Patrick Killen

:"For the boxer, see Patrick Killen (boxer)".

Patrick Killen (born 1979) is a veteran of American public affairs projects and political campaigns.

Early life and career

Since 1996, Killen has consulted on a number of Republican Party campaigns in New Mexico. In 1998 and 1999, Killen was an intern for New Mexico Governor Gary E. Johnson, and later served as one of Johnson's political appointees on two separate boards and commissions. During the 2000 election, Killen served as campaign manager for former State Senator Mickey D. Barnett during his successful bid for Republican National Committeeman, and he also worked as political director for the Republican Party of New Mexico during George W. Bush's first campaign for President. [http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/215499elex08-31-04.htm] He was an executive assistant to two members of the New Mexico House of Representatives during the 2001 legislative session in Santa Fe, New Mexico. [http://www.patkillen.com/about_us]

In 2002, Killen worked as political and policy director for John Sanchez's Republican campaign for Governor of New Mexico. [http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/215499elex08-31-04.htm] Sanchez was defeated in the general election by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill Richardson. Killen also worked as campaign manager for John Dendahl's successful 2001 re-election bid for State Chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, as well as Dendahl's unsuccessful 2003 campaign. [http://web.archive.org/web/20070625024118/http://www.freenewmexican.com/blog9707/38747.html] According to the "Albuquerque Journal", Killen served as one of Dendahl's appointees on the state GOP rules committee, where he joined other committee members in calling for the resignation of Dendahl's successor in 2004. [http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/159372nm03-27-04.htm]

Coming out

In February 2004, Killen acknowledged publicly for the first time that he is gay. [http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/150890nm02-28-04.htm] That same month, President Bush officially endorsed the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would define marriage in the United States as the union of a man and a woman. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040224-2.html] In March 2004, Killen was elected president of the Log Cabin Republicans of New Mexico, a political organization consisting of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender supporters of the Republican Party. While involved with Log Cabin Republicans, Killen spoke in opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment. On June 10, 2004, he told the "Weekly Alibi", an alternative weekly in Albuquerque, New Mexico, "Log Cabin Republicans oppose any move that would write discrimination into the Constitution. We believe that the Constitution is a sacred document that guarantees the rights of Americans and doesn't take them away." [http://www.alibi.com/index.php?story=8360]

2004 election

On June 12, 2004, Republican state convention delegates in New Mexico elected Killen as an alternate delegate for President Bush to the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, New York. Killen was the second highest vote-getter among alternate delegates, receiving 153 votes. [http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/215499elex08-31-04.htm] He is the first openly gay person to represent New Mexico at a Republican National Convention. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2930&purchase_type=ITM&item_id=0286-4352169]

During the 2004 election, Killen served as campaign manager for Justine Fox Young's successful campaign for New Mexico House of Representatives and H. Diane Snyder's successful re-election campaign for New Mexico State Senate. [http://www.patkillen.com/about_us] From 2005 to 2006, Killen served as an appointee of Albuquerque Mayor Martin J. Chavez on the advisory board for the Mayor's Office of Volunteerism and Engagement. [http://cabq.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=249035&GUID=33CA7615-AC87-4422-985F-2418297CE987&Search=killen&Options=ID|Text|] Killen had previously served in a similar position for Governor Johnson on the New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism from 1999 to 2003, and also served as one of Johnson's designees on the New Mexico Legislative Teacher Merit Pay Task Force in 1999. [http://www.amarillo.com/stories/062499/new_johnson.shtml]

"Campaigns & Elections" magazine Rising Star

On May 23, 2006, Killen was named by "Campaigns & Elections" magazine as a political "Rising Star." Past "Rising Stars" recognized by the magazine have included Ed Gillespie, James Carville, Paul Begala, Karen Hughes, and George Stephanopoulos. [http://www.mywire.com/pubs/CampaignsElections/2006/06/01/1760551?extID=10051]

2006 election

Philosophically, Killen is a libertarian Republican. During the 2006 election, Killen worked as Director of Communications for Yes on Question 7, the Nevada campaign committee for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). Question 7 -- which would have taxed and regulated marijuana similarly to alcohol in Nevada -- lost statewide by a margin of 55.92%-44.08%, passing in one county, Storey. The initiative would have earmarked half of marijuana-related licensing fees and tax revenues to alcohol and drug treatment and education, with the other half going to the state's general fund. It would have also increased penalties for providing marijuana to minors, as well as for motorists who kill someone while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or any other substance. [http://www.regulatemarijuana.org/home/about] Despite its defeat on election day, it was still an all-time record statewide vote in support of ending "marijuana prohibition completely," according to MPP. [http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/ca/record-vote-to-end-marijuana-prohibition-signals-progress-toward.html] Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, a Republican, serves on MPP's Advisory Board. [http://www.mpp-vip.org/current]

Current activities

On June 15, 2008, Killen was quoted in an Associated Press article as campaign manager for Aubrey Dunn's unsuccessful primary campaign for the Republican nomination in New Mexico's Second Congressional District. [http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/311336nm06-15-08.htm] The Republican Primary in New Mexico was held on June 3. [http://www.sos.state.nm.us/pdf/2008Calendar_Primary.pdf] Killen has been referenced in various sources as a former account director for PoliWorks, an Albuquerque-based political consulting firm. [http://www.poliworks.com] "Roll Call" reported on April 22, 2008, that PoliWorks was consulting on Dunn's primary campaign. [http://www.rollcall.com/issues/53_124/atr/23164-1.html]

According to the "New Mexico Business Weekly", Killen is out of politics and is now working as director of public affairs and communications for ValueOptions New Mexico, the "statewide entity that manages public funding and behavioral healthcare in New Mexico." (Source: "New Mexico Business Weekly," October 3, 2008) [http://www.valueoptions.com/newmexico/news/081808_Killen.pdf]