Local Politico Alex Clemens is Sully Family Spokesmodel!

Constant Readers,

I’m back from a few days in Half Moon Bay with Beth and the Brians, and was trolling the internets for news when...lo and behold! Look what’s on the AP Newswire re: the hero pilot US Airways Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger:

Sullenberger released a statement through a family spokesperson, Alex Clemens, saying the family was deferring to the advice of the pilots association. "The Sullenbergers continue to thank their many well-wishers for the incredible outpouring of support," the statement said.

What!?!?

And also: YAY!! Fabulous!!

For any of you who do not frequent City Hall, Alex Clemens is the founder and president of Barbary Coast Consulting - a government and communications strategy shop that specializes in the Minotaur Maze that is San Francisco politics. He also created (and now the wonderful team of folks at Barbary Coast maintain) the SFUsualSuspects website that is an indispensable resource for folks who follow SF politics.

And it’s no secret that I count Alex among my closest friends despite the fact that he kicks my ass in Rock Band every single time we play. (You’d think the man would let me win just once.)

Though, apparently, we are not good enough friends for him to warn me about this beforehand.

Undaunted by this glaring omission, I called him immediately and skipped the "hello", opting to squeal: "TELL ME EVERYTHING!!"

Anyone who has crossed paths with Alex knows he’s an infuriating fortress of discretion, so he wouldn’t tell me much. Only that Mrs. Sullenberger asked one of her friends for advice on dealing with the media and that friend referred her to Alex. It certainly sounds like she could use the help - he says he’s been dealing with hundreds of calls a day; he fielded four during our brief conversation.

I can’t imagine what it must be like for this nice, normal family to be descended upon by a horde of media folks as if the antidote to our financial crisis is in their house. I suspect they need someone who will listen to their ideas and concerns and be sensitive to the fact that this is all strange, and wonderful and terrifying. And fight like hell to protect their privacy and dignity.

I can’t think of anyone better for the job.

And I’m hoping he’ll be so busy that he gets a little rusty at Rock Band.