From The Hotline for Thursday, June 18, 2009

CONSULTANT CANDID

His Future Is Bright

Thursday, June 18, 2009


David Mowery announced last month that he was opening Mowery Consulting Group, LLC, in Montgomery, AL, a full-service general campaign firm. Mowery managed now-Rep. Bobby Bright's (D-AL) '08 campaign. In addition to leading the Bright camp, Mowery also ran Todd Strange's (D) subsequent bid to replace Bright as mayor of Montgomery. But today, he is our Consultant Candid.

What was your first job?

In life -- I was a busboy at an Italian Restaurant when I was 15. In politics -- Deputy Finance Director for Governor Don Siegelman's re-election campaign (2001).

What is your proudest moment professionally?

Every win is sweet, and every defeat is bitter, so to pick one win over the other is obviously very hard. I have had the honor to work with so many amazing people that I am going to be selfish and say that the outpouring of support and the coverage of the recent company launch has been a great affirmation of the work I have done for all of those candidates.

If you could be in any other line of work, what would it be?

Something where people thought my opinion mattered, like a columnist, radio show or TV host.

Of what campaign (past, present or future) would you most like to be a part?

(Past) McCain 2000, but my twin obsessions of LBJ and Nixon make the run up to 1968 one of the more fascinating times in recent American political history.

What individual who does your kind of work for the other party do you respect the most, and why?

Locally, I have to say that my friends Dan Morris (former Reagan White House operative) and Phillip Bryan, AL GOP spokesman, are the types of guys who know that you can leave it all out there on the field and still break bread or have a beer together. They come at their beliefs with true conviction, but do not begrudge me mine.

Negative campaigning -- good or bad?

Necessary. I will say that over the past few campaigns, though, I have become a believer in "making your case." The voters need to know that you are the right person for the job.

What one event in a candidate's past would pose the biggest problem in a campaign?

I think arrests are always bad. I worked a campaign in 2002 (Walker for Congress GA-12) where the other side made an ad of our campaign headshot morphing into a mugshot. The campaign was over that day.

What is your favorite restaurant to meet clients?

(tie) Nancy Patterson's and Jubilee Seafood in Montgomery.

What is the first section of the newspaper you read?

I read two clips services in state, and scan the front pages of the Washington Post, New York Times and Atlanta Journal Constitution.

If you could only watch one TV news show, what would it be?

Hardball. (One year ago the answer would have been Meet the Press)

A question from last week's Candid participant, Republican State Leadership Cmte Pres. Scott Ward: What is your favorite social media application and who uses it the best?

Facebook. I think people are still trying to learn the best application of it, but it is a very quick and easy way to keep people informed. Feel free to add me.

Please pose a question for the next interviewee.

Will television ever be replaced as the number-one campaign communication tool? If so, by what?