The Point
A Communications and Public Policy Specialist

“In working for the Governor for six years, my job was to communicate and manage in a crisis – from forest fires to disaster relief to personnel scandals. I learned to translate budget documents and complex legislation, litigation or policy initiatives into language and stories that the public would understand and support. This meant looking at issues from all sides, marshalling your best arguments and building third-party support for your ideas. It meant working with the Oregon news media every day; being responsive, open and accurate. To me, effective public affairs is aligning your clients interests and objectives with the public interest – so that decision-makers can embrace and champion their ideas.”

Anna Richter Taylor has spent her career in communications, public policy and politics from the White House in Washington, D.C. to the State Capitol in Salem, Oregon. In addition to executive office, Taylor has worked on several political campaigns, been involved in coalition building and issue advocacy.

Anna has experience in both crisis management and response, in addition to long-term communications strategy and public policy development. Anna served as a senior advisor and communications director to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski from 2004-2011, where she also served on his reelection campaign in 2006 as communications director and strategist.

Prior to joining Governor Kulongoski’s staff, Taylor served as a speechwriter for Oregon’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction and as communications director for the Democratic Party of Oregon. Before moving to Oregon in 2001, Taylor started her political and communications career in the White House Domestic Policy Council under the Clinton-Gore Administration, where she helped coordinate communications and events for the President and Vice-President.

A native of Georgia, Anna graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in Speech Communications, where she focused on political rhetoric. Anna is a principal in the Portland office of Gallatin Public Affairs and is a member of the Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Crisis Communications, Research and Public Opinion and Issue and Grassroots Advocacy practice groups.

Expertise                                       Background

Message development/               Senior Advisor and
speechwriting                                Communications Director,
                                                          Oregon Governor Ted Kulogoski
Media relations
                                                         Speechwriting, Governor and
Political strategy                           Oregon State Superintendent
                                                         of Public Instruction
Crisis communication
                                                         White House Domestic Policy
Public events                                 Council, Clinton-Gore
                                               
Policy development                     Administration
                                                        Communications Strategist
                                                        Statewide Campaigns

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