Q&A with Mike Biundo
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
So when I was in High School, I was the “manager” of an 80’s rock band. I always thought that was going to be my calling. There’s still a home video floating around somewhere of me trying to promote the band.
How did you end up involved in politics?
It’s a longer story than this, but when I blew my back out pulling a baggage cart at Logan Airport when I worked for an airline in the early 90s, I had a lot of free time and got interested in politics. I read a book about the New Hampshire Primary written by former NH Governor Hugh Gregg. In the book, there was an ad for Reagan’s race in 1976- one of those endorser ads. Governor Gregg was listed with his phone number. I called it, and to my surprise, he picked up. I asked him how to get involved in politics. He helped connect me to our local committee. I got so interested I attended the Grand Opening of Pat Buchanan’s 1992 Nashua, NH Campaign Office. My first encounter with a politician at an event was caught on C-SPAN. From that moment, I was hooked. Four years later, I became Pat’s Deputy Campaign Manager; the rest is history.
Tell me your best political story or favorite political memory.
I have a lot of fond memories and stories. However, to pick one, I will go with a funny one. It’s the morning after the Iowa Caucus during the 2012 campaign (Rick Santorum won that night though they told us we came in second). I was up most of the night, and we are scheduled to do a big all-hands campaign senior staff meeting that, as Rick’s Campaign Manager, I am playing a leading role in. We are supposed to leave right after that and get on a prop plane and fly to NH. I have been living in Iowa for the better part of six weeks, so I have a ton of stuff. I wake up late because I am exhausted, mentally and physically. So I am rushing to the hotel for this meeting after grabbing about ½ my stuff and deciding to leave the rest, and I get pulled over for speeding. So the officer comes up to the car, and I try to say – hey, sorry, and explain who I am and hopefully get out of it. I got to who I work for, and he said, “I voted for Romney,” and proceeded to shut me down and write me a ticket. I was like so much for my newfound stardom. Back to reality really quickly.
How do you spend your free time?
My pick-up basketball group calls me “Workout Mike” (notice they don’t call me Basketball Mike or Shooter Mike), but since I made a vow to lose weight after seeing my 50th birthday pictures in 2018, I spend 3 hours or so a day at the gym 5-6 days a week. I guess it has become sort of a part-time job. I spend a ton of time going for drives as well. My wife Robin and I are always on the road somewhere when I am not in the gym or working.
What is the best concert you’ve attended?
I can’t pick one. I have three that stand out to me, though, in no particular order. Billy Joel in the rain with my daughter Amanda at Fenway Park. Garth Brooks with my wife Robin at the Garden in Boston, and Faith Hill and Tim McGraw because Tim did Robin and I’s wedding song, “It’s Your Love,” which was emotional. Though if I get a 4th, I would go with Journey at the 2012 Republican National Convention because the setting was cool.
Mike Biundo on Being a Good Person and Politics
Some of the most important advice I can give someone aspiring to run for office or getting involved in the industry of politics is to remember that a lot of what we do is relationship based. Yes, we have to go out and earn votes for our candidates or ourselves on a macro level, but what we do with our micro relationships lays the foundation for success. How we treat people and develop relationships with those in our industry and community will, in many cases, define how far we progress.
People gravitate to wanting to work with and help people of high integrity. Your word is your bond, and your attitude to those around you will pay off if handled correctly. The quote – “Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down.” is attributed to a few different people, and the origin is debated. Regardless of who said it first, it is wise words.
Politics is tough – you will hit obstacles on your way to your goals. You will hit obstacles once you achieve them. Sometimes it’s just as hard to stay on top as it is to get there. You will need people in your corner. People are willing to put themselves on the line for you if you act with high integrity. If you live up to your promises and keep true to your word, you are much more likely to find champions to take up your cause in your corner. Besides – putting politics aside, it’s just a happier and better way to live.
Adam Schiff for Senate, or is it Congress? His Facebook suggests both.
Adam Schiff (D-CA) has announced a run for US Senate. With this announcement has come a hefty spend of nearly $225,000 (Jan 25 – Jan 31, 2023) on Facebook/Instagram advertising. We couldn’t help but notice something amiss when diving deeper into these ads. He has run over 70 ads since announcing advertising his Senate run; however, all of them are paid for by “Schiff for Congress.”
We contacted our compliance team to discuss the legality of these faulty advertising practices. According to an expert in compliance, while this may be a technical error (he filed with the FEC a run for Senate on 1/26/23 and changed his committee name to “Schiff for Senate”), it still isn’t correct practice. The committee name must match where the spending comes from, which should be “Schiff for Senate.”
So, Adam Schiff, which is it – Senate or Congress?
