State Rep. Chuck DeVore is seeking a new press secretary. Why? I have no idea because the man is his own best press secretary.
Here’s the job description:
The Press Secretary will be responsible for managing the day-to-day media outreach needs of the Assemblyman and for providing multimedia support to the Web operations. This is a full-time position and the employee reports to the Chief of Staff. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in political communications.Â
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Skills and Qualifications
Candidate must be an organized, dependable self-starter with a careful attention to detail and the ability to multi-task and work efficiently under tight deadlines. It is critical that the employee embrace both glitzy and mundane tasks with equal gusto and attention.
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The job requires an avid interest in online, broadcast and print advocacy. Strong writing and text editing skills are also required. One to three years multimedia experience is strongly preferred, including experience with basic video/audio editing. Experience in media editing software would be great, including programs such as Final Cut Express, iMovie, Audacity, Garage Band, PhotoShop, and Illustrator.
Minimum requirements include a Bachelors degree in PR, journalism or related emphasis, basic multimedia experience, and a desire to work with diverse groups of people (ed note ?????). Experience in government, legislation and/or political campaigns is prefered.  Â
Job Location
State Capitol, Sacramento, also some travel
Compensation
TBD depending on experience with full medical, dental and vision benefits.
The downside; he’s termed out in 2010, so its a 2 year position. Other requirements must include the ability to discriminate against gays and lesbians seeking the same rights as everyone else, and a favorable review of “China Attacks.”Â
All applications should be directed to Chuck’s Chief of Staff.
An Update: I first received word of this posting via an email sent to a professional services group I belong to; no sooner than I finished the email, when I discovered three forwards to me from other liek-minded professionals who know I blog here and share my political views in opposition to the Assemblyman. Two of the emails encouraged me to apply ;). My decision to post this information was simple. If I wasn’t part of the group and had received these tips in the mail, would I post it? The answer is yes. And state staff jobs are part of the open government that Chuck likes so much. I am protecting my sources on the emails. But seriously, I question why Chuck even needs a press secretary when he’s all over the press himself and is, and I mean this seriously, a talented communications professional who could easily earn more in the private sector than as an Assemblyman. I don’t dislike Chuck personally; he’s practically a neighbor and on big picture things of family, friends, values, we generally agree. It’s his politics I don’t care for. So good luck to the person who has to carry his water during the Prop 8 debate. I couldn’t.
I know what this press secretary’s main duty will be – to slap Chuck’s hand every time he starts blogging on the job.
Hyper sensitive members from that unnamed “professional services group” took great exception to your post Dan. I also read that they bounced you out of the group. I never got that memo about members can’t blog about what they read in a public group forum. Did you? Good luck enforcing a rule like that in court. But I digress. My comment is this – we OClibs have a tough time pointing out the inconvenient truths of the conservative agenda in our own neighborhood which has oft included work and play, and now (apparently) includes once sanctified professional cloisters where information is supposed to flow freely. Moreover, the notion that some posts are “embargoed” is especially perplexing among members who are PR practitioners qua journalists. First amendment be damned I suppose. The question for me now is do I quit a useful forum for my own political agenda or do I turn the other cheek and watch closely as they churn? What’s you take?
Well, this post was about a state job paid for with taxpayer dollars. I’m told other members of the group have posted this job on other listings or websites. The difference was they sought permission and I did not (the taxpayer-funding of said position and Chuck’s promotion of “open government” strike me as a prevailing issue in deciding to post).
I don’t believe my trespass was worse than someone who recently sought an “open” reference check on a job applicant when that person’s supervisor might have been a member of our group. So if that person got to stay, while I didn’t, I will leave to others to decide.
This all said; its a great group run by smart and talented people. I have been a member for more than 8 years and have not taken advantage of all that it offers. I don’t know believe it will negatively impact me or my clients since most are outside of OC. My advice for friends who emailed me Saturday night was “stay.” It’s a Yahoo Group. And they are entitled to decide who can be a member and who can’t be. We left it as a “agree to disagree.”