Stakem joins Chafin's campaign as finance director

CHARLESTON -- Karen Stakem, former campaign Deputy Finance Director for U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, has joined Tish Chafin's state Supreme Court campaign as Finance Director.

"Tish Chafin is deeply committed to serving her community and her state. I have no doubt she will work hard serving the people of West Virginia as a Supreme Court Justice," Stakem said. "I am excited to be part of the team that will elect Tish Chafin to the Supreme Court."

Stakem served as lead staff for U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. In addition, she implemented the New Millennium Committee for Rockefeller's 2002 re-election.

Stakem is currently a member of The Goodwin Group, directing public affairs efforts for a wide range of clients, both in the private and public sectors. Prior to joining The Goodwin Group in 2004, Stakem worked at WeberMcGinn, a leading global strategic communications firm located in Arlington, Va.

Stakem serves on the boards of the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, West Virginia Humanities Council and is the past board President for the YWCA-Wheeling. She graduated from West Virginia University with a B.S. in Political Science and a Master's in Public Administration.

"Karen brings a great deal of expertise to the campaign and I am thrilled to have her on board," Chafin stated. "Again, I am confident we have formed a team of highly talented and experienced campaign professionals unmatched anywhere in the state."

Chafin's current campaign team includes the Honorable W. Kent Carper as campaign committee chair; Oshel Craigo chairs the fundraising committee; Anthony Majestro serves as the campaign attorney; Chuck Smith serves as campaign treasurer; Cindy Majestro serves as the campaign manager; and Frederick Yang, partner at Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group, serves as pollster.