As year ends, Casey set to leave Douglas administration
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By DANIEL BARLOW VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: December 8, 2009
MONTPELIER — Gov. James Douglas' deputy chief of staff and communications director announced Monday she would step down from her job at the end of the year as the Republican governor winds down his last term in office.
Dennise Casey will make her transition from the governor's office in Vermont to a new position with the Republican Governor's Association in Washington, D.C. She is the first high-ranking Douglas official to leave the administration since the governor announced in August that he would not seek a fifth term.
Casey, 28, started working for Douglas when she was in her senior year at the University of Vermont. She joined the election team in 2002 – when Douglas was first elected governor – and made her way up through state government and quickly into the inner circle of his office.
A native Vermonter, Casey said it wasn't necessarily the career path she first envisioned for herself, but she doesn't regret a second of it.
"I could not turn down an opportunity to help shape the state I love," Casey said Monday afternoon, reflecting back on starting with what she calls "Team Douglas." "And I got to work with a leader I wholeheartedly support."
Casey's first job with Douglas was as his state field director during the 2002 campaign. She said she jumped at the chance to join the campaign and juggled her studies at UVM with the responsibilities of the campaign trail.
Once Douglas was elected to office, Casey worked as the principal assistant in the Agency of Administration under former Secretary Charlie Smith. She then went on to become the special assistant to the governor and secretary of civil and military affairs.
When Douglas moved from policy to politics, Casey followed him. She worked on all of his four gubernatorial campaigns, including managing his races in 2006 and 2008 – a revolving door that angered political opponents.
Rep. Floyd Nease, D-Johnson, the House Majority Leader, was polite in his assessment of Casey's tenure, despite that the nature of politics often found the two of them on opposing ends of most issues.
"It's been nice having Dennise there," Nease said. "She's been approachable and agreeable, even when we disagreed."
Details of Casey's new job with the RGA, the association that works to promote and elect Republican governors across the country, will be revealed at the end of the month, according to the Washington, D.C. organization.
But one thing was clear Monday – Casey will work to elect as many Republican governors across the country as she can in 2010. She said there are 37 governor races across the county next year – with Republicans trying to hold onto 18 of them and Democrats trying to hold onto another 19.
"We're coming off of major victories in New Jersey and Virginia," Casey said. "The RGA is widely recognized as one of the most prominent national political organizations in the county. Right now we are out-fundraising our Democratic counterparts."
Casey was Douglas' third spokesperson, following the long tenure of Jason Gibbs, now the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and the short tenure of Stephen Wark, now the deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service.
Casey was also Douglas' second chief of staff, following a nearly six year tenure of Betsy Bishop, now the president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
"This is a bittersweet announcement," Douglas said in a statement. "Dennise has been an important part of my team since 2002 and she will be missed. However, I am thrilled that Dennise will continue her good work at the RGA as we gear up for an exciting 2010 election. Her intelligence and energy will be a real asset to the organization."
Casey was mum Monday on who might replace her in Douglas' office for the final year, saying the search is under way now.
daniel.barlow@rutlandherald.com
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