The Campaign Excellence Awards are a longstanding tradition of the AAPC and recognize those individuals who have significantly contributed to the success of a candidate or public affairs campaign and whose conduct has been consistent with the professional code of ethics of the AAPC. In 2013, we received 135 nominations in 15 categories from the AAPC membership and political consulting community at large. Each nomination was vetted by an Independent Panel of Judges and recommendations were voted upon and confirmed by the AAPC Board of Directors. AAPC salutes the 2013 AAPC Campaign Excellence Award Winners!
Best Use of New Technology (tie)
NGP VAN
Elizabeth Warren for Senate – Social Organizing
iModerate & Catalist
Development of Voter Insider
Campaign Manager of the Year – Democrat
Tessa Gould
Heidi Heitkamp for Senate, 2012 North Dakota Senate Race
Campaign Manager of the Year – Republican
Keith Gilkes, Champion Group
Friends of Scott Walker, 2012 Recall
Campaign Manager of the Year – Independent Expenditure
Heather Stone and Sylvia Ruiz, SEIU COPE
2012 Presidential Hispanic IE campaign to re-elect Barack Obama
Campaign Strategist of the Year – Democrat
Jim Messina
Obama 2012
Campaign Strategist of the Year – Republican
Brian Tringali and BJ Martino, The Tarrance Group
Scott Walker Recall
Fundraiser of the Year – Democrat
Digital Fundraising Team
Obama for America 2012
International Campaign of the Year
The Mellman Group, Yair Lapid
Yesh Atid – The Journey of One Reporter Who Changed the Face of Israeli Politics
Local Campaign Manager of the Year – Republican
Chad Crow, KC Strategies
Jana Duty for Williamson County, Texas District Attorney
Most Valuable Player of the Year – Democrat
Mark Putnam, Putnam Partners
2012 North Dakota Senate Race, Heidi Heitkamp
Most Valuable Player of the Year – Republican
Mike Shields
National Republican Congressional Committee
Pollster of the Year – Democrat
The Mellman Group
Pollster of the Year – Republican
Glen Bolger, Public Opinion Strategies
Protecting Michigan Taxpayers
Rookie of the Year – Republican
James Barnes, Campaign Solutions
Pro Bono Campaign of the Year
Kurt Snow, Matt Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Gateway Media
“Mahalia, a Gospel Musical”
Public Affairs/Advocacy Campaign of the Year
Goddard Gunster Inc.
New Yorkers for Beverage Choices
Ballot Initiative Campaign of the Year
The Mellman Group, Sara Rayme, MGM Resorts International, Tom Russell, Craig Varoga, GMMB, Mike Muir, Ambrosino Muir and Hansen, John Jameson, Winning Connections
Special Pollie For Fostering Democracy – Non-Partisan
Tyler Harber, Harden Global
Work in Ukraine, Iraq, Libya, Egypt & Tunisia
AAPC Industry Service Award
Melanie Rodriguez and Daniel Marquez, Marketing Politico en la Red
MPR