Garamendi Hires 2 Firms for Expected Governor’s Race

State Sen. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) announced Tuesday that he had hired two Washington firms to handle communications and research for his expected run for the governorship in 1986.

Serving as media consultant will be Robert Squier, who handled media for six of seven winning campaigns in 1984, including that of Democrat Paul Simon, who won election over then-incumbent Republican Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois.

Garamendi’s polling and issues research will be handled by Mark Mellman and Ed Lazarus of Information Consultants. Their victorious clients in 1984 included Democratic Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Albert Gore Jr. of Tennessee.