For Immediate Release
Contact: Yvette Martinez 323-254-5700
March 21, 2008

Rose Kapolczynski Honored as "Public Affairs Professional of the Year" by the
American Association of Political Consultants


"Pollie" award recognizes excellence in campaign consulting

Progressive Strategy Partners is pleased to announce that the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) has named PSP partner Rose Kapolczynski as the national Public Affairs Professional of the Year. The AAPC "Pollie" awards is an annual event recognizing the nation's best in political and public affairs communications.

Kapolczynski received the award for her work as general consultant guiding the Approve 67 ballot measure campaign to an upset victory in Washington State in 2007. "We had a terrific team on the Approve 67 campaign. It's great to be recognized by the nation's top consultants, who know what it takes to win a tough campaign," said Kapolczynski.

Under Kapolczynski's leadership, the Approve 67 campaign beat back an effort by the insurance industry to repeal a new state law making it illegal for insurance companies to unfairly deny claims. Referendum 67 won approval by 57 percent of the voters despite being outspent by the insurance industry by a four-to-one margin.

Frank Schubert of Schubert Flint Public Affairs, consultant for the Reject 67 campaign, nominated Kapolczynski and presented the award at the Pollies awards ceremony in Santa Monica last weekend. Schubert is the only consultant to win this prestigious award twice in his career. Rose Kapolczynski has three decades of experience in politics and government, including managing all three of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer's winning Senate campaigns. In 2005, Kapolczynski and Yvette Martinez founded Progressive Strategy Partners, a consulting firm specializing in strategy, management, and communications for candidates, ballot measures and organizations.

Over the past three years, PSP has managed four ballot measure campaigns in Washington and Oregon--winning all four--and worked to elect candidates such as California State Senator Alex Padilla and Los Angeles School Board President Mónica García. PSP is headquartered in Los Angeles.

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