CHIEF DEPUTY MAYOR JOINS BoseTreacy Associates LLC

September 15, 2004

Indianapolis, Ind. - A key member of the Bart Peterson administration will join BoseTreacy Associates LLC, a full service public affairs and association management firm, to handle lobbying duties and to head up a new campaign consultancy subsidiary of the firm. Chief Deputy Mayor Michael B. O'Connor will join the firm as executive vice president and as principal of BoseTreacy Associates LLC subsidiary High Road Communications LLC, a full-service political consulting firm

O'Connor's addition to the firm will provide another strong Democrat to the bipartisan firm that also features Republican leaders such as former Indiana Speaker of the House Paul S. Mannweiler who serves in the firm as a principal.

According to Daniel B. Seitz, principal with BoseTreacy Associates LLC, O'Connor will help fill the shoes of Ed Treacy who will semi-retire as a principal of the firm on January 1 but continue in a consulting capacity to the firm for key clients. He added that O'Connor will primarily lobby on behalf of the firm's clients, but will also create a new campaign consultancy practice that allows BoseTreacy Associates LLC to assist individual Democratic candidates in their races for elected office here in Indiana and around the country, and to support nonpartisan initiatives. Also, O'Connor's assistant, Courtney Roberts, will join BoseTreacy Associates LLC as an executive assistant.

"Mike has developed strong relationships in government and the community and holds a deep understanding of how government operates. These qualities are the hallmark of a successful lobbyist," Seitz said. "He is also a proven winner in the campaign arena, and we are pleased to add his vast talents to our firm on behalf of client candidates."

Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, whom O'Connor served as chief deputy mayor since January 1, 2002, added, "Mike O'Connor has been an integral part of our city's progress and success in the past four and a half years. Mike has a tremendous amount of political skill, and he's a big part of why I'm here today.

"Mike has been an exceptional leader for Indianapolis and great friend to me - I couldn't ask for anything more. I will miss him, as will my administration, but I am confident he will be as successful in his new business as he has been as chief deputy mayor," Peterson said.

Prior to joining the Peterson administration, O'Connor successfully managed Peterson's successful campaign for mayor in 1999. In 1997 he was appointed deputy associate administrator of the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by President Bill Clinton. In this capacity, O'Connor directed all state and local governmental relations for the agency along with advising on all congressional matters.

Additionally, O'Connor served as commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) under Governors Evan Bayh and Frank O'Bannon. In 1990 O'Connor managed the campaign for Secretary of State Joe Hogsett in his upset victory over then Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut.

A lifelong resident of Indiana, O'Connor is a native of Greenfield, Indiana. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Indiana University in 1986. During college he served as a Lyndon B. Johnson Intern for former U.S. Congressman Phil Sharp (IN) and managed Sharp's 1986 campaign after graduation. In 1987, he became the youngest person ever elected to the Greenfield City Council.

Based in Indianapolis, Ind., BoseTreacy Associates LLC is a full service public affairs and association management firm offering more than 100 years combined experience to affect the decisions of government-at the local, state, national and international levels. Offering services in government relations, public affairs consulting, lobbying and association management, BoseTreacy Associates LLC is an active member of The Advocacy Group (TAG), an international network that allows clients to obtain professional assistance throughout the United States and other countries.