Election attorney, state lobbyist and transit communications consultant
Greater Chicago Area
- Current
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- President at Permanent Campaigns Consulting
- President at Progressive Public Affairs
- Attorney at Law Office of Dan Johnson-Weinberger (Sole Proprietorship)
- Past
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- Lobbyist (Sole Proprietorship)
- Volunteer Director at Midwest Democracy Center
- General Counsel at FairVote: The Center for Voting and Democracy
- Education
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- University of Chicago Law School
- University of Illinois
- New Trier
- Recommended
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5 people have recommended Dan - Connections
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337
connections
- Industry
- Public Relations and Communications
- Websites
Dan Johnson-Weinberger’s Summary
I run two companies.
The first, Progressive Public Affairs, is an advocacy firm. We represent advocates (501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and individuals) who are working to change the world. We help them craft their message, develop their policy, build consensus and implement their visions. I lobby in Illinois and consult with advocates around the nation. I'm also an election attorney licensed in California and Illinois, and represent campaign committees and candidates with the myriad of legal issues that confront any political campaign (including ballot access and campaign finance disclosure).
The second, Permanent Campaigns Consulting, works with transit agencies to attract more riders through better communication. We improve transit marketing, public affairs, rider instruction, interactive communications (email newsletters and websites). We also publish the quarterly magazine More Riders Magazine and a blog at PermanentCampaigns.com.
Dan Johnson-Weinberger’s Specialties:
Policy development, communications strategy, transit communications, lobbying, advocacy strategy, election and First Amendment law
Dan Johnson-Weinberger’s Experience
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President
Permanent Campaigns Consulting
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Transportation/Trucking/Railroad industry)
April 2007 — Present (1 year 4 months)
Permanent Campaigns Consulting works with transit agencies to grow ridership through better communication. We believe every transit agency of any size can generate more riders and more revenue through more thoughtful marketing and communication to their existing and potential riders. We publish a quarterly magazine More Riders Magazine and an often-updated blog. Our newest product for transit agencies is the production and delivery of electronic newsletters for riders.
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President
Progressive Public Affairs
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Public Policy industry)
September 2006 — Present (1 year 11 months)
Progressive Public Affairs is an aggressive, entrepreneurial company dedicated to implementing progressive public policy in cities, states and the federal government. We specialize in two areas for mission-based advocates. The first is policy development -- defining the ask. Too many advocates dream big without segmenting their dream into actionable policies that resonate with elected officials in a position to implement the improvement. The second is strategic communications -- campaigning for a yes. We help advocates position their policy as a common-sense improvement by recruiting messengers and rigorously crafting language that deflates the opposition. We also lobby directly. If you want to change the world, no matter your budget, we can help.
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Attorney
Law Office of Dan Johnson-Weinberger (Sole Proprietorship)
(Sole Proprietorship; 1-10 employees; Law Practice industry)
February 2001 — Present (7 years 6 months)
I focus on election law. I have represented presidential, congressional, state legislative and mayoral candidates in federal and state court as well as administrative hearings. My other focus is on non-profit organizations, particularly those that engage in advocacy and face regulations related to their lobbying and advocacy. Every mission-based non-profit ought to advocate, in my view, and I enjoy helping organizations exercise their First Amendment rights to petition the government and improve public policy.
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Lobbyist
Sole Proprietorship
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Government Relations industry)
March 2003 — September 2006 (3 years 7 months)
I lobby and consult for clients that are looking to translate big ideas that will make the world a better place into significant pieces of legislation that can earn majority support in legislatures. Current clients include the Midwest High Speed Rail Association (www.midwesthsr.org) and the National Popular Vote Initiative (www.EveryVoteEqual.org). My practice grew into a business, Progressive Public Affairs, with a wider range of services for advocates.
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Volunteer Director
Midwest Democracy Center
(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Political Organization industry)
June 1998 — June 2005 (7 years 1 month)
I founded an advocacy organization that makes our governments more representative and democratic. We are responsible for two Illinois laws, one that makes voter registration easier by giving citizens a 14-day grace period to register to vote after the regular deadline of 28 days before the election, and another that allows county boards to grant cumulative voting rights.
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General Counsel
FairVote: The Center for Voting and Democracy
(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Public Policy industry)
November 2000 — July 2004 (3 years 9 months)
I wrote legislation (some of which is now law), briefs, memos and advocacy pieces to advance the mission of ranked ballots through instant runoff voting, proportional representation and related reforms for a more muscular democracy. Based primarily in Chicago, I helped spark the drive to revive cumulative voting for the Illinois House of Representatives and contributed to the successful implementation of instant runoff voting in San Francisco. My major policy innovation was to focus on ranked ballots for overseas absentee voters, which has led to two states and a city implementing the reform in the last few years.
Dan Johnson-Weinberger’s Education
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University of Chicago Law School
J.D., Law, September 1997 — June 2000
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University of Illinois
B.A., Economics, Political Science, January 1994 — May 1997
- Activities and Societies:
- Daily Illini, Students for Environmental Concerns
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New Trier
Additional Information
Dan Johnson-Weinberger’s Websites:
Dan Johnson-Weinberger’s Interests:
progressive policy, innovative marketing techniques, word-of-mouth marketing, social marketing, customer evangelism, strategic planning, community partnerships, transit, government structure, history, the power of language
Dan Johnson-Weinberger’s Groups:
Chicago Bar Association, American Public Transportation Association,, American Marketing Association
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Obama for America member -
The University of Chicago Law School member -
American Marketing Association, Chicago Chapter (Chicago AMA) member -
CHICAGO 2016 Olympic Games Supporters member -
Midwest High Speed Rail Association member -
Former Students of Barack Obama member
Dan Johnson-Weinberger’s Honors:
The Midwest Democracy Center received the Kit Pfau Voting Rights Award from the Independent Voters of Illinois - Independent Precinct Organization for passing legislation that extends the voter registration deadline an extra 14 days.
Dan Johnson-Weinberger’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
