# Joseph R. Cerrell

> Joseph R. Cerrell (1935-2010) was an American political consultant and co-founder of the Los Angeles public affairs firm Cerrell with his wife, Lee. A former California Democratic Party executive director, he worked on presidential campaigns, developed a practice in judicial elections, and co-founded USC’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics.

- **Role:** Political consultant and public affairs executive
- **Organizations:** Cerrell Associates, California Democratic Party, University of Southern California, Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, American Association of Political Consultants, International Association of Political Consultants, National Italian American Foundation
- **From:** Queens, New York, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in political science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles High School
- **Known for:** Co-founded Cerrell Associates with Lee Cerrell., Co-founded USC’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics and taught there as an adjunct professor for 15 years., Served as president of both the American and International Associations of Political Consultants.

## Career timeline

- **1956** — Arranged a USC campus appearance by Senator John F. Kennedy.
- **1957** — Graduated from USC with a political science degree.
- **1958** — Worked on Pat Brown’s successful gubernatorial campaign.
- **1959** — Became California Democratic Party executive director at age 24.
- **1960** — Worked on Kennedy’s presidential campaign in California.
- **1963** — Married Lee Bullock.
- **1966** — Established Cerrell Associates; the firm identifies this as its founding year.
- **1980** — Moved the firm to Larchmont Boulevard in Los Angeles.
- **1983** — Opened Washington partnership Palumbo & Cerrell with Ben Palumbo.
- **1999-2005** — Served as president of the National Italian American Foundation.
- **2002** — Received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
- **2010** — Became chairman emeritus as Hal Dash assumed the chairman and CEO titles.
- **2010-12-03** — Died at age 75.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Cerrell Associates with Lee Cerrell.
- Co-founded USC’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics and taught there as an adjunct professor for 15 years.
- Served as president of both the American and International Associations of Political Consultants.
- Received PRSA-LA’s Outstanding PR Professional PRism Award in 2001.
- Received American University Campaign Management Institute’s lifetime achievement recognition in 2004.
- Held Italy’s Commendatore al Merito della Repubblica Italiana decoration.

## Latest updates

- **2010-12** — Joseph R. Cerrell died on December 3; Anna Eshoo honored his life in Congress on December 8.
- **2021-12** — Cerrell marked the eleventh anniversary of its co-founder’s passing in a memorial shared on LinkedIn.

## Links

- Website: https://www.cerrell.com/

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Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-25