(Louisville) – RunSwitch PR, the largest public relations and public affairs firm in Kentucky, and Grit Creative were presented with two Reed Awards by Campaigns and Elections Magazine at a ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada. Named for Campaigns & Elections founder Stanley Foster Reed, the Reed Awards were established to identify the best of the political campaign industry.
The firms were recognized for strategic campaign messaging created for Kentuckians for Strong Leadership (KSL), an independent expenditure organization which successfully helped flip control of the Kentucky State House to Republicans. Prior to the November 8 election, Kentucky’s House was the only chamber in the South controlled by Democrats.
RunSwitch PR and Grit Creative were awarded one Reed Award for the best mail piece by an independent expenditure for a state legislative campaign. The firms won a second Reed Award for “Toughest Radio Ad – Republican” in the nation.
“Vince and I have worked on various projects together for 20 years. We had a blast putting these ads together,” said RunSwitch partner Scott Jennings. “It was an honor to help flip the Kentucky House to the Republican Party, and to do it working with a good friend and very talented ad maker.”
Kentuckians for Strong Leadership ran an independent communications apparatus in the 2016 state house elections. KSL engaged in 19 state house races, and of those, Republican candidates were elected in 16.
“When asked to partner with Scott Jennings and RunSwitch PR for Kentuckians for Strong Leadership in the 2016 cycle, we jumped at the chance,” said Vincent Fields, President of Grit Creative. “Our teams delivered an innovative advertising strategy for KSL, which flipped control of the state house to Republicans for the first time in 90 years. We’re grateful for the recognition from Campaigns & Elections Magazine.”
RUNSWITCH PR – GRIT CREATIVE REED AWARD WINNERS:
Category: Best Mail Piece For Independent Expenditure Campaign – State Legislative
Winner: Hillary Birthday Card – RunSwitch PR and Grit Creative won the honor of Best Mail Piece For Independent Expenditure Campaign for a mail piece sent to voters on Hillary Clinton’s birthday. The Kentuckians for Strong Leadership card included an audio recording of Clinton saying, “We are going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of jobs,” and urged voters to vote against “every Clinton Democrat running.” VIDEO
Category: Toughest Radio Ad – Republican
Winner: Fleabag Fitz – RunSwitch PR and Grit Creative won the “Toughest Radio Ad – Republican” category with “Fleabag Fitz.” The radio advertisement slammed incumbent Democrat State Representative Fitz Steele for interacting with a firm involved in a Frankfort corruption scandal. AUDIO
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ABOUT RUNSWITCH:
RunSwitch PR is a full-service firm providing a range of services including public affairs, public relations, and political consulting services to an impressive list of local, national, and international clients, including Amazon, Pfizer, Phillip Morris International, and Long John Silver’s. Along with being a “Best Place To Work” for the past two years, Louisville Business First ranked RunSwitch PR the number one PR firm in Kentucky, in 2014, 2015, and 2016. For more information about RunSwitch PR and its team, visit www.runswitchpr.com or follow the firm on Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT GRIT CREATIVE:
Grit Creative is a marketing and advertising agency in Frankfort, Kentucky that assembles a best-in-class team of thinkers and makers, providing a virtual in-house creative department. Specializing in politics and public affairs, Grit has delivered for campaigns at all levels – from County Clerk to US President. To learn more about Grit Creative, visit www.grit-creative.com or follow @HelloGrit on Twitter.
