Roger Salazar (consultant)
Roger Salazar | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 23, 1970 |
| Education | M.A., Political Management B.A., Political Science |
| Alma mater | University of Redlands, George Washington University |
| Occupation(s) | media and crisis communications consultant |
| Spouse | Katrina Salazar |
| Website | www |
Roger Salazar is a media and crisis communications consultant based in Sacramento, California.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Salazar is well known for his work in the White House under the Clinton Administration, working on the 2000 Gore campaign and as campaign press secretary for former California Governor Gray Davis.[7][8][9]
Education[edit]
Salazar graduated from Lodi High School in 1987.[9] He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts in political science at the University of Redlands in 1991, followed by his Masters of Arts in political management at George Washington University in 1995.[10][11]
Early political career[edit]
In 1993, Salazar began his career within political media as the press secretary for U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard.[11] While finishing his Masters of Arts in political management, he began an internship in President Clinton's White House and continued in various capacities as a white house press aide until 1998.[2] Salazar served as deputy press secretary for the United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Daniel Glickman before returning to the White House as assistant press secretary until 1999.[11] He worked in Vice President Al Gore's office for a brief period and served as Gore’s deputy spokesperson during his 2000 presidential campaign.[2][11][12]
From 2000-2001 Salazar was the press aide for former California governor Gray Davis.[9][13] Salazar served as the national campaign spokesman for Senator John Edwards' presidential campaign of 2004.[11][14] In 2008, Salazar started the group, American Leadership Project (ALP), through a 527 IRS filing on February 15 to independently aid Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.[14][15]
Career[edit]
In January 2003, Salazar joined Porter Novelli as a senior counselor.[16] After John Edwards failed to win the Democratic nomination for president, Salazar left Porter Novelli to co-found AcostaSalazar LLC, a public relations and consulting firm, with Andrew Acosta.[9][17] He served as a partner there until May 2012, when he joined Mercury Public Affairs, a political consulting and public affairs firm dealing in high-stakes public strategy.[1] In February 2014, Salazar left his position as managing director at Mercury Public Affairs to open Alza Strategies.[7][8] Alza, "rise" in Spanish, aims to reach more of California's Latino market with bilingual media relations, crisis communication, and public affairs services.[8] He serves as president at Alza. In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Salazar to the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Commission.[18] Salazar was elected Chair of the OHMVR Commission in February 2024 and he was reappointed by the Governor in March 2024. [19] [20]
Personal life[edit]
Salazar was born to farm workers in California's Central Valley.[12] Salazar is married to Katrina Salazar who serves as chief financial officer of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. In 2020, Katrina was re-appointed as a member of the California State Board of Accountancy by California Governor Gavin Newsom, after having previously been appointed to that board by Governor Jerry Brown in 2012. [21] In 2016, the Sacramento Business Journal named Katrina Nonprofit CFO of the Year. [22] Roger and Katrina have two children, Joshua and Alexandra. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Redlands, his alma mater, from May 2001 to May 2020.[23] Salazar serves as Treasurer for the Sacramento Press Club and on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Political Consultants. An avid off-road enthusiast, Salazar is president of the Sierra Treasure Hunters 4 Wheel Drive Club in Sacramento, CA. Salazar is a Life Member of the California Four Wheel Drive Association and of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association and an associate member of Red Rock 4-Wheelers of Moab, UT. [24]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Melanie Turner. "Mercury hires media, crisis expert Salazar as managing director". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ a b c Kevin McCauley. "Salazar Exits Mercury's Orbit". O’Dwyer's. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ Jim Kuhnhenn. "Obama's 2012 pitch: Still unfinished business". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ Josh Richman. "Mary Hayashi rolls out her state Senate campaign". Inside Bay Area. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ Josh Richman. "Hayashi launches Senate bid". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ Dan Morain (21 February 2008). "Californians looking to aid Clinton". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ a b Kevin Roderick. "Morning Buzz: Wednesday 1.15.14". LA Observed. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ a b c Laurel Rosenhall. "Mercury hires two as Salazar announces departure". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ a b c d "A public life: Roger Salazar leads politicians down the campaign trail". Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ "Students rally to protest Cal Grant cuts". University of Redlands. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ a b c d e Jennifer Pearson Bonnett (3 February 2004). "Lodi's Roger Salazar takes a breather from campaigning for Edwards". Lodi News. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ a b "100 Most Influential Hispanics - 1999". Hispanic Business. Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ Timothy Roberts. "Riordan building valley support faster than GOP rivals". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ a b Ralph Vartabedian; Michael Finnegan (22 May 2007). "McCain's temper back on campaign's front-burner". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ "Memorandum". The Obama Campaign. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ Paul Holmes. "Salazar Joins Porter Novelli Public Affairs Team". The Holmes Report. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ "Political Power Brokers: Roger Salazar". Mr. Latino Magazine. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ Salazar, Roger (15 May 2020). "Gov. Newsom Announces Appointments to California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission". Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. State of California.
- ^ Salazar, Roger. "Commissioner, Chair". California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commissioner Bios. California State Parks. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
- ^ Salazar, Roger (15 May 2020). "Gov. Newsom Announces Appointments 03 08 2024". Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. State of California.
- ^ Salazar, Katrina (2 December 2020). "Gov. Newsom Announces Appointments to California State Board of Accountancy". Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. State of California.
- ^ Richardson, Vanessa (July 15, 2016). "Nonprofit CFO of the Year: Katrina Salazar". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ "About Redlands". University of Redlands. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ Salazar, Roger. "Commissioner". California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commissioner Bios. California State Parks. Retrieved May 20, 2022.