by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
The Dalton Agency was planning on growing its government affairs division in the near future, but the near future came faster than they thought.
The Dalton Agency hired Michele Querry as the director of Political and Public Affairs in May. Querry, who was Mayor John Peyton’s re-election campaign manager, wanted to stay in Jacksonville even after Peyton was easily re-elected, defeating Jackie Brown.
The agency had touched on government affairs in the past, but since adding Querry to the team, the Dalton Agency has been able to expand its services even further.
“We (the Dalton Agency) were planning on growing this way,” said Michael Munz, executive vice president, public relations for the Dalton Agency. “The timing was really good and Michele brought what we needed to us.”
Munz was covering government affairs as much as he could while performing his other duties for the agency. But, he needed help and the agency needed someone with the right background.
“I needed someone to be the arms and legs for me,” he said. “I was doing what I could do before and now with Michele here, it has afforded me to add more strength to other areas.”
Munz and Querry have worked together in the past and the relationship made it easy for the two to strike up a conversation about the Dalton Agency and Querry’s options.
“We started talking and it evolved into an opportunity for both of us,” said Munz. “We have been asked by people running for office both in and out of state for our services.”
Querry’s first day at the Dalton Agency was May 1 and Munz said she already has six clients she is responsible for in her division.
“We have picked up both state and federal clients,” he said. “We are able to promote political fundraising now, while keeping in mind all of the other services the Dalton Agency has to offer.
“Political fundraising and all of Dalton Agency’s other services are all under one roof.”
Querry said in addition to her half dozen clients, she is currently talking to a few more.
“We have had a real favorable response to the division,” she said.
Munz added that it is rare for a public relations and advertising firm to have a government affairs division.
“You don’t see it a lot, but adding Michele fit into our company and our plans for the future,” he said.
The Dalton Agency offers a variety of different services, which Munz said makes the firm diverse.
“We have a lot of integrated services which makes us approachable,” he said.
Querry brings a resume filled with political experience to the Dalton Agency. After receiving her master’s degree in public administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Querry worked for U.S. Rep. Kay Granger on Capitol Hill and soon was asked to move to Jacksonville to assist in fundraising efforts for former City Council President Matt Carlucci’s mayoral campaign. When he lost in the primary, Querry worked for the local Republican Party where she became Peyton’s campaign manager from 2002-03.
After Peyton won the election, Querry was offered a job as Peyton’s liaison to City Council. In early 2004, Querry left that post for Tallahassee to serve as the finance director for the Republican Party of Florida. She also worked for U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris’ campaign during her bid for U.S. Senate and started her own political fundraising firm.
Querry came back to Jacksonville in November 2006 after she finished working on the Arkansas governor race to work as Peyton’s re-election campaign manager. After the election, Querry decided to stay in Jacksonville.
“I really love it here,” she said. “It is a great community and it has a lot to offer both professionally and personally.
“It feels like the right fit.”
Querry has never worked for a public relations and advertising firm, but she said so far it has been a really good fit.
“She has really helped to expand our political fundraising capabilities,” said Munz. “We are in a unique situation and so far it is working well.”