I’ve had the good fortune over the last 2 years of talking with several people in Rep. Bachmann’s communications team. Now, Rep. Bachmann’s team is undergoing a bit of a change. Here’s their official statement on those changes:

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) announced today that her Communications Director, Mary Vought, and Press Secretary, Stephen Miller, will join Republican leadership offices to help other members replicate her effective communications strategies.

“Both Mary and Stephen have been incredible assets,” said Bachmann. “I am so proud that they will take on important roles where they can continue to spread the conservative message of lower taxes, smaller government, and greater personal freedoms.”

Mary Vought will lead the House Republican Conference’s effort to enhance the communications strategy for all House Republicans by supporting their press secretaries in spreading the Party’s message.

Stephen Miller joins veteran conservative leader, Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ), as press secretary. Shadegg, a founder of the Republican Study Committee, the leading conservative caucus of House members, is a prominent national spokesman for conservative positions.

In her first term in Congress, Bachmann earned unprecedented media coverage. Her three-person communications team executed a strong strategy that earned her exceptional coverage in local papers in Minnesota, on nationally-broadcast news shows in both popular and financial news sectors, and in important conservative outlets on radio and the internet.

“Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is a rising star in our party who has groomed an excellent staff,” said Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), Chairman of the House Republican Conference. “Mary Vought brings a wealth of communications experience to our team at Conference, where she will continue to serve Congresswoman Bachmann as well as the entire House GOP Conference in her new role as press secretary. In addition, we look forward to continuing to work with Congresswoman Bachmann as we communicate our conservative ideals of limited government, a strong national defense and traditional moral values to the American people.”

“Dave Dziok, who has blazed new trails as the Congresswoman’s Director of New Media, will continue to anchor our communications shop,” said Michelle Marston, Bachmann’s Chief of Staff. “Communications will continue to be an important part of our office work and we will hire new staff to build on our effective communications strategy.”

Having worked with Mr. Dziok, I can say without hesitation that he’s an innovator in the communications department. He’s a man that listens first and acts second.

About a month ago, I thought that having a tool in place to track the House’s votes and the GOP’s amendments to the Democrats’ bills would be a good thing. I told Mr. Dziok the type of information that bloggers like myself would find useful in holding Congress’s accountable. It wasn’t long after that that he created this new blog. This blog gives bloggers like me the ammunition needed to ask Democrats why they voted against common sense proposals.

If Democrats are going to vote against thoughtful amendments, their actions should be scrutinized.

Thanks to Dave Dziok’s work, bloggers now have a tool to help hold Democrats accountable. The thing I like most about this blog is that it’s got everything I want in one place. That’s an invaluable tool for bloggers.

While some of Rep. Bachmann’s communications staff is moving into different positions, I’m confident that she’ll still have a strong communications team, thanks in large part to Dave Dziok.

Technorati: Blogs, Communications, Michele Bachmann, Mike Pence, John Shadegg, Dave Dziok, House Republican Caucus

Cross-posted at California Conservative