Lucking joins ABM, Cardinal moves into founding director role

DFL-aligned third party group Alliance for a Better Minnesota (ABM) is making some staff changes in advance of the 2012 election season.

DFL House caucus spokeswoman Carrie Lucking will move into the executive director role at ABM, taking the place of current director Denise Cardinal as she transitions into her new job as founding director. The group released a series of television and web ads last fall attacking failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.

In her new role, Cardinal will shift her focus to message development and research, according to a news release. Lucking has worked as communications director for House Minority Leader Paul Thissen‘s failed bid for governor and DFLer Tarryl Clark‘s run for the 6th Congressional District last fall.

“ABM was started to serve the needs of the progressive community and has been instrumental in some of the biggest wins we have to date,” Cardinal wrote in the release. “Carrie’s leadership will be needed as we head into some of the roughest and toughest battles we’ve ever seen in our state next year.”