Political Consultant of the Week: Madalene Mielke
This week we go Inside the Campaign Studio with political consultant Madalene Mielke. She is the Founder and Principal of the Arum Group, LLC. She has over 20 years of experience working in political campaigns. Madalene specializes in political and non-profit fundraising and political training.
Madalene’s previous experience includes working as the Director of Training and Curriculum for the Ron Brown-Paul Tully Institute for Political Action (BTI), the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the New Democrat Network (NDN) and several coordinated and presidential campaigns.
As the Director of Training and Curriculum for BTI, Madalene was responsible for the development of training materials for all disciplines of a campaign and traveled throughout the United States to train campaign professionals as well as state party officials, candidates, and Democratic activists. She served as the Lead Trainer for the Finance Director trainings. Participants included campaign finance directors and national committee staff.
At the New Democrat Network (NDN), where Madalene served as Membership Development Director, she worked in collaboration with Congressional Members from the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) as well as the founding Co-Chairs of NDN, Senators John Breaux and Joseph I. Lieberman.
As a political consultant, what is your least favorite campaign term? Why?
“Politician”- I believe in democracy so we work to elect individuals into public office. For me, they aren’t politicians but elected officials.
If you did not work in politics, campaigns, or as a campaign consultant, what would you do?
I would be a lounge singer.
What is your favorite vote contact method?
Direct one-on-one meetings.
If you could create a new tactic/improve on a current one, what would it be/how would you do it?
Breaking through the email noise at the end of the quarter. I am still thinking on how to improve that one!
What is your favorite state?
Too many good ones to show favoritism.
What is your favorite restaurant outside of DC?
L’avant Comptoir in Paris
What is your drink of choice?
My daily dose of black tea with cream & sugar. When it’s the end of the QTR, Hendricks gin & tonic or champagne.
As a political consultant, what is the strangest purchase you have ever made for a campaign?
50 lbs. of pork butt.
If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
Wouldn’t change a single thing.
If you could invite 3 people to Dinner (alive or dead) who would they be?
Eleanor Roosevelt, Julia Child, and Duke Kahanamoku
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