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Yaffe leaves for greener pastures

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Illinois

* From Steve Yaffe at the Illinois Republican Party…

Hey Rich!

This has been an open secret over here for some time, but I wanted you to be the first member of the press to know that Tuesday will be my last day at the ILGOP.

Don’t worry though, I’m not disappearing! I am taking a position at the Republican Governors Association to handle rapid response for Illinois and a number of other states.

The opportunity to work on the national level and in new states to get Republican governors elected while still being involved in Gov. Rauner’s campaign is something I couldn’t pass up.

Some background:

I started by working on Rauner’s campaign January of 2014 as a freshman college intern making phone calls, a bit before the primary. As the general election ramped up, the campaign needed interns to staff the war room. I was lucky enough to be offered a chance to do that, and things snowballed from there, with Mike Schrimpf eventually offering me a Press Assistant job for the rest of the campaign.

I’ll never forget when I called my parents telling them I was taking months off from college at the University of Chicago to work on a political campaign. It took some convincing.

I worked as a Press Assistant up through inauguration before returning to school.

Soon after getting back to college I decided I wanted to stay involved, so I started interning for Mike and Lance at the Governor’s office as a communications intern, taking whatever classes let me spend as much time as possible over there.

In March of 2016 I joined the state party full time as Rapid Response Director. What many people don’t know is that during the last cycle I had not technically graduated from college yet. In fact, I took another 6 months off for that race, and from January-June of this year I worked both full time at the ILGOP and college until (finally) getting my degree.

The best and most insightful thing I’ve learned in my brief time in politics is that it can be incredibly meritocratic and nothing is more satisfying than working on a great team.

Let me know if you have other questions!

- Steven

You may not have agreed with what he wrote, but Steve is one hard working dude. Replacing him will not be easy. I wish him nothing but the best. He’s been providing us with entertaining content for a good long while.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:31 pm

Comments

And he’s Bernie Schoenburg’s cousin

Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:35 pm
He told you before Bernie. Wow.

Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:35 pm
Unsung hero of Rauner operation. One of the best. Good for him!

Comment by Yaffe Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:37 pm
This kid has a bright future - onward young Steven !!!

Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:39 pm
If you haven’t already, finish your degree, kid. Politics will still be there when you’re done, but don’t put off the education.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:39 pm
Too soon to bring back Rickert?

Yeah, prolly too soon.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:40 pm
It’ll be hard for everyone to not lump this in to the rest of the Rauner psychodrama, but it’s unclear that taking a job with the RGA represents a meaningful break from Rauner. It could, and RGA will probably be inclined to send its resources to other states. But, for example, in 2014, Rikeesha Phelon was undoubtedly on Team Quinn.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:40 pm
All the best to ya.

You worked your way up from the bottom, and earned this.

Congratulations.

Oswego Willy

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:41 pm
Bye Felicia. Meritocratic? Rauner is the opposite of meritocratic. More like autocratic.

Comment by Lamont Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:46 pm
He’s a very good dude.

Comment by WSJ Paywall Friday, Aug 25, 17 @ 4:48 pm