Ken Mehlman - Career

Career

Mehlman practiced environmental law at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington, D.C. (1991–1996) and assisted campaigns in Massachusetts (William Weld's 1990 gubernatorial campaign), Ohio, Virginia, Texas, and Georgia, as well as the 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns.

Mehlman was chief of staff to Representative Kay Granger of Texas's 12th congressional district and legislative director to Representative Lamar S. Smith of Texas's 21st congressional district.

Mehlman served as field director for the 2000 presidential campaign of George W. Bush. When Bush became President, Mehlman became director of the White House Office of Political Affairs. He managed the Bush re-election campaign in 2004. In January 2005, the American Association of Political Consultants gave Mehlman the "Campaign Manager of the Year" award for his management of the Bush/Cheney presidential ticket.

In addition to his role at KKR, Mehlman is a trustee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Franklin & Marshall College, the National Endowment for Democracy, and The IDEAL School of Manhattan. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Senior Advisory Committee of the Harvard University Institute of Politics and the executive leadership cabinet of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. He serves on the Robin Hood Foundation Advisory Board, a charitable foundation which attempts to alleviate problems caused by poverty in New York City. He also serves on the board of the American Foundation for Equal Rights.