Fort Worth’s Longbow Partners has added Ben Stratmann to the firm. Stratmann, most recently chief of staff to state Sen. Brian Birdwell, brings more than a decade of Capitol experience to the government relations and business advisory firm.
“The addition of Ben will add significant value to Longbow, bringing specific policy expertise, a strong work ethic and a deep understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes, immediately strengthening the firm’s reach and expertise and benefitting existing and new clients,” said managing partner Robert Peeler.
Stratmann served as chief of staff to Birdwell, whose district spans Tarrant, Hood and McClendon counties, for more than six years over three regular legislative sessions and five special sessions. Prior to that, he was a policy analyst and communications director for the senator, later managing his 2012 re-election campaign.
Early in his career, Stratmann served as special assistant to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst; worked in the offices of Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples; and coordinated volunteers and supporters for various local, state and federal campaigns.
“Since joining my team nearly eight years ago, I have watched Ben develop into a thoughtful, successful operator of the political and legislative processes, particularly in the last six years as my Chief of Staff,” said Birdwell, who chairs both the Sunset Advisory Commission and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development. “His work ethic, loyalty and strategic knowledge will serve him and his future colleagues extremely well.”
A graduate of Texas State University, fourth-generation Texan and native of Austin, Stratmann is deeply involved in his community, including being appointed by the Austin City Council as chairman of the Ethics Review Commission, the sovereign body overseeing local disclosure, ethics and campaign finance issues.