Stewart Verdery, ex-office of Senate Majority Whip Nickles (R-Okl...

Stewart Verdery, ex-office of Senate Majority Whip Nickles (R-Okla.), named staff dir., Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force… Preston Lewis, ex-HBO, named dir.-mktg. and retail, MTV… Changes at A&E: Barbara Rubin, ex-Rysher TV, appointed vp- legal and business affairs, new West Coast office; Sal Petruzzi, ex-Dan Klores Assoc., named dir.-public affairs… Gary Levine, ex-Icebox, named exec. vp-original programming, Showtime Networks, replacing Mark Zakarin, who remains consultant and will write pilot scripts… Reelected on Universal Service Administrative Co. board: Frank Gumper, Verizon, chmn.; Allan Thomas, Ia. Utilities Board, vice chmn.; Cheryl Parrino, CEO; Edwin Eichler, Pigeon Telephone, secy.; Anne Bryant, National School Boards Assn., treas.; Scott Barash, gen. counsel, asst. secy.; Robert Haga, vp-operations, asst. treas… Named partners of Tongour Simpson: James Green, ex-Patton, Boggs and FCC; Brad Holdsclaw… Promotions at Lifetime: Kelly Abugov to senior vp-programming, Marian Effinger vp-reality programming, Paul Noble to vp-film acquisitions and scheduling… Changes at American Assn. of Ad Agencies board: Brendan Ryan, FCB Worldwide, named chmn.; Kenneth Kaess, DDB Worldwide, vice chmn; Marsha Lindsay, Lindsay, Stone & Briggs Advertising, secy.-treas. Named dir. at large: Susan Gianinno, Transatlantic and D'Arcy; Anthony Hopp, Campbell- Ewald; William Whitehead, Bates Advertising.