PolitickerNV Profile: Heather Urban

Las Vegas- In the coming weeks, PolitickerNV.com will be profiling some of the staffers and consultants who work so hard to get these guys and gals elected and us something to write about. Today’s subject: Heather Urban, campaign manager of Robert Daskas for Congress.

Heather Urban’s path to political activism began way down south in New Orleans where she taught special education for Teach For America after graduating from Syracuse in 1996.

“I loved teaching,” said Urban Tuesday, “but what I saw in the school system in New Orleans really had a tremendous impact on me. There was so much that needed to be fixed. Under-funded, short-staffed—I literally bought all my resources for my students.”

Urban, 33, taught for two years but then packed up for Washington D.C., desiring as she put it to “make a difference.”

Arriving in D.C., she was hired first by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) where she started off on the bottom rung of congressional staffers in his D.C. office. After a short time, she moved over to the house side and worked constituent services for infamous New York party-switcher Rep. Michael Forbes after he became a Democrat in 1999. Next was Nevada’s own Rep. Shelley Berkley, whom Urban worked four years for until becoming legislative director for then-Senate Minority Whip Harry Reid.

“I worked my way up from the bottom,” said Urban. “I answered the phones, then did legislative correspondent, then legislative assistant, then became legislative director in Congresswoman Berkley’s office, and then moved over to Sen. Reid’s office, so I’ve done almost every job.”

Looking back, Urban is particularly proud of her time working on veterans’ issues such as funding for the new Southern Nevada VA Medical Center. During her years working on The Hill, she never worked for the majority, but credits her senate time especially as being a chance to affect legislative outcome.

“It was a tremendous experience,” said Urban. “On the senate side, both sides have such an impact on legislation, so it was truly a great experience to be able to have impact on legislation benefitting Nevada.”

Raised in Philadelphia, Urban found a new home in Nevada largely because of her time in Berkley’s office.

“I started going back and forth to Nevada every time they had a longer recess,” said Urban. “I love the people here. I’ve gotten to know some people very well and have some close friends and I just really enjoyed it here.”

While in Reid’s office, Urban worked alongside press secretary Tessa Hafen, who left D.C. to challenge Congressman Jon Porter in the 3rd Congressional District in 2006. Urban came along with Hafen to manage what was one of the most tightly contested races in a highly competitive year.

“Tessa and I had worked together for a while and I had knowledge of the issues, so it was a good fit,” said Urban.

Despite Urban’s efforts, Porter won a plurality of the CD3 electorate, finishing with fewer than 4,000 more votes than Hafen. Urban described the results of that race as “disappointing,” but takes solace in the effort she and others put into it.

“We ran a good campaign,” said Urban. “Quite frankly, we were outspent by a significant amount and I think the numbers proved that people were ready for a change. Between some of the independent campaigns and Hafen, Jon Porter had more votes against him than for him.”

Afterward, Urban returned to D.C. and worked briefly for the Podesta Group, a governmental relations/public affairs/political consulting firm, before being called back out to manage Robert Daskas’ current congressional bid.

“[Daskas] knew that I had worked on Hafen’s race last time and we had come so close,” said Urban. “I had shown interest in coming back out [to Nevada] and he and I talked and it just worked out.”

“He is a man of such integrity and is so hard-working. It’s a joy to get up in the morning and go to work. I feel good about what we’re doing and I think he will make a tremendous member of congress.”

She is hopeful that Daskas, a one-time Clark County chief deputy district attorney, will fare even better against Porter then Hafen had, and is quick to point out voter registration numbers that lend Daskas an advantage.

“There is such energy among Democrats this year,” said Urban. “We’re now up more than 18,000 in Congressional District 3.”

Urban is unwilling to discuss future plans after the Nov. 4 general election, but will likely continue working in politics for the foreseeable future.

“I enjoy what I’m doing,” said Urban. “I’ve been very fortunate to work for some pretty amazing people. It’s both the elected officials and the people here in Nevada and I enjoy working on the issues as well.”