The Ross Brothers
The Ross brothers grew up in Lake Tahoe with three older siblings. Their dad retired from the Air Force when they were young and the family moved to the North Shore. They love the mountains and can be found biking, skiing and paddling the Sierras.
Jim is the older brother. Growing up, he liked to read, ride bikes and play football. He was the lifeguard who saved lives in the summer and the ski instructor who taught skiing in the winter.
Tom’s the younger brother who played wiffle ball or basketball until it was dark and his parents made him come home. He managed the snack shacks at the beach in the summer and sold lift tickets in the winter.
Jim blazed the trail into campaigns and then lifted Tom up into a life of politics when he graduated college. Both have 30+ years of successful careers in the public affairs and political industry and have remained close despite working for different political parties. Read their bios below…
Jim Ross, Principal
Telegraph Public Relations
Jim Ross is a nationally recognized expert in communications, political strategy and public affairs with more than twenty years of campaign management, communications and public affairs experience. He has managed mayoral, gubernatorial and legislative races, consulted on U.S. Senate campaigns and worked on presidential races. Before starting his own firm, Jim was Director of Public Affairs at Solem & Associates, one of California’s oldest public relations and public affairs agencies.
Jim served as a special assistant to former San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan overseeing a diverse range of policy areas including Recreation and Parks, the Fine Arts Museums, the Department of Parking and Traffic, and the Municipal Railway.
Jim is a graduate of St. Mary’s College of California holding a degree in Government with minors in Economics and History.
“[Kulongoski] may have concluded that turnout will be the key to winning the November election, and he wants on board one of his party’s top experts in making it happen – and Ross is, and has.” ~Ridenbaugh Press
Learn more at www.telegraphpr.com
Tom Ross, President and CEO
Swing Strategies
For nearly 30 years, Tom Ross has worked to elect candidates, pass ballot measures, direct hundreds-of-millions of dollars in political giving, and solve complex government relations issues for associations and Fortune 100 companies.
Since 1996 Tom has been involved in many of California’s major political battles — from passing redistricting reform and open primaries to stopping shakedown lawsuits and requiring 2/3rds vote on fee increases. Additionally, Tom has served as a lead strategist for campaigns to defeat statewide tax measures including the most recent split-roll property tax measure.
Tom focuses on state and local ballot measure elections; representing major donors; assisting federal super PACs and state independent expenditure committees; legislative support; and public affairs campaigns.
Tom is a strategic advisor to House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. He currently serves as the Political Director to New Majority California and TEAMCAL (the major donor organization within the Republican Party). In this capacity he works closely with State Party Chairwoman Jessica Patterson.
Tom is a graduate of Gonzaga University. He and his wife, Shannon, have two daughters, Fiona and Amelia. Tom is a cancer survivor and when not working can be found recreating in Lake Tahoe.
Learn more at www.swingstrat.com