Rick Perry Hires Seasoned Team to Focus on Florida

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas unveiled more staff members as he continues to build his team for the Republican presidential nomination in Florida.

I am proud to have these hard-working individuals join our campaign efforts in Florida, said Perry in a statement. They are crucial assets to my campaign team as we work together to share my plan to get America working again.

Perry has named veteran activists to lead his efforts in the Sunshine State:

-- Ashley McElheny will be Perrys field director for Southeast Florida. A longtime Republican activist in the state, McElheny was a regional field manager for Marco Rubios bid for the U.S. Senate in 2010. She also was Charlie Crists Southwest Florida district director in 2006 when he ran for governor.

-- First Coast native Ash Mason, who has worked on many Florida House races, will handle Northeast Florida as Perrys field director in the area.

-- Craig Briscoe, who was John McCains chairman in Lee County, will be Perrys Southwest Florida field director.

-- Lazaro Fields, who was a field coordinator for state Rep. Carlos Trujillo -- who is backing Herman Cain -- will be Perrys field director in South Florida.

-- Todd Lewis, who worked Central Florida for Rubio and managed Carey Bakers short-lived bid to be agriculture commissioner, will be the field director for Floridas west central coast.

-- Mike Shirley, who was Rick Scotts Central Florida field director, will have the same task under Perry.

-- Former gubernatorial staffer Jose Romano will be the field director in the Tampa Bay area.