Modia Butler

Modia "Mo" Butler (born July 8, 1973), a Democratic strategist and public affairs executive, is a Managing Director at Mercury Public Affairs, LLC, ^[1] a leading national, bipartisan public affairs firm.^[2] Butler previously served as Chief of Staff to United States Senator Cory Booker.^[3][4] Butler is ranked 29th in PolitickerNJ's Power List of 100 most influential people in New Jersey. ^[5]

College

In 1995, Butler graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a B.A. in Political Science. Butler received his Master's degree in Public Policy from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University – New Brunswick.^[6]

Early career

From 1999 to 2003, Butler served as the Executive Director of Newark Do Something, an after-school program that promotes youth development. In 2003, Butler became the Executive Director of Newark Now, a grassroots nonprofit organization started by U.S. Senator Cory Booker.^[7][8][9] In 2006, Butler joined the Board of Commissioners at the Newark Housing Authority, serving as Chairman until 2015.^[10][11] Under his leadership, the Newark Housing Authority was removed from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s "troubled list".^[12]

In 2008, Butler was named Chief of Staff to former Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Cory Booker. ^[13] Butler appeared on multiple episodes of Brick City, a series that was broadcast on the Sundance Channel and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2010.

Personal life

Butler resides in Newark, New Jersey and has one daughter.

Further reading

• Booker, Cory (2016). United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good. Ballantine Books. ISBN 1-1019-6516-9.

• Wharton, Jonathan (2013). A Post-Racial Change is Gonna Come: Newark, Cory Booker and the Transformation of Urban America. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1-1372-7771-8.

• Gillespie, Andra (2012). The New Black Politician: Cory Booker, Newark, and Post-Racial America. NYU Press. ASIN B-010T-IIKA-E.

References