Jay Townsend's career in politics began in the 1970's as a Cornell University graduate student. Awarded a fellowship by the NY State Senate Finance Committee, he helped formulate political strategies for the committee during New York City's fiscal crisis. He later served as a legislative assistant in the United States Senate. In 1980, he managed his first statewide political campaign. Mr. Townsend served as a senior associate and partner in political consulting firms before forming The Townsend Group in the early 1990’s. Since 1982, he has worked in more than 300 different campaigns in more than 25 different states. Speechwriter, debate coach, spokesperson, polltaker, television, print and radio advertising strategist, Mr. Townsend has worked in four presidential campaigns, scores of U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial and Congressional races, and a myriad of County Executive, Mayoral, legislative and judicial contests. An adept wordsmith, Townsend has received several national awards from the American Association of Political Consultants for his work, including the nation’s best television commercial aired in a Gubernatorial race (1990), the best persuasion mail piece produced for a Presidential campaign (1996) and the nation’s best newspaper ad (2002). Mr. Townsend has also served as a consultant to several initiative and referenda campaigns. He has lectured on politics and political warfare at the United States Military Academy, the Marketing Research Association, the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, and numerous colleges and universities. Mr. Townsend earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from Purdue University in 1976 and 1982. He resides with his wife, Rebecca, and sons in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY.