Richardson hires Kerry’s former S.C. state director

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s (D) presidential campaign announced new South Carolina hires Friday, including James Dukes as state political director.

Dukes served as Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) South Carolina state director during the 2004 cycle. He was a longtime aide to former Sen. Ernest “Fritz” Hollings (D-S.C.) and, most recently, served as interim executive director of the state party.

“Bill Richardson has the proven executive experience to get our country back on track and repair the damage of the past six years,” Dukes said in a statement. “And I am looking forward to helping spread his message of moving our country forward to the voters of South Carolina.”

The campaign also announced the hires of Trav Robertson as state field director and Jeanie Brown-Burrows as Pee Dee field director.

Robertson worked on Rep. John Spratt’s (D-S.C.) winning 2000 campaign, and Brown-Burrows worked for Inez Tenenbaum’s unsuccessful 2004 Senate campaign.