Democratic media consultants Tad Devine and Julian Mulvey have joined forces and are in the process of forming Devine Mulvey, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that will specialize in creating and producing television ads for Democratic candidates.

“We’re going to work together,” Devine confirmed in an interview Wednesday, adding that the firm is slated to officially launch this fall. [IMGCAP(1)]

He and Mulvey just completed a consulting gig for a candidate in the Irish election — their client won — but Devine declined to reveal who are among the new company’s U.S. clients.

Devine is a longtime veteran of high-profile Democratic presidential and Senate races and previously was partners with fellow Democratic consultants Bob Shrum and Michael Donilon in the firm Shrum, Devine & Donilon. Shrum ultimately left that firm, with Devine and Donilon remaining as a two-man team until their partnership dissolved earlier this year.

Mulvey ran his own shop, the Julian Mulvey Group, working for such victorious 2006 Democratic candidates as Rep. Christopher Carney (Pa.).

It’s a Gas. Former Rep. Chris John (D-La.), who has spent more than a year as a Washington, D.C., lobbyist with Ogilvy Government Relations, is severing his D.C. ties and moving back to Louisiana — perhaps setting himself up to run again for office.

John is taking a position as head of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.

But his move is fueling speculation that he is looking to run again for office in the Pelican State. Before joining Ogilvy, John was a lobbyist with Arent Fox.

In 2004 he lost a Senate race to David Vitter (R-La.), who is embroiled in a scandal after revealing he was a client of the D.C. Madam’s escort service.

Several sources said John has been eyeing the Senate as well as his home state’s gubernatorial job.

John could not be reached for comment, but he said in a statement released by Ogilvy that “having the chance to be the president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association is an incredible opportunity to work in Louisiana in an industry so vital to the state’s economy.”

In the same statement, firm founder Stewart Hall said John’s lobbying colleagues “are very saddened to see Congressman John leave.” When John joined the firm, he was one of only two Democrats at the previously all-GOP shop, formerly known as the Federalist Group.

The Company. Take’08 Events Unlimited, a one-stop planning company working with groups wishing to maximize their attendance at the 2008 Republican presidential nominating convention, today announced the addition of the firm Greener and Hook to its team.

Take’08 is being run by partners Erich Mische, Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R-Minn.) former chief of staff, and Monica Notzon, the founder of the Bellwether Group, a Republican fundraising and consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.

Greener and Hook offers Take’08 the expertise of Republican consultants William Greener III, Michael Hook and Ed Brookover.

Greener was the convention manager for the 1996 Republican National Convention held in San Diego. Hook was the assistant convention manager for that event, handling the convention’s government relations activities.

Brookover previously has run the national political operations of the three national Republican campaign committees, including the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, in addition to a stint as executive director of the Ohio Republican Party.

The 2008 Republican National Convention is scheduled to be held in St. Paul, Minn., Sept. 1-4.

I Like Texas, Ain’t It Fine Here. Talmadge Heflin has been named executive director of the Texas Republican Party and should have his hands full this cycle as the GOP works to protect Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and retake the 22nd and 23rd Congressional districts.

Heflin served in the Texas Legislature from 1983 to 2004, including a stint as the chairman of the Texas House Appropriations Committee. He currently serves as a visiting research fellow at the Center for Fiscal Policy Studies at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and will continue in that capacity.

Kate Ackley contributed to this report.

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