interests in Washington.

Before joining the Shaheen team, Yudin served as Senior Counsel for Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), advising him on issues related to education, Social Security, children and families, and poverty, among others.  Yudin also brings considerable experience drafting and negotiating legislation under the jurisdiction of many Senate committees, including the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, of which Senator Shaheen is a member.  Yudin has previously served in the offices of Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), as well as in the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Colleen Murray, Communications Director

Colleen Murray brings to Senator Shaheen’s office significant experience in political communications and strategic messaging in the U.S. Senate and on political campaigns.  As Communications Director, Murray will manage media outreach and message development for Senator Shaheen in New Hampshire and nationally.

Murray served for several years in the press offices of a number of U.S. Senators, including Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN).  She most recently was Senior Advisor and Spokeswoman on the Al Franken for Senate campaign in Minnesota.  Prior to her post with Franken, Murray was the National Deputy Press Secretary for John Edwards’ 2008 presidential bid, also serving as the Traveling Deputy National Spokeswoman in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. 

Alex Reese, Press Secretary

Alex Reese joins Senator Shaheen’s office as Press Secretary, where he will serve as the primary liaison between New Hampshire media and Senator Shaheen and her staff.

Reese spent the last a year and a half in Manchester working as Communications Director for the New Hampshire Democratic Coordinated Campaign, and prior as New Hampshire Deputy Communications Director for John Edwards’ presidential campaign.  He is currently on leave from Stanford Law School.