Public Campaign and Public Campaign Action Fund add Two Veteran Political Strategists

Washington, D.C.—National nonpartisan money and politics watchdogs Public Campaign and Public Campaign Action Fund announced the addition of two veteran political strategists to their Washington, D.C.-based teams—longtime Iowa Citizen Action Network Executive Director Betty Ahrens and Jeff Robinson, most recently National Field Director for Social Security Works.

Ahrens will serve as the Vice President for Outreach and Operations for Public Campaign, leading the organization’s DC office and overseeing outreach efforts to our national allies. Robinson will serve as the Political Director for Public Campaign Action Fund (PCAF), a new position in the organization. Robinson will play an integral role in its efforts, as reported last week by the Washington Post, to advise organizations on how best to integrate a big money spotlight into their communications and organizing work, as well as in the organization’s 2012 electoral work.

“Bringing Betty to Washington, D.C. strengthens what we are at our core—an organization dedicated to raising up the voice of everyday Americans,” said Nick Nyhart, president and CEO at Public Campaign. “As a community leader from Iowa, she comes to us with hands-on political savvy, brings strong ties to state organizations across the country, and will add her extensive talent in building relationships across diverse constituencies.”

“Jeff brings three decades of experience to Public Campaign Action Fund, having worked on ballot measures, for candidates, and at leading national organizations,” said David Donnelly, national campaigns director for Public Campaign Action Fund. “He’ll play a central role in carrying out our ambitious program to build a broader indictment of the pay-to-play system and to hold politicians accountable for their actions on behalf of campaign donors.”

Bio for Betty Ahrens
Betty Ahrens is the Vice-President for Outreach and Operations, and is responsible for managing Public Campaign’s organizational relationships and overseeing its internal operations. Prior to joining Public Campaign in 2011, Betty served as the Executive Director of the Iowa Citizen Action Network for nine years where she led the organization’s successful campaigns on Election Day Registration, statewide health care reform, and civic engagement, including registering over 13,000 new voters in disadvantaged communities. From 1999 to 2001, Betty served as the Midwest states regional field organizer for Public Campaign. She graduated with honors from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1992. She and her husband Nathan are the proud parents of two wonderful school-age daughters, Rachel and Abby.

Bio for Jeff Robinson
Jeff Robinson is the Political Director for Public Campaign Action Fund and is responsible for implementing the organization’s broad, multi-issue, national accountability program. Prior to joining Public Campaign Action Fund, Jeff served as the National Field Director for Social Security Works where he developed a multi-platform field campaign, including communications, polling, coalition-building, and organizing in ten states. He has also served as the National Executive Director of Neighbor to Neighbor, Jeff established the organization as a leading multi-issue advocacy organization that provided organizers in more than 40 congressional races in 22 states, and as National Deputy Political Director/Campaigns and Elections for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.