Culver shuffles his communications staff

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver on Friday announced another staff shuffling within his office.

Culver named veteran communications expert James Flansburg of Clive as communications director for the office of the governor and lieutenant governor. He also announced that Erin Seidler and Troy Price would be leaving his office's communication department.

“I am pleased to welcome James Flansburg to the governor's office,” Culver said in a statement. “Jim's years of experience as a reporter and in communications will make him an invaluable part of my team in the coming months. I want to thank him for making this commitment to our state, and I look forward to working with him in the months and years to come.”

Flansburg most recently served as director of communications for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. He previously worked for the Ames Tribune, the Quad City Times, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette, as well as communications consulting, a professor of journalism, and as news director for KDSM-TV in Des Moines.

Seidler joined the Culver-Judge administration last year as communications director after serving at the state Department of Economic Development. She is returning to her graduate studies.

"I want to thank Gov. Culver and Lt. Gov. Judge for this opportunity," Seidler said. "I am proud to have been a part of the Culver/Judge team during this successful legislative session, and I am confident this administration will continue to move Iowa forward."

Price is leaving to become political director of One Iowa, the state's largest civil rights organization for gays and lesbians.

“Working for Gov. Culver and Lt. Gov. Judge has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. While leaving is bittersweet, I remain confident that the governor and lieutenant governor will be victorious this fall, and look forward to continuing to support their work as they move Iowa forward,” Price said.

He added that he is excited about his new opportunity with One Iowa. “This is an issue that is very near and dear to my heart, and is something that I feel very strongly and passionately about.  I believe marriage equality is the most important civil rights issue facing our generation, and I am looking forward to being on the front lines of protecting this right for Iowans,” Price said.

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