Agenda

 Welcome 

Ocean County Democratic Chairman Wyatt Earp and Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal will welcome the audience.

Your Database – Who you know and how to reach them
Speaker: Marta Harrison

Marta Harrison is former Mayor of Lakewood and the current vice chair of the Ocean County Democrats. Her understanding of both politics and technology is a key component in her ability to help candidates win in heavily Republican areas including Lakewood, Brick, Jackson, Stafford, South Toms River and Barnegat.   She has extensive experience in combining technology and direct personal contact to drive fund raising and build a campaign team.

Winning in Republican Strongholds - A Conversation
Speakers: Brick Township Mayor John Ducey & Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik

Mayor John Ducey was elected Mayor of Brick Township in November of 2013 with 61% of the vote, the same year Governor Chris Christie won the town with 75% of the vote. He previously served on the City Council in 2012 and 2013 in the role of Council President. Brick is all Democratic now with John’s leadership. Mayor Jon Hornik was elected Mayor of Marlboro Township in 2007 and re-elected in 2011 with more than 65% of the vote. He convinced two of the Republican councilmembers to switch their registrations to Democrat to join him. The town is heavily Republican with Steve Lonegan and Chris Christie winning the towns in their respective races. Mayors Ducey and Hornik will discuss how they are so successful in towns with a larger GOP voter registration than Democrats.

Advice to Local Candidates - Communicating and Messaging, the Do’s and Dont’s of Local Politics
Speaker: Steve Ayscue

Steve Ayscue is a top corporate and political strategist. Steve advises the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Democratic Caucuses, and the Democratic Party in Southern New Jersey. He has advised numerous winning campaigns for federal, state, county, and municipal offices, including U.S. Senator Cory A. Booker, U.S. Rep. William J. Pascrell, Jr., U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews, the late U.S. Rep. John H. Adler, Gov. Jim Florio, NJ Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. He is also an adjunct professor of political science and urban studies at Rutgers University, Camden.

Social Media
Speaker: Marshall Spevak

Marshall Spevak is currently Deputy Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, who beat a Republican incumbent in a year where Governor Chris Christie was re-elected (2013). Marshall previously worked as Social Media Director for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee and also worked for Kennedy Communications. He is an officer in the South Jersey Young Democrats organization.


Communications and Talking to Local Press
Speaker: Paul Brubaker

Paul Brubaker, a former high school social studies teacher who previously covered 
politics for the Star-Ledger, the Herald News and the Montclair Times, is one of New Jersey’s top political operatives in communications and messaging. Paul served previously as Communications Director to U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., managed Essex County Freeholder Brendan Gill's 2011 campaign, and served as Communications Director for Senator Robert Menendez's successful 2012 US Senate race. He is currently State Director to the office of US Senator Bob Menendez.

Fundraising & Building a Finance Plan
Instructor to be Named.

Building a Finance Plan – how much you need to raise and how you’re going to do it. The focus is to provide participants with traditional and outside of the box ideas to raise enough money to fund their campaign.  The discussion will include how to put together fundraising lists, how to organize an event and keep costs low.


Field, Targeting and Getting Out the Vote
Speaker: Mitch Seim

Mitch Seim got his start in politics working as a field organizer on John Adler’s successful 2008 congressional campaign. Prior to entering politics, he worked in science and academia. Mitch holds a PhD. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Kansas. He advised the strategy on the successful county chair’s elections of Vin Gopal and Wyatt Earp in 2012. He was also the general consultant for John Ducey’s successful election as Mayor of Brick Township in 2013 and was recognized by PolitickerNJ.com as one of the top Democratic operatives in the state in their year-end wrap-up.


CANDIDATE PHOTOS
We will be providing free, professional photos and head shots by Mario Marcal Studio for all candidates. The Monmouth and Ocean County Dems Staff will be available to speak to candidates afterwards.