As Republican businesswoman Carly Fiorina appears headed toward a formal presidential candidacy, she has tapped a top state operative to head the New Hampshire arm of her political action committee.
Kerry Marsh, who has been involved in many Republican campaigns and with the Republican State Committee, has been named state director of Carly for America, the New Hampshire Journal has learned.
Just last week, the New Hampshire Journal first reported that Tom Szold, the former campaign manager for 2014 2nd District U.S. House candidate Marilinda Garcia, had been named Carly for America’s national political director.
Fiorina has made many contacts in New Hampshire over the past year through her Unlocking Potential PAC, which was set up to encourage conservative women to become active in politics. Marsh worked closely with the “UP” Project last year.
The Carly for America Super PAC is the likely forerunner to a Fiorina presidential campaign committee.
Marsh is a former staffer at the New Hampshire House of Representatives’ Republican office, a past Chairman of the New Hampshire Young Republicans and has been named one of the Top 40 New Hampshire Republicans by Campaigns and Elections magazine. One of her first campaigns was as deputy field director for Bruce Keough’s campaign for governor in 2001 and 2002. In the last presidential cycle, Marsh was New Hampshire state director for former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign from August 2011 to January 2012.
She is an associate in the Political Division of Spectrum Marketing Companies in Manchester, having worked there for nearly 10 years. Carly for America said Marsh has “unmatched experience in messaging and implanting direct mail strategies for down-ballot Republican races and issue campaigns.”
“I’m excited to join Carly for America because Carly has the ability to unite our party and the vision and leadership to unlock our nation’s potential,” Marsh said. “She is an exciting potential candidate with a strong background in taking on big bureaucracies and inspiring change.”
Former NHGOP executive director Steve DeMaura, who is now executive director of Carly for America, said, “As we work to build a true New Hampshire effort based on person-to-person, town-to-town campaigning, there is no better person to lead that effort than Kerry Marsh. She has worked in the trenches at all levels of New Hampshire politics. She has unparalleled on-the-ground experience. We are grateful to have her on the team as we promote pro-growth policies that will unlock the potential of this nation and individuals.”
Marsh is currently the chairman of the Concord City Republican Committee. The city committee’s bylaws do not require officers to step down if they actively support a candidate in a primary, but they do require “a letter of disclosure” be sent to the members.
The bylaws also forbid an officer of the city GOP to use his or her position to promote a candidate during the primary season.
Marsh said she will not use her position as chair to promote Fiorina, and, “In keeping with our bylaws, and our members’ support, I’ll continue my service as chairman of the Concord GOP.”
