Pete Seat currently writes a biweekly guest column for The Times (of Northwest Indiana). He has also published op-eds in the Indianapolis Star and the Arizona Daily Star and his travel diaries have appeared in the Tucson Citizen (from the 2004 Republican National Convention) and The Times (of NW Indiana - during international trips with President George W. Bush). He has also appeared on Fox News Channel and MSNBC as a political commentator discussing news of the day and has lectured at Purdue University.
Most recently, Pete served as Deputy Assistant Press Secretary to President George W. Bush. During three-and-a-half years on The White House staff, Pete spent time in both the Office of Appointments and Scheduling and the Office of the Press Secretary working for Tony Snow and Dana Perino. Pete’s broad portfolio included work as a White House spokesman and zookeeper – keeping the White House Press Corps in line during their many travels. In all, Pete traveled to 23 countries on five continents with President Bush including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Japan; and over a dozen states including many visits to the President’s Crawford, Texas ranch.
Prior to his White House service, Pete was the State Chairman of the Arizona College Republicans during the 2004 election cycle, and the President of the University of Arizona CR chapter during the 2003 mayoral and city council elections in Tucson. During this time, Pete raised over $35,000 for College Republicans across the state, was a frequent keynote speaker at Republican club functions and appeared on television, radio and in print as the official spokesman of College Republicans in Arizona. An aggressive public relations strategy in the final months of the 2004 campaign season saw the College Republicans appear on television, radio or in print, at least once every day including stories in the New York Times, Arizona Republic, Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Citizen and appearances on KNST’s morning show with Dave Skyler, the Fred Imus Show (Don’s brother) and the Sean Hannity Radio Show. He was also an alternate delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City.
Back home in Indiana, while a junior at Lake Central High School, Pete founded the Northwest Indiana High School Theatre Foundation. In its six years of existence, the Foundation helped foster growth, creativity and collaboration between high school theatre programs in the Region and awarded the best and brightest actors, directors and technical crews for their work each summer.
Pete Seat has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona and is a native of Schererville, Indiana.
