|
David W. James was nominated by President George W. Bush to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Public Affairs on June 18, 2007 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 3, 2007.
James came to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Public Affairs in March 2005 with extensive experience in media relations which began in 1995 with then-U.S. Senator John Ashcroft. James served the entire Senate term with Ashcroft in a variety of press capacities, taking a brief leave in 1996 to serve as Communications Director for Lightfoot for Senate in Des Moines, Iowa. James served on both the 1994 and 2000 Senate campaigns of Ashcroft, the latter as Communications Director. James went on to serve in the Office of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Justice and as a detailee in the White House Office of Communications. James was Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party’s Victory 2002 effort which helped retake the Missouri House for Republicans for the first time in 48 years.
In 2003 – 2004, James served as Regional Spokesperson for the Republican National Committee under the leadership of Chairman Ed Gillespie. He handled the press operations for the national office for twelve Midwestern states, and served as the on-the ground-spokesperson during the 2004 Iowa Democrat Caucuses. He also assisted in the RNC’s war room effort during the Democrat Convention in Boston in 2004.
James holds a B.A. in political science from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He enjoyed an active career during college as a radio commentator, host, and journalist. James received an award for “Best Documentary” from the Society of Professional Journalists – Sigma Delta Chi. James also served as Vice President of the College Republicans and as social chairman of his fraternity.
James got his start in government and politics during his college years working on a local Congressional campaign for George “Bert” Walker, a research assistant for the Republican National Committee in 1992, and as staff assistant for U.S. Senator John C. Danforth in his St. Louis District Office.
James is a native of St. Louis, Missouri where his family home remains and is an active fan of the St Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Rams; and as a proud alumnus of St. Louis Country Day School. In his spare time James enjoys traveling to see family and friends, live music, and vacations at the beach.
| 
