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Donald Trump announces 4 new hires in Florida

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Donald Trump, who continues to dominate in all statewide polls in Florida, said Tuesday that he’s adding four more staff people to his growing campaign team in the Sunshine State.

Jennifer R. Locetta will be deputy state director, Ken Mayo has been named director of field operations, John Ross Pughe is joining as the southeast regional field director, and Craig Bachler will serve as director of coalitions.

“I have created thousands of jobs and own some of the most iconic assets in the state,” Trump said in a prepared statement. “I love the people of Florida and I am proud to have such overwhelming support and a great staff in place. I look forward to visiting often and working with my team to share my vision to make America great again.”
Trump will be returning to Florida this weekend, speaking at a campaign event Saturday in the Robarts Arena at the Sarasota Fairgrounds.
Locetta has been statewide data director for the Republican Party of Florida and worked at the Romney for President headquarters in Tampa in 2012.
Mayo worked for the American Majority in 2011, and for Americans for Prosperity as manager of field operations in Florida in 2012-2013.
Pughe has previously been director of community affairs for the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber Commerce. Before joining the chamber, he was legislative aide to State Rep. George Moraitis. He also managed Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Romney Rogers‘ municipal campaign and Representative Moraitis’ bid for state House.
 Bachler previously was Florida director of field operations for Rick Santorum for President in 2012, for Pat Buchanan for President in 1992 and 1996 in New Hampshire, and for Rick Scott in his 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
Karen Giorno is the state director for Trump in Florida, with Sarasota County Republican Executive Committee Director Joe Gruters and Susan Wiles as co-chairs.

Mitch Perry has been a reporter with Extensive Enterprises since November of 2014. Previously, he served as five years as the political editor of the alternative newsweekly Creative Loafing. He also was the assistant news director with WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa from 2000-2009, and currently hosts MidPoint, a weekly talk show, on WMNF on Thursday afternoons. He began his reporting career at KPFA radio in Berkeley. He's a San Francisco native who has now lived in Tampa for 15 years and can be reached at [email protected]

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