July 2006

"Involved with Katrina"
Excerpted from the John F. Kennedy School of Government Bulletin, Summer 2006

"The day that Katrina hit, Eric Schnurer, MPP 1983, sent an e-mail to Andy Kopplin, MPP 1992, chief of staff to Louisiana's governor Kathleen Blanco, to offer the help of his consulting firm, Public Works. "I figured I wouldn't hear from him for months. I know how much events like this completely change the landscape for you when you're in government," Schnurer says. Exactly a week later, however, he got an e-mail from Kopplin, saying he needed policy help -- immediately. "Of course, I called right away," Schnurer says. "Andy wanted fresh thinking on what, from the state's perspective, should be in the federal relief legislation that was apparently going to move through Congress any day. andy wanted someone whom he thought could think about the interests of displaced Louisianans and what should be in the federal relief legislation to help them," Schnurer says. "He more or less gave me 24 hours."

"The timeframe wasn't the toughest part of the pro bono assignment, however. "The biggest challenge was the awesome sense of responsibility you have in such settings," Schnurer says. "We felt we had a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in a huge number of people's lives, but that also meant we had a huge duty."

"Public Works, which includes Rick Minor, MPA 2001, Mark Griffin, MPP 1991, and David Osborne, a former Kennedy School researcher, is now in the process of starting a nonprofit wing that will continue to work on issues in New Orleans."

From "Governor bought ideas from Pennsylvania consultant," Albuquerque Journal, July 15, 2006:

"Invoices submitted by Public Works LLC show the firm has provided Richardson with more than 100 policies, recommendations and ideas in a number of areas, including workforce development, childhood obesity, gangs, drug initiatives, health care, taxes and energy.

"The Pennsylvania firm's president, Eric B. Schnurer, who has worked for Democratic presidential candidates, said his firm's work in New Mexico has nothing to do with Richardson's possible run for the presidency in 2008."

"Public Works has also worked for the Democratic Leadership Council, an organization closely affiliated with former President Clinton, a past chairman, during his two terms in the Oval Office.

"Shipley said it's not uncommon for Richardson to employ out-of-state consultants.

"'We have tremendous expertise in New Mexico,' Shipley said. 'But the governor wants to make sure no stone is left unturned when it comes to finding ideas that will work in New Mexico and sometimes one way to do that is through outside sources.'"

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