Former Cedar Rapids spokesman Paul to shift focus to governmental relations at federal level

DES MOINES – Matt Paul, a former spokesman for Cedar Rapids mayors and Gov. Tom Vilsack, will focus on public affairs at the federal level as part of a new government relations firm.

He will be part of Link, Paul, Campbell and Anderson Public Strategies, a firm specializing in government relations, reputation management and public relations. Paul and his colleagues at Link Strategies, Jeff Link and Brad Anderson, will be shareholders in the new firm.  

Bonnie Campbell, who served as Iowa Attorney General from 1990-1994, will join the group as partner. Mary Lawyer will serve as Managing Director and will lead the firm's business development and state government relations operation.  

Also joining the firm will be Mary Lawyer, who served in various management roles in state government, including as director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. She also served as President of the Downtown Community Alliance in Des Moines and most recently served as Director of Business Development at Conlon Companies.

She will lead the firm's state government relations practice and provide clients regulatory and business development counsel.

Link Strategies will continue to provide clients with political consulting such as general campaign consulting, referendum and issue campaign management and political research.

Paul began his career as a reporter in Cedar Rapids. In 1994, he joined the staff of Mayor Larry Serbousek as spokesman. He continued in the role for Mayor Lee Clancey.

In 1998, he joined the Vilsack administration, serving in several positions including press secretary, communications director and senior Adviser.

Paul has been with Link Strategies, an Iowa-based political consulting firm, since 2007. There he managed Sen. Tom Harkin's 2008 re-election. Paul has provided strategic communications and public affairs counsel to clients including IBM, Alliant Energy, Abraxis BioScience and other firms in healthcare, energy and finance.

Paul will focus on public affairs at the federal level at LPCA Public Strategies.