Bill and Hunter Ackerley

Bill and Hunter Ackerley, father and daughter, are Gabrielle Giffords’ Supporters of the Month for February 2008.

Bill and Hunter began volunteering for Gabrielle in 2006. He was looking for a volunteer activity he and Hunter could share. As Bill drove past the 2006 Campaign office on his way to and from work, it struck him that working in the political arena “just might be a good experience for Hunter,” he said. “I wanted her to know what happens behind the scenes.” Only seven at the time, Hunter was the youngest volunteer in the office on a regular basis!

In addition to having a volunteer activity with Hunter, Bill also wanted to be engaged in the campaign. “I liked Gabrielle’s fair stance on immigration,” he said. “If I didn’t do something to help her get elected, I would have felt extremely bad.”

Two years later, Bill and Hunter are still volunteering. “We went to the first open house held this year and immediately signed up for our Monday night slot,” Bill said. Hunter is excited to be back. “Helping out is fun,” she said. “I like Gabrielle, she’s always nice to people. There are good reasons for her being elected.” While at the office, Hunter works on preparing supplies for walk packets and mailings and from time to time, she helps her Dad on the computer.

Although it was important to get Gabrielle elected in 2006, “it’s even more important to get her reelected,” says Bill. “She’s leading the way on solar energy and has really found her own way in Washington.”

Bill is a principal in his family’s advertising agency, Ackerley Advertising. Work, family, and writing keep him very busy. He has published one book entitled “Creating Copy,” a trade book on how to write for advertising. A second book, “Happy Habit,” about living your life happy, is on the way.
He and his wife, Heidi, have been married for fifteen years. Hunter is their only child and they have a miniature chocolate poodle named Cocoa.

Hunter is a third-grader at Fruchthendler Elementary. When not at school or the campaign office, she can be found playing first base on her softball team or playing the harp and drums. She hasn’t decided which instrument she likes better. “I like them both,” she says.