Union Leader - John DiStaso's Granite Status: Moore to head AFP-NH as Lewandowski moves up to regional role
FRIDAY, MARCH 1: AFP: LEWANDOWSKI PROMOTED, MOORE JOINS. The Granite Status has learned of major developments involving the conservative, free-market issues advocacy group Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire, which has been a key player in State House and state elective politics for the past several years.
Greg Moore of Manchester, the former chief of staff to the New Hampshire House under former speaker Bill O’Brien, has been hired as the new state director of AFP-New Hampshire.
At the same time, Corey Lewandowski of Windham, who founded the chapter more than four years ago, has been promoted from state director to regional director, overseeing the group’s activities in 25 states east of the Mississippi River.
Both told us they are excited about the moves and hope to continue to build the group’s influence statewide and nationally.
Lewandowski said his post will be in “very capable hands. Greg knows legislation and the players phenomenally well.”
Prior to serving as House chief of staff during O’Brien’s controversial tenure, Moore headed John Stephen’s campaigns for the U.S. House in 2008 and for governor in 2010.
When Stephen previously served as state Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Moore was director of public affairs and government relations for the department.
AFP says it has nearly 30,000 followers in New Hampshire who support its advocacy for the free market, limited government and lower taxes.
Moore said he has been on the advisory board since 2009, and, “I’m very familiar and comfortable with the mission of protecting the free market and expanding economic growth. We’re going to continue to work toward more limited government, lower taxation and more economic freedom.”
Lewandowski put AFP on the political map in New Hampshire. The group was founded nationally nine years ago, and he began the state chapter in 2008.
He said AFP now has paid staffers in 32 states and volunteer chapters in several others.
Under a new AFP alignment, Lewandowski will oversee operations in 25 state east of the Mississippi River, while former Kansas state director Derrick Sontag will oversee the western half of the country.
“We are working on how best to maximize our reach,” he said.
Nationally, AFP spent more than $33 million in issue advocacy independent expenditures during the 2012 election cycle, according to the nonpartisan watchdog group Center for Responsive Politics.
Lewandowski estimated the national group spent about $1 million in New Hampshire on the presidential race and AFP-NH spent a smaller amount on the governor’s race, in radio ads criticizing now-Gov. Maggie Hassan’s support for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Lewandowski said AFP-NH has focused on a wide range of issues.
It was involved in unsuccessful fights to enact right-to-work legislation and repeal the state’s participation in RGGI, but also was active in supporting the O’Brien budget and the cutting of various taxes and fees.
The state chapter also held successful “Conservative of the Year” fund-raiser dinners in recent years.
As for his new role, Lewandowski said, “It’s nice to be acknowledged for the hard work you’ve put into something.”
Leaving as state director “is like giving up a baby, but it’s going to be in very capable hands.”
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