Barry Dill

Barry Dill is a partner in the firm FirstStrategic, Communications & Public Affairs joining in 2005. Dill leads the firm’s federal relations line of business and Southern Arizona outreach efforts. Prior to joining FirstStrategic, Dill was an associate for seven years at the Phoenix, AZ government/public relations firm Policy Development Group (PDG). PDG represented a wide range of clients at the local, state and federal level. In 2006, Dill served as senior advisor and strategist to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano’s successful re-election campaign. He previously served as senior advisor and strategist during Governor Napolitano’s gubernatorial race in 2002.

In 1998, Dill served the same role in Napolitano’s first campaign, a successful run for Arizona Attorney General. Dill’s entry into politics began in 1986 when he was chosen to serve on U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini’s Tucson staff. In 1988 Dill was the Southern Arizona Campaign Manager for DeConcini’s successful re-election bid and was named Southern Arizona Director for the Senator’s Tucson office shortly thereafter. In 1991, Dill was tapped by Senator DeConcini to manage the entire state U.S. Senate operation as State Director, where he served until the Senator’s retirement in 1995. After Senator DeConcini’s retirement, Dill joined the Denver-based think tank Center for the New West. The Center for the New West focused on policy issues dealing with trade, technology and economic development.

During his tenure, Dill served as director of the Center’s Phoenix office. In 1996, Dill left the policy world for election politics and served as Arizona deputy state director for the successful Clinton/Gore presidential re-election effort. The election is noteworthy because it was the first time a Democrat ticket had won in Arizona since 1948. For the campaign, Dill oversaw all grassroots, field and GOTV activities. Before entering politics, Dill was a radio announcer and news reporter for stations in Utah and Arizona. In 1984-85, he was a sports correspondent for the now-defunct Phoenix Gazette newspaper. Dill is a native of Indiana. He and his wife Melinda have four children and live in Scottsdale.