Schwarzenegger picks new communications director

Gov. Schwarzenegger has tapped Adam Mendelsohn to be his new communications director. Mendelsohn will replace Rob Stutzman, who is moving off state payroll to work for the governor’s reelection campaign.

Mendelsohn will be coming back to California from Washington D.C., where he served as a vice president for the Washington-based public relations firm DCI Group. He also served as communications director for Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who is currently running for Texas governor.

His California political resume includes stints with moderate Republicans Steve Kuykendall, Matt Fong and Bruce McPherson. He also worked Lamar Alexander’s bid for president in 2000.

Stutzman’s new duties at Schwarzenegger’s reelection campaign have not yet been spelled out, and the campaign’s top official, the chairman, has not yet been named.

Look for more details in the next issue of Capitol Weekly.

[I]Eds: Capitol Weekly reported incorrectly earlier today that Stutzman will be “running” the governor’s reelection campaign.[/I]