Founded in 1997, MB Public Affairs, Inc. provides clients a unique combination of political vulnerability research capabilities, public policy issue expertise, strategic analysis and communications skills.
Based in Sacramento, CA, the firm has represented candidates across the country in federal, state and local campaigns. We also provide research consulting services to ballot measure committees, independent expenditure committees/super PACs, issue advocacy/lobbying efforts, trade associations, private business interests and non-profit organizations.
The principals at MB Public Affairs, Inc. have worked in the political and public policy arenas for decades. We pride ourselves on being able to provide clients with the information necessary to develop persuasive communications strategies and mount effective, issue-oriented campaigns.
MARK BOGETICH (PRESIDENT)
Mark Bogetich, the firm’s founder and president, is one of the nation’s pre-eminent political vulnerability researchers. He has more than 20 years of experience providing research consulting services to a wide variety of clients – from statewide ballot initiatives, to candidates for governor and United States Senate, to local elected officials. Bogetich has been referred to as “the only game in town” for researchers in California and has been featured in the San Jose Mercury News and Los Angeles Times. He has also been named by Campaigns & Elections as one of the “Top 100 Influencers” in California politics.
MIKE KAHOE (STRATEGIC PARTNER)
Michael Kahoe is a recognized public policy expert who specializes in state and national regulatory matters and government relations. He has more than 30 years of experience working on environmental, regulatory, and natural resource issues in California, including as Assistant Secretary of the former Environmental Affairs Agency, as Deputy Secretary and part of the original team that created the California Environmental Protection Agency, and as Deputy Cabinet Secretary over the State’s environmental, natural resources, regulatory, and agricultural agencies. Prior to service with the State of California, Kahoe was an environmental consultant with Bay Area consulting firms and worked for the Fresno County-City Economic Development Program.
LAWRENCE GREEN (STRATEGIC PARTNER)
Lawrence Green is an attorney licensed to practice in the State of California. He has decades of experience in the real estate, banking, and insurance sectors. Green has served on three bank boards in California and was the executive vice president and counsel for a statewide insurance industry trade association. He has testified before the California Legislature and various regulatory bodies and has been quoted on real estate issues in major newspapers throughout the state. Green obtained both his A.B. and J.D. from the University of California, Davis.
PAUL HARMS (SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT)
Paul Harms specializes in managing candidate research for Congressional, legislative, and local elections. Since joining the firm in 2008, he has produced dozens of research packages every year in races across the United States. Harms also has experience in financial analysis and budgeting for public and non-profit entities. Prior to joining the firm, Harms served as Controller of the Associated Students of the University of California, Davis, where he managed an annual operating budget of more than $10 million. Harms graduated from UC Davis in 2009 with a B.S. in Managerial Economics.
PREVIN WITANA (POLITICAL DATA ANALYST)
Previn Witana is a graduate of USC, where he received a Masters in Public Policy and Certificate in Political Management. Witana specializes in compiling state political data covering issues such as gerrymandering, partisanship, and the general political background of states. He has managed candidate research for legislative races outside of California and local races in California. Prior to joining MB Public Affairs in October 2017, Witana served as an evaluation associate at Smart Start Evaluation & Research, an education consulting firm in Irvine, CA.
ALEX VAN BUSKIRK (SENIOR RESEARCHER)
Alex Van Buskirk is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University, where he received a B.A. in Political Science. After he graduated in 2012, Van Buskirk was accepted into The Heritage Foundation’s Young Leaders Program in Washington, D.C. where he focused on federal regulatory policy research as a Domestic and Economic Policy intern. Prior to joining MB Public Affairs in January 2014, Van Buskirk served as an intern in the California State Assembly and as a research assistant for another Sacramento consulting company.