Top NRSC Staff Teaming Up at Vegas Firm
The senior operatives of Sen. John Ensigns (Nev.) National Republican Senatorial Committee are returning to Las Vegas and relaunching their firm, November Inc.
Political Director Mike Slanker and his wife, Finance Director Lindsey Slanker, are being joined at November Inc. by Scott Bensing, the NRSCs outgoing executive director. Bensing served as Ensigns chief of staff in his personal office until late 2006, when he transitioned to the campaign committee.
The Slankers and Bensing will be partners in the firm. The Slankers put the company on ice after the 2006 cycle to run the NRSC for Ensign during the 2008 cycle.
Bensing is a new addition to November Inc., and will help the firm expand into federal governmental affairs. November Inc. previously provided political and fundraising consulting, specializing in servicing clients in the West.
In addition to adding Bensing as a partner, November Inc. is hiring three other NRSC staffers.
Among them are Kate Szafran, who served as Majority Makers director and formerly worked at the Republican Governors Association and the Republican National Committee, Jess Welter, who worked in the fundraising department and before that for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romneys presidential campaign, and Stan Olshefski, the chief Internet strategist at the NRSC.
Doug Hampton, the former administrative assistant to Ensign and a former executive at Sierra Pacific Resources, will remain as counsel to November Inc.
November Inc. will also be opening a Reno, Nev., office.