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Alison Williams
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Is this person no longer a chief of staff? Please contact us with any updates. |
| Alison Williams | |||
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| Basic facts | |||
| Organization: | Asa Hutchinson 2024 presidential campaign | ||
| Role: | Campaign manager | ||
| Location: | Little Rock, Ark. | ||
| Affiliation: | Republican | ||
| Education: | •University of Arkansas (B.A.) •University of Virginia (M.B.A.) | ||
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Alison Williams was the campaign manager for Asa Hutchinson's (R) 2024 presidential campaign. From 2016 to 2023, she was the chief of staff to Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.). Prior to becoming chief of staff, Williams had worked with Hutchinson in a number of roles, including as his gubernatorial director of state-federal relations.[1]
Career
Education and early career
In 2000, after graduating from the University of Arkansas with bachelor's degrees in political science and German, Williams began working for then-U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) as his executive assistant. According to Arkansas Business, Williams continued to work with Hutchinson for the next eight years. She was a program analyst during his time at the Drug Enforcement Agency; a special assistant at the Department of Homeland Security; and served as an associate at Hutchinson's private sector consulting firm, the Hutchinson Group.[1][2]
Transportation Security Administration
From 2008 to 2012, Williams worked with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), first as an advisor in Washington, D.C., and then as the TSA's representative to the U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany.[3]
Asa Hutchinson gubernatorial administration
In 2015, after two years with the private sector security firm The Chertoff Group, Williams joined Hutchinson's gubernatorial administration as his director of state-federal relations, a position located in Washington, D.C. She told Arkansas Business that after Hutchinson was elected governor, she contacted him, saying, "I made sure he knew I was interested in coming back to work for him. And the rest is history, as they say."[2] She started working as chief of staff in June 2016, replacing Michael Lamoureux. Upon announcing Williams' appointment, Hutchinson said, "Alison and I have worked together for many years. She is a problem-solver, loves Arkansas and goes above and beyond in her work. Alison will be an exceptional asset to my office serving as our new Chief of Staff, bringing experience and expertise from her time in both the legislative and executive branches of government."[4]
Chief of staff
- See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff
In 2017, Ballotpedia identified Alison Williams as a gubernatorial chief of staff. A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing the governor's agenda.
The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by administration. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):[5]
- Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar;
- Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues;
- Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and
- Manage and communicate the governor's policy agenda to the state legislature and the public.
In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."[5]
Asa Hutchinson 2024 presidential campaign
Following her time working in Hutchinson's gubernatorial administration, Williams founded willco consulting and Tidal Partners.[6] In November 2023, she became the campaign manager for Hutchinson's 2024 presidential campaign following the resignation of former Hutchinson campaign manager Rob Burgess.[7]
Campaign strategy
In a press release following her appointment as campaign manager, Williams said, "I am honored to join Governor Hutchinson’s presidential campaign and am fully committed to leveraging my experience and skills to bring Governor Hutchinson’s conservative message of optimism to the American people. I believe in Governor Hutchinson’s vision for America, and I am ready to hit the ground running."[8]
Key staff members
The table below shows a partial list of national campaign staff members, including the campaign manager, senior advisors, political directors, communications directors, field directors, and the national press secretary. They are presented alongside their positions in the campaign, their most recent positions prior to the campaign, and their Twitter handles. To recommend additions, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
- See also: Presidential election campaign managers and key staffers, 2024
| Asa Hutchinson presidential campaign national staff, 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff | Position | Prior experience | Twitter handle |
| Alison Williams[9] | Campaign manager | Chief of staff, Office of Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson | N/A |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Alison Williams' Arkansas. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Talk Business and Politics, "Gov. Hutchinson names Cabot native as new chief of staff (Updated)," May 20, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Arkansas Business, "Alison Williams," accessed July 31, 2017
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Alison R. Williams," accessed July 31, 2017
- ↑ Office of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, "Governor Asa Hutchinson Names Alison Williams as New Chief of Staff," May 20, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 National Governors Association, "The Many Roles of the Governor’s Chief of Staff," accessed April 20, 2021
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Alison R. Williams," accessed November 2, 2023
- ↑ Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Longtime Hutchinson associate named new presidential campaign manager," November 2, 2023
- ↑ Hutchinson's campaign website, "Governor Hutchinson Taps Alison Williams to Lead Presidential Campaign," November 2, 2023
- ↑ Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Longtime Hutchinson associate named new presidential campaign manager," November 2, 2023
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