Tom Ochs is a Media Consultant and Strategic Advisor to Democratic candidates for federal and statewide office and Democratic Party committees. Ochs has been working in politics for over 30 years and got his start as an advance man for Bill Bradley in 1978. Over the next six years he worked as a Field Organizer for Ted Kennedy (1980), a Field Director for Congressman Tom Foglietta (1982), Campaign Manager for Congressman Alan Wheat (1982), State Director for John Glenn’s presidential bid (1983), and Deputy Campaign manager for Bill Bradley’s re-election campaign (1984).
He joined Bob Squier’s political consulting firm in 1985 and became a partner there in 1992. His clients included Senator Bob Graham, Senator Evan Bayh, Congressman Vic Fazio, Massachusetts Treasurer Shannon O’Brien and Governor Ann Richards. In 1992 he was a member of the creative team handling the paid media for the Clinton/Gore campaign. In 1995-1996, Squier Knapp Ochs produced all of the paid media for both the DNC and the Clinton/Gore re-election campaign.
In addition to his political experience, Ochs has worked for a variety of private and public sector clients. Internationally he has worked in Russia, Hungary, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. In 2000, Ochs was senior advisor to DNC Chairman Joe Andrew and consultant to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. He then worked as political director for the New Democrat Network through 2003 before joining the firm. In 2005, Ochs spearheaded Howard Dean’s successful race for Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. His clients at the firm include the DNC, DCCC, Indiana Democratic Party, Indiana House Caucus, New York DSCC, Working Families Party, and members of Congress Baron Hill, John Sarbanes, Andre Carson and Carol Shea-Porter.