Lieberman Calls on New Communications Director
Throughout her career in Democratic politics, Casey Aden-Wansbury has demonstrated a knack for crafting a persuasive message. The 1998 honors graduate of Smith College now gets a chance to showcase her talents as the new communications director for Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.).
Aden-Wansbury, 29, Lieberman’s press secretary for the past two years, has had no shortage of opportunities to refine her communications skills. After earning a degree in government at Smith, she moved on to stints with the Democratic National Committee, where she served as deputy press secretary for the 2000 presidential campaign, and with Democratic strategy groups Podesta Associates and Simon Strategies, where she worked on a range of telecommunications, technology and entertainment issues.
A native of Eureka, Calif., Aden-Wansbury has also lent her skills to Lieberman’s presidential campaign, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Ohio Democratic Coordinated Campaign. In her new post, she
will help develop Lieberman’s message strategy and manage his communications operation.
About her boss and her promotion, Aden-Wansbury said, “I have been honored to work for Sen. Lieberman, a leader I deeply respect and admire, for what has been an exciting four years and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead his communications team.”
Lieberman calls Aden-Wansbury’s promotion well-deserved. In a statement, he said, “Casey has been my spokeswoman and an integral part of my communications team for the past four years and she brings a wealth of Senate, campaign and private sector experience, as well as a thorough understanding of my priorities.”
Aden-Wansbury replaces Matt Gobush, a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, who is leaving the Hill to become manager of executive communications for ExxonMobil Corp. Gobush has held numerous positions around Washington. From 2001 to 2003, he was the communications director for the Democratic staff of the House International Relations Committee, and since 2002, he has also served as the press secretary for Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.). No stranger to presidential politics, Gobush served in senior communications positions with the White House National Security Council from 1998 to 2000. He then joined Al Gore’s campaign as a national security spokesman and speechwriter during the then-vice president’s 2000 presidential bid.
“For the past two years,” said Lieberman, “Matt Gobush has not only quite ably led my communications team, he has been a trusted adviser on the defense and foreign policy issues that comprise a core part of my work in the Senate.” Gobush said he feels “honored to have worked for someone who serves his constituents with such honor and integrity. I leave here proud of what we’ve accomplished, and confident that under Casey’s leadership the communications office will function better than ever.”
Aden-Wansbury’s promotion opened up the press secretary position for Rob Sawicki, Lieberman’s deputy press secretary since 2003 and a member of his staff since 1999. Sawicki, 30, hails from Fairfield, Conn. He graduated from Sacred Heart University in 1997. In his new role, he will assume responsibility for facilitating day-to-day contact with Connecticut and national media personalities.
“I could not be more pleased to have Rob as my spokesman,” said Lieberman. “For the past six years, he has served my office very ably in a number of different roles, and I have no doubt he will continue to excel in his new role.” Sawicki said he feels “truly privileged to have been able to spend the past six years working for Senator Lieberman” and is “thrilled that he has afforded me the opportunity to be his spokesman.”