Jay Townsend…Who I am
Jay Townsend has served as a speechwriter, debate coach, polltaker, television, print and radio advertising strategist. He has worked in four presidential campaigns, scores of U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial and Congressional races, and more than 300 campaigns in County Executive, Mayoral, legislative and judicial contests. His client have included Patrick J Buchanan, Senators Jim Jeffords (VT), Phil Gramm (TX), Pete Wilson (CA); Governors Mike Hayden (KS) and Pete Wilson (CA); Lt. Gov Peter Smith (VT); Members of Congress Bill Lowery (CA), Bob Lagomarsino (CA), Pat Roberts (KS), Sue Kelly (NY) and Nan Hayworth (NY); Attorneys General Ken Eikenberry (WA), Dan Lungren (CA) and Robert Stephan (KS); San Diego Mayors Maureen O’Connor and Susan Golding.
Prior to joining forming The Townsend Group, he was a partner in a New York City based consulting firm whose clients included Speaker of the House Tom Foley (WA), Governors Harry Hughes (MD) and Mark White (TX), Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan (NY) and Jeff Bingaman (NM), Members of Congress Terry Bruce (IL) and Les Aspin (WI), New York City Comptroller Jay Goldin, Congressman Les Aspin (WI) and Terry Bruce (IL).
His local clients in New York include Orange County Executives Steve Neuhaus, Ed Diana, Rockland County Executive John Grant, Sheriff Carl DuBois, District Attorney Frank Phillips, Poughkeepsie Mayors Colette Lafuente and John Tkazyik, several Town Supervisors, County Legislators and Judges.
Townsend has received several national awards for his work, including the nation’s best television commercial aired in a Gubernatorial race, the best persuasion mail piece produced for a Presidential campaign, and the nation’s best newspaper ad. He is the author of The Worst Mistakes Candidates Make and Timeless Lessons from the 2016 Election
A member of the National Speakers Association, Townsend has spoken to hundreds of audiences. He has lectured on politics and political warfare at the United States Military Academy, the Marketing Research Association, the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, the Coro and Luce Foundations, numerous colleges and universities. He has appeared on NBC, NY1, Time Warner’s Capitol Tonight, FOX News, Canadian TV and is a Sr. Global Advisor to the James Luce Foundation.
He resides in New York City.