ALABAMA - BILL ARMISTEAD

[elected Feb. 19, 2011; re-elected Feb. 2, 2013]
As Chairman, Bill Armistead brings a wealth of experience to the Alabama Republican Party. From 1988 to 1993, he served as the Chief Economic Advisor for Governor Guy Hunt. In 1994, Bill Armistead was elected as the State Senator for Senate District 14 which includes Shelby, Chilton and Bibb counties.

While in the Senate, he served two terms, including one as the minority leader. Bill also ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2002, served as a Presidential Elector in 1996 and has served as the Vice Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party (Districts 3, 6 and 7) for three terms.

Bill began his career with Saunders Leasing System in Birmingham as a management trainee and worked his way up to Senior Vice President. Bill also served as Vice President at McDonnell Douglas and Hanna Steel.

In 2000, he joined with three others to form Fidelity Information Systems,a tech company that made software for banks to aid in their customer relationship management. Three years ago, they sold the software company; however, Bill stayed on and remains a product consultant.

Bill and his wife, Emily, live in Columbiana.

ALASKA - PETER GOLDBERG

[from April 8, 2013]
Chairman Peter S. Goldberg retired in June 2007 from the United States Army as a Colonel after 37 years of active and reserve service.  Having been assigned to Alaska twice during that career and fallen in love with The Great Land, there was only one place on earth for his retirement.  During his active duty years, he could not actively participate in politics because of the Hatch Act, but he has voted Republican in every election since first eligible in 1966.  He was elected Vice-Chair of District 32 in 2008, then chair of the newly formed District 26 in February 2012.  He was unanimously elected to be the ARP Vice-Chair on February 9, 2013.  He became ARP Chair when the position was vacated on April 8, 2013. 

Chairman Goldberg graduated Brooklyn College with a BS  in Biology in 1970 and Utah State University with an MS in Wildlife Science in 1977.  He and his wife, Marti, have six children and 13 grandchildren.  He loves hunting, fishing, flying, SCUBA, cross-country skiing, backpacking, four wheeling, travel, and nature photography.

ARIZONA - ROBERT GRAHAM

[elected Jan. 26, 2013]
Robert S. Graham has an outstanding record of leadership and experience in serving Arizona residents and charitable organizations through his commitment of time and financial contributions. Graham is President and CEO of RG Capital, responsible for the company’s financial advisory, investment banking/consulting and corporate development business. He brings more than twelve years of experience in domestic and international strategic, financial, marketing, corporate development and operational management. Additionally, he has profitably managed three operating companies and three venture start-ups.

Elected in January, 2013, Graham is Chairman of the Arizona State Republican Party, responsible for leading the state’s GOP initiatives while overseeing and growing a well funded and organized party.  

Graham’s accomplishments in business have been recognized regionally by AZ Business Magazine as one of the Top Entrepreneurs and nationally, by Boomer Market Advisor magazine as the 2007 Advisor of the Year.

A cum laude graduate from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Global Business Management and Finance, Graham has served on the ASU School of Global Business Management and Leadership Dean’s Advisory Council. For his entrepreneurial success and service to ASU, Graham was awarded “Distinguished Alumnus” from the School of Global Management and Leadership. Currently, Graham is months away from earning his Masters of Business Administration from the #1 ranked business school in the world, the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Since 1993, Graham has worked with and educated thousands of individuals and organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to private clients. Graham has been invited as an expert to present on topics, which include taxations, innovation, entrepreneurialism, globalization, wealth accumulation, capital markets, tax efficiencies, legacy planning, asset protection and business/practice succession. He has assisted small, middle market and large corporations in applying easy to implement financial engineering, marketing and operating programs to immediately improve short term results while maintaining long range investment strategy and continuity.

Chosen as a featured presenter for the Financial Advisor Symposium 2005, 2006, 2007 and the Arizona State University Financial Management Association, Graham was also honored in May 2007 to give a motivational convocation to the graduating students at ASU’s School of Global Business Leadership and Management.

Graham was recently added to the “Distinguished Speaker Series” of the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University in his home state of Michigan. His topic centered on “Globalization” and Michigan’s opportunities to become globally competitive while promoting economic development and sustainability.

In both 2009 and 2010, Graham was invited to speak at the States and Nation Policy Summit hosted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and to Americans for Tax Reform, in Washington, D.C. Graham is a nationally recognized fiscal policy expert speaking on topics which include “Finding the Economic Advantage”, economic security, labor and commerce.

Graham is the author of Job Killers: The American Dream in Reverse. Job Killers highlights the negative impact modern labor unions are having on today’s economy and American jobs. http://www.jobkillers.com

Graham has lived in Arizona for 20 years. He and his wife, Julia, reside in Phoenix with their five children. Graham and his family are active members of their church and local community. Graham is a member of the Arizona School Choice Trust Board of Directors. Graham is also a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. The Grahams have helped support and serve local and international charities through their church and directly such as Catholic Charities, New Beginnings Women Shelter, My Sister’s Place, Saint Mary’s Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and Healing Hands for Haiti, among others.

briefer bio from RNC:
After getting his BS in Global Business Administration and Finance and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Graham has accrued a variety of business experience. He has worked with Gold and Associates, CUE Financial and Merrill Lynch. To add this, Graham has founded two different enterprises, iNation, LLC and RG Capital, LLC. He has more than thirteen years of experience in corporate development and in domestic and international strategic, financial, marketing and operational management. Graham and his wife Julia are very involved in the community and together they have five children.

ed. note: Graham had also made an earlier attempt to become chair; he was a late entrant in the Jan. 2011 race for party chair, finishing third behind Tom Morrissey and Ron Carmichael.  He also waged a short primary challenge to Gov. Jan Brewer (R) from Aug. 2009-Jan. 2010.

ARKANSAS - DOYLE WEBB

[first elected Dec. 13, 2008, re-elected to a second term on Dec. 4, 2010, and to a third term on Dec. 1, 2012]
On December 13, 2008, Doyle Webb was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas.  His election was the culmination of over 35 years of grassroots work within the Party.   From a Saline County Precinct Captain to County Secretary and Chairman to General Counsel of the State Executive Committee, Doyle has served the Republican Party in every aspect.  Having attended the last 8 Republican National Committee and its roll in electing national leaders. 

In state and local politics, Doyle was the first elected Republican in Saline County under the new form of county government.  He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1986 and served for 3 terms.  As a J.P., Doyle distinguished himself as Budget Chairman and actually oversaw the lowering of property taxes in the county during his tenure.

In 1994, Doyle was elected to the State Senate as the first Republican from Saline and Perry Counties.  His committee work included:  Chairman of Joint Energy; Vice Chairman of State Agencies and Governmental Affairs; Joint Budget; Legislative Council; Legislative Audit; Children and Youth; Judiciary; Efficiency; City, County, and Local Affairs; Natural Cultural Resources Council; and the Rural Fire Department Study Commission.  During his two terms in the State Senate, Senator Webb fought for lower taxes, government efficiency, ethics reform, the rights of the unborn and many other issues important to the people of his district and the state as a while.  He co-authored the Senate's Code of Ethics and led the way in achieving the redevelopment of Interstate 30 into 6 lanes. 

Near the end of Senator Webb's second term in the Senate, Lt. Governor Win Rockefeller asked the Senator to join him as his Chief of Staff.  Doyle served in this capacity from April of 2002 through the 2003 and 2005 Sessions of the legislature.  He worked closely with Lt. Governor Rockefeller during his term as Republican Party Chairman and in preparation for running for Governor in 2006.  In June of 2005, Win announced that he would suspend his race for Governor due to an unclassified blood disorder.  In July of 2006 Lt. Governor Rockefeller died while in office.  Doyle continued Win's service as his Chief of Staff until January of 2007 when his term ended. 

Chairman Webb holds a Juris Doctorate (law degree) and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  He has practiced law for over 25 years.  Doyle and his wife, Barbara, reside in Benton.

CALIFORNIA - JIM BRULTE

[elected March 3, 2013]
Jim was elected Chairman of the California Republican Party in March of 2013. He served 14 years in the California State Legislature, most recently as Senate Republican Leader, before leaving office to join California Strategies to head up the Inland Empire office.

While in office, Jim developed a national reputation as a dynamic leader, and prior to the election of Governor Schwarzenegger, was described as "arguably the most powerful elected Republican in California." Representing the Inland Empire, Jim focused his efforts on education, regulatory reform, crime reduction, and common-sense legislation to improve California`s business climate. His measures to reform the workers` compensation and welfare systems have saved billions of dollars for both California taxpayers and California`s business community. In addition to his political expertise, Jim is also an expert on fiscal issues and was the GOP`s lead negotiator for California`s 80+ billion dollar budget negotiations.

He recently completed a term as a member of the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy. He was also appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger as a member of the Performance Review Committee.

Senator Brulte graduated with a B.A. from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. In 1974, Jim joined the California Air National Guard where he was later honored as "Outstanding Airman of the Year" for the United States and its territories.

COLORADO - RYAN CALL

[elected March 26, 2011; re-elected March 2, 2013]
Ryan was born in Denver, grew up in Adams County, and attended Ranum High School in Federal Heights. He received his J.D. from the University of Denver in 2005, and his M.B.A. in finance and organizational management and B.A. degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Ryan is an attorney with the Denver law firm of Hale Westfall, LLP, where he provides legal counsel and strategic advice to a broad range of corporations and trade associations, tax-exempt non-profits and advocacy organizations, political party committees, candidate and political action committees, and individuals.

Ryan previously served as a member of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Alumni Council, as a Commissioner appointed by Governor Bill Owens to the Colorado Access to Justice Commission, and worked for two sessions as a legislative aide in the Colorado General Assembly. He has served as a member of the Colorado Secretary of State’s Advisory Panels on Election Law and Campaign Finance and Lobbyist Regulation, and the Colorado Lawyer’s Committee Election Law Task Force. In addition to his membership in the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, Ryan has been an active member of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Federalist Society and the Republican National Lawyer’s Association, and is a member of the National Rifle Association.

Prior to being elected State Chairman, Ryan served as the State Party’s legal counsel from 2006 to 2011, assisting Party leaders, candidates, and grassroots activists in navigating the increasingly complicated campaign finance rules, election laws, and Party organizational questions. In the months leading up to the 2008 elections, he took a leave of absence from his law practice to work full-time as In House Counsel and as the State Party’s Political Director. His work for the State Party has involved traveling the state, fielding countless inquiries and calls with local leaders and candidates, and leading numerous trainings and webinars.

Ryan’s heart is and has always been with the grassroots of the conservative movement. He entered politics as a campus leader of the College Republicans at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and served as the State Chairman of the Colorado Youth for Bush effort during the 2000 campaign. In the two years he served as the State Chairman of the Colorado College Republicans, the organization started ten new campus groups and recruited thousands of young people to the Republican Party. He was elected by his peers to serve for two years as the National Co-Chairman of the College Republican National Committee, and in that capacity assisted with national fundraising and continued to provide training and support, and to rally young volunteers for the Republican cause.

In addition to his work at the State Party, over the past eight years Ryan has meaningfully served his own local County Party, volunteering as a precinct committeeperson, for four years as County Party Vice-Chairman, and most recently as the Chairman of the Denver Republican Party.

Ryan and his wife Brittany now live in Arapahoe County with their four children: Aaron (age 9), Lauren (age 7), Andrew (age 3) and Eleanor (age 8 months). In addition to his significant political involvement, he volunteers as a Sunday School teacher, and as a merit badge counselor for the local troop of the Boy Scouts of America.

CONNECTICUT - JERRY LABRIOLA

[elected June 28, 2011; re-elected June 25, 2013]
Chairman Jerry Labriola, Jr. was elected to his first term as Connecticut Republican Party Chairman in 2011 after serving three terms as State Treasurer of the party and five years on the State Central Committee, representing the 34^th senatorial district including Wallingford, North Haven, and East Haven.

Born and raised in Naugatuck, Jerry graduated from Naugatuck High School in 1975 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg College in 1979. He went on to attend law school at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he earned his law degree in 1982. During law school, Jerry served as a summer intern at the United States Department of Justice. He was admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1983 and is currently a partner in the firm of Labriola & Labriola, LLC of Naugatuck with his brother, State Representative David Labriola (R-131). Additionally, Chairman Labriola served as Naugatuck Town Attorney from 1989-1991.

In addition to his positions within the state party, Jerry has also served as State Chairman of the Connecticut Young Republicans from 1982-1984, Vice-Chairman of the Wallingford Charter Revision Commission in 1993, member of the Wallingford Board of Assessment Appeals from 1994 until 2008, and has been a member of the Wallingford RTC since 1989. In addition, Chairman Labriola plays keyboards and sings in various pop/rock cover bands. Jerry also loves soccer and was the head coach of the Ansonia High School girls’ soccer program from 2007 to 2011.

In 2010 Chairman Labriola was honored to be the Republican nominee for congress in the 3^rd Congressional District. One of his television ads, known as “old spice” garnered national attention and was widely accepted as one of the best ads of the 2010 cycle.

Chairman Labriola currently resides in Wallingford with his wife Barbara, the Town Clerk in Wallingford, and his family.

DELAWARE - CHARLIE COPELAND

[elected July 20, 2013 at a special convention]
Charlie Copeland is President of Associates International, Inc, an internationally-recognized direct marketing company located in Wilmington, Delaware. Charlie has been President of Associates since 1994 and has grown the company from a small 9-person company to be one of the largest of its kind in the nation.

Prior to joining Associates Charlie worked in various Information Systems positions with the DuPont Company for over 7 years. He finished his career at DuPont as an Area Manager of Data Center Operations at the DeLisle, Mississippi Chemicals and Pigments plant.

From 2002 through 2008, Charlie served as a Delaware State Senator and Senate Minority Leader representing Brandywine Hundred, Greenville, Centreville and Hockessin. During his service, Charlie was a lead voice for government accountability, education reform, and criminal justice reform. In November of 2008 he ran, unsuccessfully, for Lieutenant Governor.

Currently, Charlie serves as President of the Board of the Challenge Program, a non-profit, which he co-founded, that trains at-risk youth in the City of Wilmington in construction skills; Board Chair of the Delaware Academy of Public Safety & Security, a Charter High School in the City of Wilmington; President of the Board of SURJ, a non-profit focused on criminal justice reform; Board Chair of the Longwood Foundation; a Rotarian since 1995; and Vice President of the board of the Mt. Cuba Center which has protected over 2,500 acres of open-space in the region in the last 2 years.

Charlie holds both a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science & Physics and an MBA with a focus in Finance from Duke University.

An avid gardener and ACC basketball fan, Charlie lives in Wilmington with his wife, two children, and three dogs.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - RON PHILLIPS

[elected Jan. 10, 2013]

President & CEO, Republic Consultants, LLC, 2009-Current. 
Established a Business Development and Public Relations Firm.  Sole ownership and focused on Federal and State Contracting and Public Relations Programs.  Servicing both Domestic and Internationals Clients on cooperative business development issues.

Principal, Washington Strategies, 2008-2009. 
Hold the position of a senior level officer and manager in the firm.  Represented a large number of issues areas for client representation in the Federal Government.  International representation was an active focus. 

Senior Vice Senior Vice President, mCapitol Management, 2006-2008.
Served as a senior level officer in the firm and coordinated a business practice that focused on Defense, Homeland Security, Appropriations, Trade, Interior, International Affairs, Space and Aviation sectors.
§  Coordinated an international practice and expanded business relations with several foreign embassies and special interest groups.
§  Worked closely with Members of Congress and assisted political activities for Congressmen in leadership races.
§  Served as Senior Campaign Advisor for the Duncan Hunter Presidential Campaign.

Senior Vice President, Cassidy & Associates, 2005─2006. 
Responsible for the management and development of own division “cluster” within the firm in the Defense, Homeland Security, Appropriations, Space and Aviation sectors.
§  Served as PAC Chairman for SAXPAC ─ Representative Jim Saxton (R-NJ) and coordinated several political fundraising events with several Members of Congress.
§  Assisted Members of Congress in House Leadership Campaigns.

Senior Policy Advisor ─ Professional Staff Member, House Armed Services Committee (HASC), Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA), 2003-2005.  Directed all the Chairman’s political affairs on the HASC and coordinated the HASC Policy Council and its hearings.
§  Handled select “Chairman Issues” and served as a liaison with foreign embassies on variety of subjects.
§  Coordinated “Member Relations” for the Chairman and acted as Political Advisor to the Republican Members of the Committee.

Senior Research Analyst, Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA), 1989–1994.  Selected for promotion to the position of Director of Research for the House Republican Research Committee (HRRC).
§  Coordinated matters relating to Defense and Foreign Affairs for the House Republican Leadership in the HRRC on B-2 Bomber Aircraft, Balkan Crisis, Eastern Europe Independence, Asian-Pacific Affairs, Refugee Issues, Trade Relations, Military Affairs and U.S. Weapon Development.
§  Served as Political Officer for Chairman Hunter during his tenure in House Republican Leadership. Under his leadership served as PAC Treasurer for the Conservative Opportunity Society (COS-PAC), working closely with Representatives Gingrich, Walker, Dreier, Dornan, Hyde, Kyl, Crane, and McCollum.

EDUCATION
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, Tallahassee, Florida                  
      Master of Science in Political Science, 2002
      Bachelor of Science in Political Science, 1985

FLORIDA - LESLIE DOUGHER, Interim

[elected May 31, 2014 to complete Lenny Curry's term]

Leslie Dougher is a lifelong Republican, having been raised by two conservative Republican parents on the West Coast. Cutting her baby teeth on small fiscally conservative government nursery rhymes, low taxes and personal responsibility, she graduated from High School while President Ronald Reagan was in office. It was Reagan’s message that further fueled her interest in politics, community and the world around her, and inspired her to roll up her sleeves and get to work.

Leslie’s professional career includes banking, human resources, economic development, and real estate. As one of a few multi-million dollar top producers, with close to 100% Premier Service Customer Satisfaction Ratings, she has found that all potential homeowners have the American Dream of home ownership at heart, regardless of its size or location. It is pride associated with that feeling that reassures Leslie she has not only chosen the “Right” profession, but the “Right” political message.

In 1995, this lifelong republican and her military family moved to Clay County. She immediately fell in love with its Southern Hospitality and what she loved most about it was its Republican constituency, a far cry from where this California girl came from. She wasted no time getting involved with the local Republican Executive Committee as a precinct committeewoman. In 2008 she was elected as Chairman of the Clay County Republican Party. Leslie served as the Women for McCain/Palin Chairman, Scott/Carroll Chairman and Romney/Ryan Chairman for Clay County. In 2012 she was elected as the Chairman of the RPOF County Chairman Caucus. In addition to politics she served as the Government Affairs Chairman of the Clay County Chamber of commerce, which advocates for local businesses.

Leslie enjoys having her finger on the pulse of the, county, state, and national political scenes, but her true passion is spending time with her daughter and exercising her 2nd Amendment rights.

Ed. - Chairman of the Clay County Republican Party since Jan. 2009.  Realtor at Leslie Dougher Inc. and Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, Inc. in Fleming Island since Oct. 2002.

GEORGIA - JOHN PADGETT

[elected May 18, 2013]
bio from his campaign website...John Padgett has proudly worked in the grassroots of our Party for over 35 years. John currently serves as Secretary and as a member of the GAGOP Executive Committee.

John has served as the Campaign Chairman for local, state and national GOP campaigns and has been a GOP candidate for county office. He has been elected Chairman of the Clarke County Republican Party and two different District Republican Parties.

Under John’s leadership as the Athens-Clarke County Bush Campaign Co-Chair in 2000 and 2004, Athens-Clarke County had the largest Republican turnout in over 130 years.

In 2000, as Chairman of the 11th Congressional District, John helped the Republican Congressional Candidate win Clarke County for the first time since Reconstruction.

John has spent his career starting and operating successful small businesses and creating thousands of jobs all across Georgia. John and his wife, Mary, currently own Southeast Realty and Southeast Ambulance, Inc.

As a community leader, John has chaired the Athens Downtown Development Authority and the GACA High School All-Star Game, served as President of the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce, the Touchdown Club of Athens, and the Athens Downtown Council, is a member of the UGA President’s Club, and a board member of the Athens Historical Society, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hope Haven School, and the Athens Art Council. John and Mary have 3 daughters and 3 grandchildren. They are members of Highland Park Church.

HAWAI'I - DAVID CHANG

[Nov. 5, 2011 (previous chair resigned Sept. 2011); re-elected May 19, 2013]

President and CEO of WealthBridge, Inc:
David has been involved in financial planning for over ten years. After working with Ameriprise Financial Services, he formed WealthBridge Inc., a wealth management and registered investment advisory firm. In 2010 David was selected as the Business Leader of the Year from the Pacific Business News 2010 class of FORTY UNDER 40 in Hawaii.

He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Computer Science. He is a veteran of the Global War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He currently is a company commander in the Hawaii Army National Guard.

In addition, he was selected as an East-West Graduate Degree Fellow and holds a Masters in Arts in Political Science from the University of Hawaii. He also holds a Masters in Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary, a Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University and a Certificate of Leadership from the East-West Center.

David has published numerous financial articles in the local newspapers and has been featured in Pacific Business News. He is currently publishing a financial strategy book. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the Lion’s Club International, The Rotary Club, Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters and is on the Board of Directors for the Association of Christian Conferences and Teaching Services.

David has been able to use his leadership skills to successfully start WealthBridge Inc, The Cabinet & Stone Factory, a residential/commercial construction and remodeling firm, and PowerH2O, a premium water bottle company. In the time he has been in business, his outstanding achievements have benefited the wealth management, the construction/remodeling, and the food/beverage industry as well as the greater community. He has been sought out by reputable companies as a consultant for his integrated business knowledge, strategic thinking, and problem solving expertise.

David has demonstrated entrepreneurship through diversification, creativity and imagination in the development of his businesses. David is involved in local church ministries and in his free time is an avid table tennis player, enjoys fine dining, golf, and playing the guitar, piano, and trumpet. He has also been known to appear on the TV show “Lost” when the script calls for Asian actors.

David is associated with TradePMR, a NASD/SIPC member Broker-Dealer and Occidental Underwriters of Hawaii, LTD, an independent insurance brokerage firm.

IDAHO - BARRY PETERSON

[elected June 23, 2012]
From Elmore County.  Owns a hardware store in Mountain Home.  Has served in many capacities within the party over the years, including most recently as the Region 3 and Elmore County Chair.

ILLINOIS - JOHN "JACK" DORGAN

[elected June 1, 2013]
Jack Dorgan is a twelve-year member of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, an elected Rosemont, Illinois Village Trustee, and partner at Dorgan-McPike & Associates. He worked in the administrations of Governors Thompson and Edgar, as well as on numerous presidential, state, and local campaigns. Dorgan and his wife reside in Rosemont with their three daughters. 

INDIANA - TIM BERRY

[elected July 22, 2013]
Elected Indiana’s 54^th State Auditor in November of 2006, taking office January 1, 2007, Tim Berry serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the State of Indiana. Auditor Berry is a committed fiscal conservative who keeps taxpayers first in recognizing that they deserve a government that is equipped to do more with less. As Allen County treasurer, Berry cut budget expenditures to the lowest cost per capita of any Treasurer in Indiana.  During his tenure as State Treasurer, Tim returned 12% of his budget appropriation back to the state general fund. Since taking office as State Auditor, he has cut office expenditures 17% to levels consistent with year 2000 spending.

 Under the leadership of Tim Berry, in late fall of 2009 Indiana successfully implemented a fully integrated financial system – the first of its kind for all of Indiana government, providing more efficient and transparent government. Additionally, Indiana’s annual financial reports have received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting – the highest standard available - from the Government Finance Officers Association each year of Berry’s tenure as State Auditor.  Berry’s initiatives in financial education and literacy have earned him recognition from the National Association of Government Defined Contribution plans.  During his inauguration speech Berry said, “As Auditor we won’t often make headlines, but we will continue to listen – continue to lead – continue to make a difference for all Hoosiers”. This system transformed the ability of the public to see how their money is being spent through the Indiana Transparency Portal, which can be found at www.in.gov/itp. People can view items as diverse as employee salaries and local government financial records.

Prior to his election as State Auditor, Tim served two terms as Indiana’s Treasurer.  In that role, Berry earned a record $1.7 billion for Hoosier taxpayers through the prudent investment of state dollars.  Berry led the effort to obtain favorable legislation providing tax incentives for families saving for college through the CollegeChoice 529 plan.  Through this 20% tax credit on contributions, more families will be financially prepared to meet the cost of higher education.  Through his leadership as chair of the Wireless 911 Advisory Board, Indiana was recognized as a national leader for wireless 911 network technology. 

Tim Berry’s leadership has been recognized by many in Indiana and across the country.  Berry was awarded the 2005 Jesse Unruh award, given to the nation’s most outstanding state treasurer.  Additionally, he was presented the 2003 Presidential Award of Excellence by the Association of Public Safety Officials, and the recipient of the American Heart Association’s “Heartsaver Award”.  Berry served as President of the National Association of State Treasurers and Chair of the National College Savings Plans Network.  His efforts led to recognition by the State of Israel Bonds in 2003 and the Indianapolis Business Journal recognized Tim with their “40 under 40” designation in 2000.

Tim and his wife Kim are both Fort Wayne natives and the parents of two sons, Ian a student at Cathedral High School and Colin a 5^th grader in Lawrence Township school district. Kim serves as the state director for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  Tim holds a degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University, and a MBA from Indiana University.  A “hockey dad and lacrosse coach”, Tim is active in many organizations within the community.

ed. note: Berry was elected chair while serving as auditor, and was expected to continue until Gov. Pence named a successor.

IOWA - JEFF KAUFMANN

[elected June 28, 2014 after ouster of Danny Carroll, to complete term to Jan. 2015]
Former state Rep. (79th District); first elected in 2004, rose to assistant minority leader and Speaker Pro Tem before retiring in 2013.  Served as a senior policy advisor on Newt Gingrich's Iowa caucus campaign.  Professor at Muscatine Community College; livestock farmer.  Served on the Wilton School Board, 2001-04.  B.A. (1985), M.A. (1990) and Ph.D. (200) from the University of Iowa.  Born and raised on a family farm in Cedar County.  Resides in Wilton.

KANSAS - KELLY ARNOLD

[elected weekend of Jan. 26-27, 2013]

ed. note: Mr. Arnold is Sedgwick County Clerk, elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012.

Education Info
College:
Tabor College '00
Business Administration & Business Finance

High School:
Mcpherson High '96

Activities
· Owns and operates Commercial Real estate properties
· Business and Marketing Consultant
· Graduate of Tabor College
· Degrees in Business Finance and Business Management
· Former Chairman of Sedgwick County Republican Party
· Former Vice Chairman of Kansas Republican Party
· Board of Directors of Wichita Pachyderm Club
· Board of Directors of Hillsboro State Bank
· Past member of USD 259 Bond Oversight Committee
· Former Investment Representative
· Volunteer for VOSH - Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity
· Co-Commissioner of MWL Sports League
· Member of Pathway Church

KENTUCKY - STEVE ROBERTSON

[first elected June 2, 2007]
Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson has been involved in the Kentucky political arena for more than a decade.

Robertson has served as Chairman of the State Party since June 2007. Prior to accepting this position, Robertson served as the Commissioner of the Governor’s Office for Local Development at the appointment of Governor Ernie Fletcher.

Before joining the Fletcher administration, Robertson was president and CEO of the Robertson Group, a political consulting firm. His other previous professional experiences include working as the Republican National Committee’s state legislative director for 11 southeastern states, managing volunteer voter programs for the 2000 Bush-Cheney Campaign and working as a legislative analyst for Kentucky State Senate President David L. Williams.

Robertson, a Lexington native, resides in Frankfort, Kentucky.

ed. note: Here is a more detailed summary...
-Chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, June 2007-present.
-Commissioner of the Kentucky Office for Local Government, 2005-07.
-President and CEO of the Robertson Group, 2004-05.
-Director of operations of the Republican Party of Kentucky, 2002-03.
-Legislative political director at the RNC, 2001-02.
-Legislative aide/analyst for the Kentucky State Senate President, 2000-01.
-Director of operations for Georgia Republicans' Victory 2000, Fall 2000.
-Political director of the Republican Party of Kentucky, 1994-2000.

LOUISIANA - ROGER F. VILLERE, JR.

[first elected March 26, 2004, re-elected in 2006, 2008, 2010 and most recently in April 2012]
ed. note: Villere was a candidate for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in the Oct. 2, 2010 special election, finishing sixth; this bio. is from the campaign site.  He was also a candidate for state Representative in a 1989 special election.

Roger F. Villere, Jr. was elected Chairman of the Republican Party in the spring of 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2008 & 2010. During his time as Chairman, the Republican Party of Louisiana has made historic gains – increasing the number of elected Republicans in the State Legislature and U.S. Congress as well as in Louisiana’s statewide offices. During his tenure, Villere has communicated a message of competent conservative change and reform and Republicans have achieved success across Louisiana’s diverse political landscape.

Understanding that the primary role of the state party is to represent all Louisiana Republicans, Chairman Villere travels throughout the state advocating conservative principles, recruiting candidates, and mobilizing grassroots activists to support our candidates and causes.

Chairman Villere has attended four Republican National Conventions, his first as a volunteer to the New Orleans Convention in 1988, as a Delegate to the 2000, as Chairman-Elect in 2004, and as Chairman and Delegate in 2008. He has previously served as RNC National Committeeman and as a member of the RNC Rules Committee and RNC Resolutions Committee. In 2008 he received the honor of being elected Chairman of the Electoral College for Louisiana. He also has been significantly involved in the Pelican State Pachyderm Club, Republican Party of East Jefferson, and the Republican Party of Jefferson Parish. Chairman Villere is also a Life Member of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The Chairman has been a part of and led numerous community programs and organizations, such as the Alliance for Good Government, Jaycees International, the Lafreniere Kiwanis Club, the East Jefferson Hospital Foundation, and the Women’s New Life Center.

He also has played a leadership role in the local business community with positions on the Jefferson Chamber, the Small Business Council, East Jefferson Council of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the American Academy of Florists, and the Louisiana State Florist Association.

Chairman Villere attended the University of New Orleans, is a fellow of the Loyola Institute of Politics, the LSU Academy of Politics, and the UNO Government Leadership Institute.

Chairman Villere is the owner of Villere’s Florist and currently lives in Metairie with his wife Donna. He is the father of three sons: Roger F. Villere, III, Mark C. Villere, and Jacques P. Villere, and has four granddaughters: Madison, Masey, Victoria, and Shelby.

MAINE - RICK BENNETT

[elected July 20, 2013; previous chair resigned beginning of July]
ed. note: Bennett was a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in the June 12, 2012 primary finishing third; this is his campaign bio.

Rick Bennett is a successful job-creating businessman who has dedicated his life, in and out of government service, to fighting for Maine families, government reform, and fiscally conservative policies to put our state and nation back on track. Now he is looking to take that fight to the United States Senate.

MARYLAND - DIANA WATERMAN

[initially interim chair from Feb. 21, 2013 following resignation of previous chair; elected April 20, 2013]
from the RNC...
Diana Waterman was born in Providence, Rhode Island, but raised in Va. Beach, Va. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematical Physics from Sweet Briar College in southwestern Virginia in 1983. She has been married to her husband Barry for 28 years, residing in Queen Anne’s County. She has two wonderful children – a daughter Caty (24) and a son Kevin (26) (who is married to a lovely young woman named Reina) and an adorable grandson, Liam. They attend Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Centreville.

Throughout her life, she has valued service to others – as a Girl Scout from Brownies through Troop Leadership and in other Community Service organizations both in and out of school. As a parent, she has served as a Cub Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Leader, and as a member and officer of the Parent’s Association of her children’s school, Sts. Peter and Paul School in Easton(three different times as President).

She currently works as the Chief Financial Officer and IT Specialist for her family-owned and run Real Estate business, Coldwell Banker Waterman Realty. Other past jobs have included Computer Programmer/Analyst with Northrop, Aerobics Instructor, Aqua-aerobics instructor, Red Cross Swimming Instructor, and Day Camp Counselor.

As her children came close to finishing high school, she turned her volunteer hours towards the world of Maryland politics, joining the Chesapeake Republican Women in the fall of 2005. Since then she has served as president of Chesapeake Republican Women (twice), Eastern Shore Regional Chair for the Maryland Federation of Republican Women (MFRW), and the 1st Vice President of the MFRW. She has also been an active member of the Republican Club of Queen Anne’s County. And she has been elected to her county Central Committee twice, serving as Treasurer, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Committee. She has served on several committees for the Maryland Republican Party and in 2010 she was elected to the position of 1st Vice Chair of the Maryland Republican Party. In April 2013, she was elected to chair the State Party.

She believes we all need to work together to bring balance to our State – one Party rule is not healthy for our counties, State, and Country.

from the state party...
A resident of Queen Anne's County, Diana serves as the Financial Records Manager with Coldwell Banker Waterman Realty--one of the premier real estate operations on the Eastern Shore. Diana is a graduate of Sweet Briar College, as well as a member of the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce and the Chesapeake Women's Network. She and her husband Barry are the parents of two adult children.

MASSACHUSETTS - KIRSTEN HUGHES

[elected Jan. 31, 2013]
Kirsten Hughes was born and raised in Quincy, Massachusetts to Edith, a Quincy Public School teacher and John, a Human Resources executive. She graduated from the St. Ann School in Wollaston and later from the Notre Dame Academy, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. Hughes went on to receive a B.F.A from New York University, her law degree from New England School of Law, and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar shortly after.

Currently serving on the Quincy City Council, Kirsten became the first woman elected to the position in the ward's history. In a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans, 9 to 1, Kirsten built a successful coalition of grassroots Republican activists and community leaders to win elected office at the local level – adding herself  to the so called ‘farm team’ of Massachusetts Republican officials. 

Most recently, Kirsten served as the Deputy Finance Director for Senator Scott Brown’s re-election campaign which raised $42 million, the most successful fundraising operation of any incumbent Senator in the country.

Before joining Senator Brown’s team, Kirsten served as Field Director for the Massachusetts Republican Party in 2010, organizing legislative campaigns across the commonwealth in a cycle where Republicans doubled the number of legislators in the House.

Kirsten also worked in the United States office of Special Counsel where she assisted the prosecution of cases involving government fraud, waste and abuse.  She also clerked at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office to prosecute and arraign criminal cases.

Committed to her community, Kirsten serves as a member of the Quincy Human Rights Commission, volunteers legal services to multiple civic organizations and provides pro bono legal representation in civil and criminal cases.

In October 2010, Kirsten married Philip Doherty a software engineer who grew up in Charlestown.  They are proud parents of son John Phillip.

bio. from Quincy City Council campaign site:

Kirsten Hughes was born and raised in Ward 5 to Edith, a Quincy Public School teacher and John, a Human Resources executive. She is a1990 graduate of St. Ann School in Wollaston. In 1995, Hughes graduated from Notre Dame Academy, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. After singing professionally in New York City and for the Walt Disney Company, in 2003 Hughes graduated from New York University with a B.F.A in Theatre Arts.

In New York, she sang on various CD’s, and performed in several New York City night clubs. Interested in the “business” side of “The Biz”, she worked as a manger’s assistant at a boutique, celebrity-client management firm in New York City.

In 2005 she returned to Quincy to attend law school full time. Kirsten earned a J.D. from New England School of Law and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 2008. She has worked in the legal political and entertainment fields in Quincy, Boston, New York and Washington D.C.

Locally, Kirsten served as a member of the Quincy Human Rights Commission, and has participated in the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Volunteer Lawyer’s program, the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Housing Court Lawyer for the Day program and provided pro bono services in several civil and criminal cases.

Currently, Kirsten works for U.S. Senator Scott Brown’s campaign finance team and continues her eighteen-year, long standing role as a Café singer at the Common Market Café in West Quincy. She still finds time to star in Quincy theatrical productions with her close friends, “The Superwomen” such as Superwoman, the Musical and What Christmas Means to Me.

In October 2010, Kirsten married Philip Doherty a software engineer who grew up in Charlestown.

...ed. note: Hughes was elected in a very close vote over Rick Green.

MICHIGAN - BOBBY SCHOSTAK

[elected Jan. 29, 2011; re-elected Feb. 23, 2013]
An accomplished businessman, Bobby Schostak was one of the architects of the MIGOP’s successful statewide Republican “Win in ‘10” campaign which helped contribute to a statewide Republican sweep for Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and the Michigan Supreme Court, expansion of the majority in the State Senate, and  winning back the majority of the state house.

Schostak’s leadership ensured that more communities had Fix Michigan centers than ever before.  Bobby Schostak oversaw the Fix Michigan Center Program placing 25 Fix Michigan Centers around the state providing local GOP groups with a place to organize.  Working with local parties and candidates, Bobby Schostak was able to provide critical resources throughout the election, but particularly in the last few days.

Frustrated by the status quo and the results of the 2008 election, Bobby Schostak decided to take a personal leave from his family business to work for the Michigan Republican Party full-time.  At  the time Schostak agreed to be finance chairman, political pundits were discussing how difficult a road Republicans had to win elections.  Undaunted by the environment, Bobby Schostak worked  full-time without a salary for the Republican Party and helped the MIGOP provide record resources to its candidates.  Applying successful business practices to grassroots programs and finance programs, the MIGOP “Win in ‘10” program was successful by every measure.

Currently, Bobby Schostak sits on the Finance Committee for the Republican Governors Association, of which he is an Executive Roundtable member. Prior to his role as finance chairman, Mr. Schostak served various Republican campaigns in fundraising and strategy roles.  Candidates whom Schostak worked for include:  Former U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham, Republican candidate for governor Dick DeVos, and most recently was one of the larger fundraisers in Michigan for McCain for President.

Prior to serving as the MIGOP Finance Chair, Mr. Schostak has been active in the commercial real estate business since 1976. Mr. Schostak is the Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schostak Brothers & Company, Inc. where he is responsible for raising capital partnership relationships and political advocacy. His background includes the development of over twenty million square feet of commercial property located in the Great Lakes Region.

Schostak Brothers & Company, Inc. is one of the largest, most diversified commercial real estate companies in the State of Michigan. Since 1920, three generations of the Schostak family, including its founder, Louis H. Schostak, his son, Jerome L. Schostak, and now his sons, Robert, David and Mark, have established a real estate leadership tradition.

During the past 26 years, the company diversified in to the quick service and casual dining sectors of the restaurant industry including now operating 59 Burger King Restaurants, 11 Olga’s Kitchen Restaurants and 3 Del Taco Restaurants throughout Michigan. In total the enterprise has interests in nearly 100 restaurants, employing several thousand workers in fast food, quick service and casual dining sectors.

Bobby Schostak is married to his wife Nancy for 33 years. Bobby and Nancy have 3 adult children. Dr. Michael Schostak, who is a resident at Cleveland Clinic is married to Becca and the parents of Bobby’s granddaughter Olive. Bobby’s son Jeffrey is 27 and moved back to Michigan from Chicago to work in the family business as the first 4th generation member. Bobby’s daughter Jody lives in Minneapolis and works with GOP candidates and for conservative causes in Minnesota.

MINNESOTA - KEITH DOWNEY

[elected April 6, 2013, started April 8]
Served in two terms in the Minnesota State House representing District 41A (Edina), elected 2008 and 2010; candidate for state Senate District 49 in 2012, losing to Melisa Lopez Franzen (DFL).  Partner at Virchow Krause, 1997-Jan. 2009.  Previously worked at Unisys and Epic Systems.  B.B.A. in management information systems from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 1983.

MISSISSIPPI - JOE NOSEF

[elected Jan. 11, 2012 following resignation of previous chair; re-elected to full four-year term in May 2012]

from the RNC:

Mr. Nosef served as Chief Counsel for Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and as the Campaign Manager for Governor Barbour’s Re-Election Campaign. He was Chief of Staff for then Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant and the Chairman of Phil Bryant’s Campaign for Governor. Nosef also served as Executive Director of the Phil Bryant Gubernatorial Transition.

 Mr. Nosef is an attorney at Watkins & Eager PLLC. He has served on many nonprofit boards including the Salvation Army, Metro Jackson YMCA, Young Business Leaders of Jackson, Jackson Young Lawyers Association, Safe City Initiative, the Marsha Barbour Community Center and Ballet Mississippi. He also served on the Hinds County Economic Development District Board of Trustees and is a graduate of the Mississippi Economic Council’s Leadership Mississippi Program.

MISSOURI - ED MARTIN

[elected Jan. 5, 2013]
Ed Martin believes that America’s greatness is found in its unique founding: American founding values that respect private property, preserve our natural liberties, and put in place the rule of law that allows the greatest opportunity of a free market system.

Ed became an attorney because, at a young age, he recognized the value of fighting to preserve and protect the American values through the rule of law.

As a young college graduate living in Indonesia and Italy, Ed saw firsthand the difference between America and the rest of the world.

Ed is a graduate of St. Louis University School of Law.  During law school, Ed specialized in health law and also pursued and later completed a master’s degree in health care ethics from St. Louis University graduate school.

After graduation from law school, Ed sat for and passed the Missouri bar.  He delayed beginning a judicial clerkship to serve his church.  As the director of the Human Rights Office for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Ed led an office in educating and advocating for pro-life issues, educational opportunities for all, and outreach to the community as part of the new evangelization.

After the end of this church service, Ed spent the summer working at the Institute for Justice in Washington, D.C.

During the 2001-02 term of the federal Court of Appeals for Eighth Circuit, Ed served a judicial clerk to Honorable Pasco M. Bowman, II.  During this time, Ed lived in downtown Kansas City.

Immediately following his clerkship, Ed joined the St. Louis-based international law firm Bryan Cave, LLC specializing in commercial litigation.

In the fall of 2004, Ed left Bryan Cave and started his own law firm.  He specialized in litigation and small business practice.

In 2005, Ed led a team in taking on Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Also, in 2005, Ed was appointed Chairman of the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners.  He took on ACORN, stream-lined the office, and implemented the Help America Vote Act.

In 2006, Ed was appointed as chief of staff to Governor Matt Blunt.

Ed and Carol Martin are the proud parents of three children under 7 years old and are expecting another child in early February 2012.

ed. note: Above bio. is from Martin's campaign website when he ran for Attorney General.  Martin was the Republican nominee for Congress in MO-3 in 2010, losing to Russ Carnahan.  In 2012 he started as a candidate for U.S. Senate, switched to run for U.S. House in MO-2, and finally settled on the run for AG, losing to incumbent Chris Koster.  Martin was elected chair in a very close vote, defeating the incumbent David Cole by a vote of 34-32 in the second round of voting.

MONTANA - WILL DESCHAMPS

[elected June 12, 2009; re-elected June 18, 2011 and June 8, 2013]
Will Deschamps, elected as Republican State Party chairman on June 12, 2009, is a life long resident of Missoula, with family roots dating from 1868 in Frenchtown. He is married to Janice, his wife of 30 years, and they have three children and 5 grandchildren. Will, the eldest son of two Marine Corps officers, who served during WWII, was raised on a ranch west of Missoula. After attending parochial and public school in Missoula, he enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps. He served four years active duty with tour in Viet Nam as well as other areas of the world. Upon discharge from active duty Will worked at Hughes Aircraft Company while attending college at California State College at Fullerton. Will graduated from The University Of Montana in 1978 with BS in Business Management.

As a small business owner for 35 years, Will became involved with many local organizations. He has been a member of the Southside Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Cub Scouts, Missoula Planning Board, Western Montana Fair, Larchmont Golf Course, Hellgate Elementary School Board, Montana Unified School Trust, Marine Corps League and Toys For Tots. He is or has been the chair or leader in each of these organizations.

On the political front, Will has been a Pachyderm member for many years, the current chair of the Missoula County Republican Central Committee, a past member of the Republican State Executive Board, and past chair of the Republican State Rules Committee.

Will has been a past candidate for Missoula County Commissioner and House District 98 Legislative seat.

Will’s interest range from family, flying, scuba diving, and travel.

NEBRASKA - J.L. SPRAY

[elected March 9, 2013]
J.L. Spray is a Lincoln attorney and State Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party.

Hometown:
Lincoln, Neb.

Interesting Fact:
When the weather is nice, J.L. drives a 1963 Lincoln Continental convertible.

Education:
1986 University of Nebraska College of Law, J.D.
1983 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, B.A.

Licensed:
Nebraska state and federal courts
Iowa state and federal courts
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court
Honors & Awards:
National Moot Court Team
Trial Advocacy Team

Involvement:
Nebraska Comission of Industrial Relations, 2012-Present
Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission, 2005-2012
Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, 1992-1998
Nebraska Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge, 1987-1992
Nebraska State Bar Association
House of Delegates
Nebraska Supreme Court Advisory Committee, Past Chair
Lincoln Independent Business Association
Lincoln Lodge #19 AF AM, Past Master
Scottish Rite Preservation Foundation
National Association of Parliamentarians
Beta Theta Phi, Alpha Tau Chapter

...and from his web page at Mattson Ricketts:
J. L. Spray started with the firm as a law clerk, formally joining after law school. He is a lifelong resident of Lincoln. J. L.'s expertise focuses on estate planning and transactional work, including real-estate, corporate securities law and related litigation. He serves as General Counsel to a company which provides specialized services in health care. J.L. is also involved in local, state, and national politics, and has represented many committees and individuals in election related matters. From 1987 to 1992, J. L. served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Nebraska Department of Labor. He served on the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Commission overseeing campaign practices and government ethics and is currently a member of the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission. He also served on the Lincoln Board of Zoning Appeals.

Education:
University of Nebraska College of Law, 1986
-- National Moot Court Team
-- Trial Advocacy Team
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1983
-- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Speech Communications

NEVADA - MICHAEL McDONALD

[elected April 22, 2012]
Michael McDonald is a lifelong resident of Las Vegas. He was born at The Woman’s Hospital, he lived in the same home on the West side for the majority of his life and all of his schooling was received in the Las Vegas Valley.  Michael had the opportunity to leave the Valley to pursue his education abroad due to his skills as a football player. But, he chose instead, in an effort to help out at home, to stay in the Las Vegas Valley to attend UNLV.

Michael was attending classes at UNLV that would set him on a course to follow in his father’s footsteps in the casino industry. While he attended classes he also held a full time job at a local hotel/casino. It was during a charity event that he was volunteering at that it was suggested that he test for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.


Michael tested and successfully entered the LVMPD in 1989.

This was just the beginning; Michael had found his calling in public service and wasn’t anywhere near finished!

On two separate occasions during his career as an officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Michael received Medals of Honor from the City of Las Vegas for bravery. This is the highest honor that the City of Las Vegas can bestow on a public servant.  During one such exhibition of bravery Michael, having no regard for his own safety, used his body as a shield to protect a child in his charge during a transport to Child Haven. As a result of his actions, he sustained injuries severe enough to put him on light duty from the Police Department.  While some would simply use their light duty time to recover Michael decided to use this time for something more constructive.

Michael created “Project 89109.” This was a neighborhood initiative to take back the streets of his youth to make them safe for the next generation. Michael was instrumental in getting the gangs of the area to stop fighting, dealing and tagging the neighborhood and showed them that they should be proud of their “hood” and that there was a better way. Michael also enlisted the help of the local business and property owners to take back their streets; it was with their combined efforts that “Project 89109” was such a huge success. One added benefit at the time was that the President of the local Boys and Girls Club took notice and joined forces with Michael to transform an empty and defunct business into a Boys and Girls Club so that the youngsters of the area had a safe place to go after school to be productive and creative rather than run the streets and cause trouble.

On the heels of a very successful “Project 89109,” Michael was approached to fill a leadership void in his decaying neighborhood located in Ward 1 within the City of Las Vegas.


Michael was an unknown in the largest candidate pool ever for a City Council seat. It was filled with seasoned veterans and community leaders. Together with his family, friends and a small group of supporters Michael had a campaign budget of $50.00 on the first day. The funding of his City Council bid was day to day and uncertain at best. It was with the sweat and dedication of his volunteers that his message got out with endless door to door campaigning. Their efforts were rewarded on June 6, 1995 when he won his seat on the City Council of Las Vegas to represent Ward 1.

At 30 years old Michael was the youngest person ever elected to the Las Vegas City Council,  and the youngest Mayor Pro Tem in the City’s history.

Mr. McDonald continued his efforts from within the walls of City Hall. Inside, he had been nicknamed “The Shadow Mayor” but, to his constituents he was affectionately known as the “Pothole Councilman.” Michael was always available to his constituents and no problem was too big or too small for his personal attention. If there was something that a citizen needed and there was no one else to help you could find Michael right there to do the work himself!

Things had changed from his humble beginnings as a candidate. Michael and his team were impressive fundraisers and a force to be reckoned with. Together they were able to raise over a million dollars for a City Council election; a staggering amount of financial support that had only ever been seen during a Mayoral race. His second term on the City Council was won in a landslide victory of 63% in the Primary.

Being a goal oriented individual Michael, wasn’t done yet! He had seen the inner workings of local Government and wanted to become a significant part of the Valley’s growth. He created departments to streamline the efficiency within City Hall; there are many that are still in place today. He was also appointed to many boards and was given the honor of being the (youngest) Chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.


Not much has changed from his younger days… He still has the utmost respect for his parents, elders, Faith, Community and Country. You can find him most days caring for his father, John.  Look around you may run into them in a local eatery or coffee house.

Michael is still fully entrenched with the Republican Party. He regularly attends meetings and listens to the desires of its members. He hears and understands the frustration from its affiliates and knows that he can be the vehicle of change that the Party needs to push into the approaching election year.  

Portions of the Republican Party have been gravely wounded in these last months.  The Party is in need of a chairman that is able to mend those injuries that have forced it into triage mode. Our new chairman must be able to tend to these wounds, heal them and make our party healthy again very qickly. We need a leader that is willing and able to roll up his sleeves and get the Republican Party back at the top of its game. That person is … Michael McDonald.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - JENNIFER HORN

[elected Jan. 26, 2013]
ed. compiled from several sources...
Jennifer Horn was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in CD-2 in 2010, and was the Republican nominee in CD-2 in 2008 (the first woman nominated to federal office by the New Hampshire Republican Party).  She founded "We The People: A First-in-the-Nation Freedom Forum" – a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the founding principles of the nation. Horn has been an award-winning radio talk show host, newspaper columnist and small business owner. She was named the 2011 NAFRW Woman of the Year. She is a long-time resident of New Hampshire, where she lives in Nashua with her husband, Bill and their five children.

NEW JERSEY - SAM RAIA  

[elected Jan. 11, 2011; re-elected July 2013] 
ed. - On Jan. 7, 2014, Gov. Christie announced his support of Bill Stepien, who ran his 2013 re-election campaign, to be the new chair of the party.  Sam Raia announced his resignation, and Vice Chair Lynda Pagliughi was named acting chair, with a vote to be held on Jan. 15.  However, in his Jan. 9 Bridgegate press conference Christie withdrew his support from Stepien.  On Jan. 28 Raia withdrew his resignation.

Mayor of Saddle River, elected Nov. 2007; he has served on the Borough Council and Planning Board under three different mayors.  Sam has been a Saddle River resident for over 20 years.

Sam is an experienced businessman, having spent 35 years as an executive with Raia Industries, a family business, which, before being sold employed over 500 people. Today, Sam is a Principal with Raia Properties Corporation and Raia Self Storage. He is also a member of the Board of Hackensack University Medical Center as well as the Commence and Industry Association of New Jersey where he also served as an executive officer.  Sam was previously appointed by Governor Thomas Kean to the Insurance Advisory Board and today serves on the Finance Board and as Lector at Saint Gabriel’s Church in Saddle River.

Sam holds a Bachelors degree in public accounting and an MBA.

NEW MEXICO - JOHN BILLINGSLEY

[elected Dec. 8, 2012]
Billingsley, a native New Mexican and retired businessman, has served several terms as Chairman of the Lincoln County Republican Party and has a long history in New Mexico politics. In 2008, he served as Campaign Manager for Steve Pearce’s U.S. Senate campaign, and he has served as 1st Vice Chair for the Republican Party of New Mexico for the last two years.

John was born and raised in Hobbs, and has lived in places from Seattle to Washington, D.C. He created small businesses in the retail fields of clothing and golf shops. He also managed a marina, grocery, and lodge before retiring to the Ruidoso area.

NEW YORK - ED COX

[from Sept. 2009]
Ed Cox is a lawyer with a distinguished record of service to his Party and in the domestic and international policy arenas.  He has served three U.S. Presidents, four Governors and the Republican Party at the state and national levels.  He was sworn in as Chairman of the Republican Party of New York State on September 29, 2009.

For more than forty years he has supported and campaigned for candidates across the country beginning in 1968 as a part of the Nixon presidential campaign.  In 1972, he travelled extensively as a family surrogate for President Nixon and in 1980 was active in the Reagan campaign.  In 1984, he conceived and organized the statewide volunteer effort which helped carry New York State for the Reagan‑Bush team.  In 1988 and 1992, Cox organized the New York speakers’ bureau for George H.W. Bush’s presidential campaigns. 

Cox has assisted candidates at all levels throughout New York in numerous election cycles.  And in the critical election of 1994, Cox played a key role in helping to elect George Pataki Governor.  He also participated in the Republican National Conventions and presidential campaigns of 1996, 2000, 2004. During the 2008 Presidential election, he served as State Chairman of John McCain’s campaign. 

Under President Reagan, Cox served as General Counsel to the government corporation which financed major synthetic fuels projects. As a Trustee of the State University of New York (SUNY) he has developed cutting-edge policies and programs for community colleges, charter schools, teacher training, facilities construction and finance and administration.  Cox has played a key role under four Governors in the selection of judges for New York's highest court.  In volunteer positions both in and out of government he has been a leader on energy and environmental policies.

His writings on public policy have appeared in The New Republic magazine, the Antitrust Law Journal and the New York Post, and he is co‑author of a book on the Federal Trade Commission.

Cox was born in Suffolk County, Long Island and was raised in Yorkville, New York City, where he graduated from Trinity High School.  He received his B.A. degree in 1968 from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.  He earned his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1972. 

He is a proud veteran having joined the Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) at Princeton in 1964.  He later completed officer and airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia and served as a reserve officer with the 11^th Special Forces Group. 

Cox practices corporate and finance law and has served as a member of the Management Committee and the Chairman of the Corporate Department at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP.  He has represented companies in a wide variety of industries including software, finance, insurance and biotech and has been named to the list of Super Lawyers in the practice of Securities and Finance law. 

Cox married Patricia Nixon in the Rose Garden of the White House in 1971.  They have one child, Christopher, who is a graduate of Princeton and the New York University School of Law.

NORTH CAROLINA - CLAUDE POPE

[elected June 8, 2013]
ed. compiled from several sources...
Melissa & Claude Pope acquired Maritime Market on Bald Head Island in January 2011, and now reside on Bald Head Island full time.  Claude Pope served as chairman of the Wake County Republican Party from March 2009-Nov. 2010.  The Popes hail from Raleigh, NC, where they owned Getitquick.com – a commercial office supplier with locations in Raleigh, Greensboro and Wooster, OH. The Popes sold their office supply business in 2007.

NORTH DAKOTA - ROBERT HARMS

[elected June 22, 2013]
Harms is a lawyer and consultant based in Bismarck, and formerly served as Legal Counsel for Governors Ed Schafer and John Hoeven. He and his wife Cherie have two sons, both in college, and live in Bismarck.

ed. note: The Harms Group website promotes "Individual and Corporate Oil & Gas Consulting in the Bakken."  He helped form and served as president of Northern Alliance of Independent Producers.

OHIO - MATT BORGES

[elected April 26, 2013; sworn in May 31]
Mr. Borges is Government Relations Director at Roetzel & Andress.  He served as Executive Director for the Kasich-Taylor New Day Inaugural Committee and managed Dave Yost's successful campaign for Ohio Auditor of State. Previously he served as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager for Treasurer of State Joseph Deters. He was also a lead representative for Senator John McCain and Sarah Palin's Presidential bid in 2008, and worked with the Office of the Vice President, Dick Cheney, where he acted as Lead Advance Representative from 2001 to 2007. Additionally, he ran the successful 2010 primary bid for Bob Gibbs for Congress and consulted for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in 1992, 2000, and 2010.

B.A. in political science from The Ohio State University, 1994.

OKLAHOMA - DAVE WESTON

[elected April 20, 2013]
ed. compiled from several sources...
From Lexington, Weston is manager of operations and marketing for an investment advisory firm; he has more than twenty years experience in the financial sector.
-Served on the Cleveland County Republican Executive Committee.
-Worked on Jim Bridenstine's congressional campaign in 2012 and James Lankford's congressional campaign in 2010, both times doing campaign management software, grassroots outreach, targeting.
-Finance director for the Oklahoma Republican Party, 2005-06.
-B.S. in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University.

OREGON - ART ROBINSON

[elected Aug. 10, 2013; previous chair resigned in face of recall vote]

ed. note: Robinson was the Republican nominee for Congress in OR-4 in 2010 and 2012; this biography from his campaign website...
Dr. Art Robinson is an internationally respected scientist and educator, successful businessman, skilled public speaker, and expert on energy, medicine and emergency preparedness. He worked on medical and defense issues during the Reagan administration and on energy issues during the Clinton and Bush administrations.

Art gathered the signatures of more than 31,000 American scientists on a petition urging the U.S. government not to take action on the scientifically invalid claim that human activities warm the earth.

Art graduated from CalTech and, after receiving his PhD in chemistry from the University of California at San Diego, was immediately appointed to the faculty there.

In 1973, he co-founded the Linus Pauling Institute with Linus Pauling and served as President and Research Professor. In 1980, Art and his scientist wife Laurelee moved to Oregon and, with colleagues, founded the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine. After Lauelee's death in 1988, he raised their six children on the family farm near Cave Junction, where they still live.

All six of the Robinson children are in science. Three hold doctoral degrees, with the other three now in graduate school.

Robinson family curricula and books have won many awards, and are now used by more than 60,000 home-schooled children

For the past 17 years, Art has authored the 37-year-old newsletter Access to Energy, which deals with scientific issues that are especially relevant to public affairs.

Author of many invited articles in The Wall Street Journal, Human Events and WorldNetDaily, Art has spoken in numerous forums, including the Sean Hannity and Glen Beck programs.

Art's candidacy is being enthusiastically welcomed by farm and forestry professionals, local businessmen, educators, and grass roots concerned citizens throughout disctrict 4.

A successful man of solid integrity, Art will do his best to serve the interests of his country and of Oregon District 4.

PENNSYLVANIA - ROB GLEASON

[elected June 3, 2006; re-elected Feb. 7, 2009 and Feb. 9, 2013]
Rob Gleason brings unmatched enthusiasm and experience to the chairmanship of the Republican Party unparalleled. Rob was unanimously re-elected Chairman in 2013 to a four-year term as Chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania.

Rob joined his family’s business in 1965, after four years of active duty as a Captain in the United States Air Force. The grandson of company founder, Gus M. Gleason, Rob has held virtually every position at Gleason, Inc. Upon the retirement of his father, Robert A. Gleason, Sr. in 1970, Rob served as the Agency’s President until 1994, at which time he was named Chairman and CEO. Under his skilled leadership, Gleason was ranked among the 150 largest property and casualty insurance brokers in the United States. In 2010, The Gleason Agency and Gleason Financial merged with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, the fourth largest brokerage in the world. Rob Gleason is well known throughout the country in his field and is considered one of the leading brokers in the insurance industry.

In 1985, Rob took a sabbatical to serve as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Appointed to a two-year term by former Pennsylvania Governor and United States Attorney General, Dick Thornburgh, Rob resigned from his position at Gleason and moved to Harrisburg, PA to assume the new role. Rob’s appointment and his unanimous approval by the Senate were due to what Thornburgh referred to as his “excellence and commitment to good, clean, hard-hitting politics, solid government and devotion to the community.”

He returned to Gleason in 1987 and still remains extremely active in politics on the national, state and county levels. In 1996 he succeeded his father, Robert A. Gleason Sr. as Chairman of the Cambria County Republican Committee. Robert A. Gleason Sr. was the longest tenured County Chairman in the history of the Republican Party. Rob Gleason was unanimously re-elected as Chairman in 1998 and served until stepping down in 2011.

In May 1993, Gleason was nominated to be a member of the five-person Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The Pennsylvania State Senate unanimously confirmed him. He served on the Commission until September 1997, during which time he helped determine policy on construction, operation, and maintenance issues, as well as addressing finance and contract concerns.

In September 1997, Pennsylvania Governor Thomas J. Ridge appointed Rob to the State Transportation Commission. The Commission gathers and studies information relating to the needs of highways and all types of mass transportation to determine the need and the recommended order of priority for their construction or reconstruction. Among his many political accomplishments Rob Gleason is proud to have led gubernatorial candidate Mike Fisher to victory in Cambria County. Despite an overwhelming 2:1 Democratic edge, Mike Fisher won Cambria County with 57% of the vote. Again in 2004 with the same registration statistics, Rob Gleason pulled off a huge win for President Bush, and for the first time in over 50 years, a Republican presidential candidate carried Cambria County with a 2.2% margin.

A 1961 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Rob remains very active in the University. In 1998, he was appointed a Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Gleason has also served as a trustee of St. Francis College, Loretto, PA from 1978-1988 and was the Vice Chair from 1991-1992.

In October 1999, he was elected Chairman of The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, an organization that represents the 300 largest insurance brokers in the United States. The Council places 80% – more than $90 billion of the commercial property/casualty insurance premiums in the United States. They also provide industry leadership, visible and effective representation before government, executive training and agency management programs.

Rob has always believed in community involvement and is affiliated with various civic, philanthropic and professional organizations. He currently serves as Chairman of the Parish Finance Council of the Church of Our Mother of Sorrows. He formerly served as director and secretary for the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, as trustee and Chairman of Memorial Medical Center and as a trustee of Conemaugh Health System.

In 2004 Rob was named Co-Chairman for the Catholics for Bush in PA. He traveled the state extensively, meeting with the Catholic leadership. This effort and increased the Catholic vote for President Bush in the Commonwealth by 4% (increase from 2000).

In May 2006, President George W. Bush announced his intentions to nominate Mr. Gleason to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. The members of the Commission on Presidential Scholars are charged with honoring, on behalf of President of the United States, some our of Nation’s future leaders. The Commissioners are appointed by the President and come from across the country, representing a variety of fields, including: education, medicine, law, public service, business, and other professions.

After his election as Chairman of the Republican Party in June of 2006, Rob was tasked with completely rebuilding the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. In 2009, Republicans won 6 of 7 statewide judicial races.

In 2010, under Gleason’s leadership, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania celebrated the most successful cycle in its history, winning the Governor’s mansion, a U.S. Senate seat, five new Congressional seats, retaining control of the State Senate and retaking majority control of the State House.

In 2011, Republicans won another statewide judicial race and expanded their majority control of county courthouses by securing 51 of 67 courthouses.

The Republican Party of Pennsylvania received national attention thanks to Gleason’s efforts, as Pennsylvania Republicans won more takeaways than any other state. Assuming a greater role in the Republican Party’s national affairs, Gleason serves on the Republican National Committee’s Executive Budget Committee.

Despite a difficult cycle for Republicans nationally in 2012, Gleason helped Republicans also expanded their already dominant Congressional majority by winning an additional seat in Western Pennsylvania.

Rob Gleason has been married to Jeanne for 45 years. They have four children and six grandchildren.

RHODE ISLAND - MARK SMILEY

[elected March 24, 2013]
Husband and Father
Veteran 3 years US Army, 3 years RI National Guard.
Resident of Warren RI, 12 years
VP of Product Development & CTO, Insight Health Solutions, Inc.

Chair, Warren Republican Town Committee (4 yrs.)
President, RI Republican Chairs Caucus
Chair, RI Republican Candidate Recruitment Committee
Chair, RI Republican Candidate Vetting Committee
Member, RI Republican By Laws Committee
Member, RI Republican Platform Committee

Patriots Season Ticket Holder (18 yrs.)
Gadget Enthusiast
Woodworker

ed. note: Smiley won by just one vote over Daniel Harrop of Providence.

SOUTH CAROLINA - MATT MOORE

[elected June 8, 2013, succeeding Chad Connelly who resigned to take RNC position]
Matt Moore previously served as State Director for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and served as the South Carolina Republican Party's Executive Director in 2011 and 2012, managing over $3 million in political expenditures as Governor Mitt Romney soundly defeated President Barack Obama in South Carolina. Moore has advised three winning gubernatorial campaigns and nearly one hundred other winning Republican campaigns.

Moore and his wife, Meg, are members of Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia. He sits on the board of the Palmetto Family Council and holds a bachelor of science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech.

SOUTH DAKOTA - CRAIG LAWRENCE

[elected Feb. 9, 2013]
Co-founder of Lawrence & Schiller, a 36-year advertising and marketing firm in Sioux Falls.

TENNESSEE - CHRIS DEVANEY

[first elected on May 30, 2009; re-elected Dec. 4, 2010 and Dec. 1, 2012]
Chris Devaney grew up in a small town in Texas where he learned from an early age the values that would later shape his career. It was also here that Chris first saw the power of grassroots Republican politics when he watched his parents help lead a small local party into the majority by leading with principle and never giving up.

By the time Chris attended the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in Political Science, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in the public arena.

Upon graduation, he began what he thought may be a career in journalism and eventually went to Washington with NBC Radio News. Chris, however, wanted to be more directly engaged in promoting conservative values, so he left journalism to work for the United States Senate Republican Conference where he performed media relations.

In 1994, Chris came to Tennessee to help a Nashville attorney by the name of Fred Thompson win a seat in the United States Senate. Chris stayed with Senator Thompson and worked for him both in Tennessee and Washington. He has said many times that this experience working with Senator Thompson gave him an insight into principled leadership that continues to guide him today.

Chris later applied the skills he had gained by becoming the Executive Director of the Tennessee Republican Party. Under his leadership of the Party’s political operation, Devaney played an important role in helping to elect United States Senator Bob Corker in 2006 and set the stage statewide for what would become the historic State Senate elections of 2006 and State House elections of 2008.

His approach to building a political organization was very simple and was rooted in what he had learned in life - stand for the principles you know are right, never give up and never forget that it is the grassroots volunteers who carry you to victory.

Following Senator Corker’s election in 2006, Chris was asked to join the Senator as his State Director. As with his time with Senator Thompson, Chris took this as an opportunity to be on the front lines of where Republican principles and sound public policy meet and to learn first hand what effective leadership truly means.

On December 4, 2010, Chris Devaney was overwhelmingly re-elected as the Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. He is proud to have the chance to stand with an outstanding State Executive Committee and countless fellow Tennesseans in order to fight for the values and principles that have made our Party and our nation great. Chris is confident that the Party's number one goal – victory in 2012 – can and will be achieved.

Chris and his wife Heather live in Chattanooga with their four children and attend Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.

TEXAS - STEVE MUNISTERI

[elected July 2010, re-elected June 2012]
Steve Munisteri grew up in Houston, TX, and is a 39 year veteran of Republican politics in Texas and the United States as a conservative grassroots activist.

He started his involvement in Republican politics in 1972 as a volunteer for Hank Grover, Richard Nixon and John Tower.  He then went on to form a conservative club at Memorial High School in Houston, and in 1975, contacted then Harris County GOP Chairman Ray Barnhardt to become involved in the Ronald Reagan for President campaign and to become more involved in the local party. He went on to serve the party in numerous volunteer capacities, including working as a precinct chairman of two different precincts in Harris County, serving as a delegate or alternate delegate to numerous state conventions, and serving on the State Republican Executive Committee for Senate District 17.  He has experience in working in over 50 campaigns, in all aspects from blockwalking and phone banks, to sitting in on strategy sessions for national Presidential campaigns.

Steve also has a long history of involvement in the conservative movement.  In 1976, he was selected as state Vice Chairman for Texas Young Americans for Freedom and served as state Chairman from 1977 to 1980. He also was elected to YAF's national board of directors.  AS State Chairman of the Texas chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, Munisteri begun the practice of issuing legislative rankings for members of the Texas House of Representatives and State Senate.  In 1980, Munisteri founded Young Conservatives of Texas, a group which continues to produce the future generations of our conservative leaders and elected officials in college campuses across the State.

Mr. Munisteri attended Memorial High School in Houston, before graduating from the University of Texas in Austin with a BBA in Finance with honors.  He also earned a J.D. from the University of Texas Law School.

Upon graduation from law school, was hired as an associate with the law firm of Funderburk & Funderburk. Munisteri founded his own law firm in 1982, and built it up from a one man operation, to a business with 49 employees, 20 attorneys and a multi-million dollar budget.  In 2008, he retired in part, so that he would be available to volunteer in political activities.

Following his election to the State Chairmanship at the 2010 Texas GOP Convention in Dallas, Mr. Munisteri obtained a second residence in Travis County and currently serves full-time as the State Party Chairman at the RPT headquarters in Austin.

UTAH - JAMES EVANS

[elected May 18, 2013]
-The immediate past Chair of the UTGOP Constitution and Bylaws Committee. Recent focus has been to look into ways to provide more participation in caucuses, and to possibly enable more participation by candidates in our election system.

-Former State Senator from Senate District 1.

-Over a decade of energetic county and state grassroots political work geared towards improving the health of the Caucus/Convention system.

-Over four years on the Salt Lake County GOP Bylaws Committee, working to reduce infighting and to streamline and improve the administration of the county party.

-Four years as the Chair of the Salt Lake County GOP, with a focus on improving precinct participation, countering the liberal media's efforts to continuously portray Republican candidates and elected officials unfairly in a bad light, and winning races in normally liberal districts in Salt Lake County. Attendance at Salt Lake County GOP Central Committee meetings went from a low of 60 to regularly over 500.

-Personally participated in the training of every Salt Lake County candidate while County Party Chair.

-Successful fundraiser as the Salt Lake County GOP Chair, raising over $500,000.

-Served as precinct, legislative, senate and region chair as well as county, state, and national delegate.

-Graduated from Tuskegee University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.

ed. note: Evans is the first African-American leader of the state party.  He owns the Ogden based payday lending company Chek Line (Check Line, Inc.).  According to the Associated Press he is a former Air Force captain.

VERMONT - JOHN MacGOVERN

[elected Nov. 9, 2013]
ed. notes: Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2012, losing to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).  Candidate for Vermont State Senate in 2004, 2006 and 2010 and for State House in 2008.  Founded the Hanovor Institute in 2002.  Worked at The Dartmouth Review.  Ran for Congress in Massachusetts in 1990, narrowly losing.  Served four terms in the Massachusetts State Legislature, 1983-91.  Worked in the public affairs office at Mobil Oil.  Degree in Chinese from Dartmouth, 1980.  Windsor resident.

VIRGINIA - PAT MULLINS

[elected May 30, 2009; re-elected June 16, 2012]
Pat Mullins, a Virginia resident for nearly 50 years, began his career in Virginia politics in 1972 working for the election of Bill Scott to the United States Senate. He was an active grass-roots worker, precinct captain, and volunteer. He ran unsuccessfully as the Republican candidate for Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County in 1979 and 1987.

He ran for Chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee in 1990, winning that convention that was attended by over 1,000 delegates.

He served as Chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee from 1990 to 1996. During that time, he was successful in leading the Republican Party to its first Republican Majority on the Board of Supervisors in the County history in 1991, helped elect multiple new House of Delegate and State Senate members, helped elect George Allen to the Virginia Governorship in 1993 by carrying Fairfax County, and helped elect Republican Congressman Tom Davis to the 11th
Congressional District seat in 1994, defeating ultra-liberal Leslie Byrne.

Pat moved to Louisa County in 1998 and joined the Republican Committee there working as a grass-roots volunteer. Last year he was elected Chairman of the Louisa County Republican Committee. Since becoming Chairman, Party membership has grown by 400%. At the Don Huffman Republican Advance, the Louisa Party was named most improved unit committee in the 7th Congressional District.

Pat works for Markel Insurance of Glen Allen, VA and specializes in equine insurance.

During his professional career, Pat has been a community activist, serving as (partial list):

District Governor of Rotary - District 760 Virginia
President of the Annandale Chamber of Commerce
President of the Annandale Rotary Club
President of the Annandale/Springfield National Little League
President of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs
President of the Turnpike Basketball League
President of the National Therapeutic Riding Association

Pat was married to his wife Jackie for nearly 47 years before she went home to be with the Lord in June 2010. Pat's four children-Cathy, Steve, Mike, and Debbie- all graduated from Virginia Universities, and he has 6 grandchildren who are all born and bred Virginians.

Pat was born in St. Albans, West Virginia, graduated from Columbia University in New York City with a BA Degree. Pat also received a JD Degree from George Washington University.

On May 30th, 2009, he was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, and was re-elected to a second term in June 2012.

WASHINGTON - SUSAN HUTCHISON

[elected Aug. 24, 2013] 
Susan is a community leader and philanthropic executive who brings a knack for connecting vision and action to major civic and philanthropic organizations in the United States. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Scienc...es in Seattle, Vice President of the All-Star Orchestra in New York, and Board Finance Chair of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC.

As the Executive Director of the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, a philanthropic foundation based in Seattle, Susan has helped the fund provide $100 million in grants to arts, science and education programs during her 10-year leadership. Major grantees include the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey; Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST); Seattle Symphony; Seattle Art Museum; Russian National Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts; Seattle Public Schools Inquiry Science Program; and Seattle’s Museum of Flight.

Susan is well known in Western Washington as a distinguished TV news anchor, who served the Puget Sound region as a broadcaster and community leader for more than 20 years. During her career at KIRO-TV (CBS), she anchored the highest rated newscasts in Seattle, receiving numerous awards, including five Emmys for producing, writing, and reporting news and documentaries.

In 2009, Susan ran for the nonpartisan office of King County Executive and won the primary with endorsements from Democrats and Republicans. She also received the endorsement of the Northwest’s largest newspaper, The Seattle Times, but lost in the general election. Even so, her campaign is credited with changing King County government by persuasively advocating for sound fiscal policies.

At the request of the King County Executive, Susan served on the 10-member King County Independent Task Force on Elections, which provided recommendations to the county and state to improve the fairness and accuracy of elections following the disputed 2004 Washington gubernatorial race. She was appointed to the Governor’s A+ Commission for Education and the NCAA Committee for Compliance at the University of Washington.

As an adjunct professor for Seattle Pacific University’s MBA program, Susan instructed graduate students in managerial communications, an effort based on her 10 years as a communications consultant. Through her business, Susan Hutchison Presents, she has trained more than 100 high-tech executives in companies such as Microsoft to effectively communicate to audiences. Susan is a graduate of the University of Florida with a B.S. in Journalism.

WEST VIRGINIA - CONRAD LUCAS

[elected May 12, 2012]
Conrad Lucas was born in Huntington and raised in Lincoln and Morgan Counties. His family history in West Virginia goes back to the coalfields of the 1790s. He is a product of West Virginia public schools but also holds a bachelor’s and doctorate degrees from Vanderbilt, a master’s from Harvard, a law degree from Tulane and a certificate in international law from the Sorbonne in Paris.

Professionally, he has served as an aide to Rep. Shelley Capito, a policy analyst for an education think tank in New Orleans, and as an attorney with a prestigious corporate defense firm as well as an occasional adjunct professor at Mountain State University.

Politically, he previously served as the general counsel to the West Virginia Republican Party and as chairman of the West Virginia Young Republicans. He represented West Virginia at the 2000 Republican National Convention and was elected as a delegate to the 2012 Convention. In 2010, he served as the RNC Victory Director for West Virginia. He is currently the youngest state chairman in the country.

He is a past recipient of the West Virginia Governor’s Community Service Award, and he was a Golden Horseshoe winner.

WISCONSIN - BRAD COURTNEY

[elected early March 2011]
ed. compiled from several sources...
Brad Courtney has served on the RPW’s Executive Committee since 1993 and served a previous stint as chairman in 2006 and before that was vice chairman.  He served as grassroots chairman for Scott Walker’s campaign for governor in 2010 and as finance chairman on Walker's campaign for Milwaukee County Executive.  He also worked on Rick Graber's campaign for state Assembly in 1990.  Courtney has worked in the family business, Courtney Industrial Battery, for over two decades.  He has degrees in political science and business administration from Vanderbilt University.  He resides in Whitefish Bay with his wife Barbara and their three daughters. 

WYOMING - TAMMY HOOPER

[elected April 30, 2011; had been vice chair] 
Wyoming state risk manager.  Laramie resident.

PUERTO RICO -

AMERICAN SAMOA -

GUAM -

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS -

CNMI -

---

Chairs resigning/ousted before completing term in 2014:

IOWA - DANNY CARROLL  ...ousted in no confidence vote on June 28, 2014

[elected Mar. 29, 2014 to complete term started by A.J. Spiker to Jan. 2015]
Up to his election as chair Carroll served as lobbyist for The Family Leader; previously he headed the Iowa Family Policy Center.  Unsuccessful run for Iowa House in 2008.  Elected to the Iowa House in 1994 and served through 2006.  Served on the Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors, 1984-94.  Co-owner of Carroll's Pumpkin Farm from 1991.  Worked for Iowa Telecom starting in 1999.  Broker at Ramsey-Weeks Real Estate, 1987-99.  B.S. from Milligan College, 1975.  Resident of Grinnell. 

IOWA - A.J. SPIKER  ...resigned effective March 29, 2014; became advisor to RAND PAC

[elected Feb. 11, 2012 to complete term through Jan. 2013; re-elected Jan. 5, 2013]
A former Chairman, Co-Chairman, and Treasurer of the Story County Republican party.  He has been a delegate to several county, district, and state GOP conventions and served on his district Executive, Rules, and Organization committees.  Mr. Spiker is a Realtor and is a past President of the Ames Multiple Listing Service, Inc.  He serves on the Ames Economic Development Commission Board of Directors and is an active member of St. Cecilia Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus.  From Ames.

ed note: Spiker served as Iowa co-chair of Ron Paul’s campaign (announced April 26, 2011).

FLORIDA - LENNY CURRY   ...resigned May 1, 2014 to run for mayor of Jacksonville (March 24, 2015 primary)

[first elected Sept. 23, 2011 to complete David Bitner's term; re-elected Jan. 5, 2013]
Lenny, a native Floridian, is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of The University of Florida. From 1994 to 2002, he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and was a Senior Manager in Jacksonville. In 2002, he became a business owner when he co-founded a Jacksonville based professional services firm, ICX Group Inc. (“ICX”).

Lenny is Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Chairman of the Duval County Republican Executive Committee, a Jacksonville Symphony Association Board Member and a South Jacksonville Rotarian. He is married, the proud father of three, and a member of Southside United Methodist Church.

NEW JERSEY - SAM RAIA   ...resigned effective Jan. 7, 2014; withdrew resignation on Jan. 28.

[elected Jan. 11, 2011; re-elected July 2013]
Mayor of Saddle River, elected Nov. 2007; he has served on the Borough Council and Planning Board under three different mayors.  Sam has been a Saddle River resident for over 20 years.

Sam is an experienced businessman, having spent 35 years as an executive with Raia Industries, a family business, which, before being sold employed over 500 people. Today, Sam is a Principal with Raia Properties Corporation and Raia Self Storage. He is also a member of the Board of Hackensack University Medical Center as well as the Commence and Industry Association of New Jersey where he also served as an executive officer.  Sam was previously appointed by Governor Thomas Kean to the Insurance Advisory Board and today serves on the Finance Board and as Lector at Saint Gabriel’s Church in Saddle River.

Sam holds a Bachelors degree in public accounting and an MBA.

New Chairs in 2013:

NEW MEXICO - JOHN BILLINGSLEY [elected Dec. 8, 2012]

MISSOURI - ED MARTIN [elected Jan. 5, 2013]

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - RON PHILLIPS [elected Jan. 10, 2013]

NEW HAMPSHIRE - JENNIFER HORN [elected Jan. 26, 2013]

KANSAS - KELLY ARNOLD [elected weekend of Jan. 26-27, 2013]

MASSACHUSETTS - KIRSTEN HUGHES [elected Jan. 31, 2013]

ARIZONA - ROBERT GRAHAM [elected Jan. 2013]

SOUTH DAKOTA - CRAIG LAWRENCE [elected Feb. 9, 2013]

CALIFORNIA - JIM BRULTE [elected March 3, 2013]

NEBRASKA - J.L. SPRAY [elected March 9, 2013]

RHODE ISLAND - MARK SMILEY [elected March 24, 2013]

MINNESOTA - KEITH DOWNEY [elected April 6, 2013, started April 8]

ALASKA - PETER GOLDBERG [from April 8, 2013]

MARYLAND - DIANA WATERMAN [initially interim chair from Feb. 21, 2013 following resignation of previous chair; elected April 20, 2013]

OHIO - MATT BORGES [elected April 26, 2013; sworn in May 31]

GEORGIA - JOHN PADGETT [elected May 18, 2013]

UTAH - JAMES EVANS [elected May 18, 2013]

ILLINOIS - JOHN "JACK" DORGAN [elected June 1, 2013]

NORTH CAROLINA - CLAUDE POPE [elected June 8, 2013]

SOUTH CAROLINA - MATT MOORE [elected June 8, 2013]

NORTH DAKOTA - ROBERT HARMS [elected June 22, 2013]

MAINE - RICK BENNETT [elected July 20, 2013; previous chair resigned beginning of July]

DELAWARE - CHARLIE COPELAND [elected July 20, 2013 at a special convention]

INDIANA - TIM BERRY [elected July 22, 2013]

WASHINGTON - Luanne Van Werven [interim from July 30, 2013; election by end of Oct.]

OREGON - ART ROBINSON [elected Aug. 10, 2013; previous chair resigned in face of recall vote]

WASHINGTON - SUSAN HUTCHISON [elected Aug. 24, 2013, succeeding interim chair]

VERMONT - JOHN MacGOVERN [elected Nov. 9, 2013]

Chairs resigning/ousted before completing term in 2013:

ALASKA - RUSS MILLETTE   ...ousted Jan. 31, 2013 before took office

[elected April 2012 was to start Feb. 1, 2013, but ousted Jan. 31, 2013 for failing to perform his duty as finance chair]
Russ Millette, 67, is a retired Advertising Executive for GTE Directories and The Berry Company. He has a broad background in advertising and direct mail and was twice inducted into the
GTE Hall of Fame.

Former Private School Teacher and Administrator, Public Speaker and Historian. Russ holds a BA in History from Masters College in Newhall, California. His passion is engaging young people in dia...logue about the issues. His vision is to ensure that the common man has a voice in American politics and restore the Republican Party to its legacy.

Favorite quote:

Free Men Are Not Equal and Equal Men Are Not Free

Although retired, he is the President and CEO of Doctors in USA, Inc.
dba www.doctorsinak.com

ALASKA - DEBBIE BROWN   ...ousted April 2013

[from Feb. 1, 2013, succeeding outgoing chair Randy Ruedrich] 
Brown had been serving as vice chair.  Small business owner from Kasilof.  Candidate for mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough in 2011, finishing fourth.

MARYLAND - SEN. ALEX X. MOONEY  ...resigned effective Feb. 21, 2013

[elected Dec. 2010]
Alex attended Frederick High School, where he was elected president of the Student Government Association. He also played many sports including basketball and football. Alex was also a student thespian and performed in 3 school musicals. Alex continues to be supportive of the arts to this day.

Alex graduated from Dartmouth College in 1993 with a degree in philosophy. While at Dartmouth, Alex played rugby for three years. He was also a member of the Dartmouth Latino Coalition.
Shortly after graduation, Senator Mooney served as an aide to western Maryland Congressman Roscoe Bartlett. After Republicans took over Congress in the 1994 elections, Alex worked as a legislative analyst for the House Republican Conference Committee – part of the leadership of Congress. Alex later left Capitol Hill to work for a small conservative public policy organization.

Alex has always considered his home town one of the greatest places to raise a family. However, over the years he watched as national state and local level government grew and the bureaucracy began taking more of your money and becoming more intrusive in your daily life. That is why he made the decision to run for Senate in 1998.

After knocking on thousands of doors and working tirelessly making his case to the voters of the Third District, Alex was rewarded with 63% of the vote and was sworn in on January 13, 1999, becoming the youngest and only Hispanic member of the Maryland State Senate.  He was re-­‐elected in 2002 and 2006. 

ed. note: There had been calls from some conservatives following the Nov. 2012 elections that Mooney resign.
   

DELAWARE - JOHN SIGLER   ...resigned May 29, 2013

[elected April 2011; re-elected April 2013]
John Sigler was elected Chairman of the Delaware Republican Party in April of 2011 having previously served the Party as a committeeman, Representative District Chairman, Kent County Chairman, and member of the State Executive Committee. John was born and raised in Milford, Delaware, and served four years in the United States Navy in submarines. He is a retired Dover Police Captain, and has been a Delaware attorney for over 23 years.

John recently served as the “Get-Out-The-Vote” coordinator for Kent County during the 2010 elections. In November 2010, Kent County was successful in retaining the legislative and Levy Court seats they held, while adding one seat each in the Delaware Senate, Delaware House, and Levy Court. He has also served as treasurer and/or campaign manager for several successful Kent County Republican candidates.

In addition to his Party service, John has the distinction of being a Past President of the National Rifle Association of America, where he served as Chairman of the NRA’s Finance Committee for 10 years, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Director’s Executive Committee, the Executive Council, and as Chairman of the Legislative Policy Committee’s Sub-Committee on State and Local Affairs.

John is a graduate of Wilmington College, holds a Masters degree in Business from Central Michigan University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Delaware Law School of Widener University. In addition to the Delaware Bar, John is admitted to practice law in Maryland and before the United States Supreme Court. He is employed as in-house General Counsel for Psychotherapeutic Services, a firm providing community-based mental and behavioral health services. John and his wife, Ingrid, have been married for 36 years.

ed. note: Sigler's resignation was a surprise; he cited "totally unexpected circumstances."  Vice chair Nelly Jordan served as interim chair.

SOUTH CAROLINA - CHAD CONNELLY   ...resigned June 8, 2013 to take on position of director of the Faith Engagement Initiative at the RNC

[elected May 7, 2011]
Chad Connelly is a husband, father, and proven leader. His experiences range from creating small businesses to inspiring thousands - all while remaining true to his Christian, conservative principles.

Chad's Republican Party credentials are, without question, strong and true. For over 20 years, Chad has faithfully served the GOP; working on campaigns at the local, state and regional levels. Most recently, he was a senior advisor to Jeff Duncan's successful campaign in South Carolina's 3rd Congressional district. He was the second alternate delegate to the 2004 Republican National convention in New York City and has been a state GOP convention delegate to the past four conventions. In 2003, he ran unsuccessfully for the SC State Senate seat vacated when Andre Bauer won the Lieutenant Governor's race. Although Chad lost, and was outspent significantly, he demonstrated great fundraising skills by raising over $52,000 in the short special election during the normally quiet Christmas and holiday season. He also raised money in South Carolina for Mitt Romney when the governor ran against U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy in 1994.

Currently, Chad serves as Chairman of the Newberry County GOP and has actively worked to build the county party over the past decade from a solid Democratic county to one that consistently votes for Republicans. In the past election cycle under Chad's leadership and vision, Newberry County supported all NINE of the Republican Constitutional officers for the first time since Reconstruction. In addition, Newberry County helped elect Mick Mulvaney to the U.S. House, beating 28-year incumbent Congressman John Spratt in the county by almost 2000 votes. Chad was recently selected to serve on the SC GOP 2011 Platform Committee.

Chad is active and involved in his community as well, applying his leadership skills as the Chairman of the Board for the past four years at his children's school, Newberry Academy. He is also active in his church, Newberry First Baptist, where he serves as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon, and Chairman of the Church council as well as being on numerous church committees. He has served on the Board of the Palmetto Family Council for over 9 years, filling such roles as Treasurer and Committee Chairman during his tenure. Chad also sits on the Board of the South Carolina Citizens for Life Committee.  In the spring, Chad loves coaching his youngest son's baseball team in the Dixie Minors league in Prosperity, SC.

Chad has been heavily involved in the school choice movement for over 7 years. He serves on the board of the school choice and limited government advocacy group, South Carolinians for Responsible Government and has spoken over 500 times in schools, churches, civic groups and other organizational meetings on the topic of school choice. He has also appeared in debates, radio shows and television shows discussing the subject.

A graduate of Clemson University, Chad earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1985. At Clemson, he was selected for admission in the prestigious Tiger Brotherhood organization that recognizes leadership and character traits in its members. He was also chosen for the Honorary Fraternity, Blue Key, a national organization whose responsibility at Clemson is to conduct the annual Tigerama celebration at Homecoming. While in Blue Key, Chad was the Business Manager of the organization, which hosted over 35,000 people at Death Valley for the event. In addition, Chad was a member of Clemson's Army ROTC program, working his way up to a rank of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel, the second in command in Clemson's Cadet Structure. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army at the completion of his Army ROTC courses. While in Army ROTC, Chad was also selected to be in the Military Honorary Scabbard and Blade and was second in command in that organization while in school. Chad served in the South Carolina Army National Guard as a Platoon Leader in a tank company as an Armor officer from 1985 until 1991. He is currently a National Rifle Association member and a Concealed Weapons Permit holder.

After graduation from Clemson, Chad worked for a national engineering firm, Professional Service Industries for almost 8 years, beginning as a staff engineer and progressing to Division Manager of PSI's Augusta, GA operation. In the Augusta office, Chad took over a failing operation that had only done $125,000 in fees the year before and through his marketing and sales efforts, expanded the office to over $1.2 million in fees, landing his group among the most profitable operations in PSI's North American offices. He then was promoted to Senior Division Manager over PSI's SC and Augusta, GA operations managing over 100 employees, 8 offices and over $4 million in revenues. After watching his dad lose a 22 year career to downsizing, Chad decided to take the plunge and start a business of his own.  For the next 12 years, he helped entrepreneurs begin and grow their own small businesses, leading to a coaching, speaking, and consulting career. Chad found he had a talent for helping groups of people come together and build an effective team, even when some of them had little in common and little motivation to do so at the start. In the course of building his own small business, Chad saw the apathy and misunderstanding that people had for the American ideal of free enterprise and free market success. He did a speech in front of a large audience that was so well received that Chad authored a book, Freedom Tide, a short book dedicated to inspiring Americans about the truth about America's heritage, which has now sold over 45,000 copies. From the book's success, Chad has now spoken to thousands of people in a variety of venues across America and in four foreign countries, including speaking in arenas such as the Palace at Auburn Hills, Michigan, Atlanta's Phillips Arena and to a crowd of over 25,000 in the Edward D. Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Chad is passionate about and is active in speaking on issues ranging from American Christian history, free enterprise, and attitude and motivation and is in national demand as a motivational speaker. He is also the founder and president of The Foundation for American Restoration, an organization committed to educating Americans about our true history and inspiring them to get involved and make a difference.

Chad is outspoken about his faith and has literally seen God's hand at work in his life. In 2006, he lost his wife of 18 ½ years, Michelle, to suicide. That tragedy left Chad as the widowed dad of two little boys whose lives were rocked. His faith and determination never swayed in light of the fact that he got to live God's restoration power. In 2007, he met a woman widowed by a similar tragedy who was raising two little girls on her own. Not only did her beauty impress Chad, but he was taken with her attitude and ability to overcome horrific tragedy and show resolve in moving on with life. Chad and Dana were married in July of 2007 and now have four children, CJ, who is 13 ½, Leigha, 11 ½, Bennett, 10 and Summer, who is almost 9. They live in Prosperity, South Carolina.

MAINE - RICH CEBRA   ...resigned "for personal reasons" beginning of July 2013

[elected Dec. 1, 2012]
Richard M. Cebra of Naples served in the Maine House of Representatives, representing District 101, which includes Casco, Naples, and part of Poland, from 2004-12.

Cebra is President and CEO of The Steamboat Landing Corporation in Naples. He also has 12 years of experience as a project and operations manager.
Cebra is very active in community organizations including the Sebago Lake Anglers Association, Naples Lion Club, Greater Bridgton Lake Region Chamber of Commerce, and the Masons.

He also served as Vice Chairman of the Naples Comprehensive Planning Committee and on the Naples Budget Committee.

Cebra and his wife, Philippa, have two children.

WASHINGTON - KIRBY WILBUR   ...resigned July 29, 2013 to accept a five-year contract with the Young America’s Foundation 

[elected on Jan. 22, 2011; re-elected Jan. 19, 2013]
Kirby Wilbur was born in Washington DC and moved to Seattle at the age of 8. He attended Queen Anne High School and the University of Washington where he graduated with a BA in History. He has also studied at Hillsdale College and Georgetown University.

He was the host of the morning drive show on 570 KVI radio in Seattle for nearly 16 years. He was named several times during his career as one of the top 100 talk show hosts in America by Talker’s magazine, the leading talk radio trade journal. Before becoming a talk show host, he was a real estate appraiser and owned his own firm, Liberty Consultants.

For the last twelve years, he has taught American and World History and American Government and Economics to high schoolers in several home school coops. He is an avid reader, primarily of current events and American and military history.

Memberships include the Tailhook Association, the Club for Growth, and life memberships in the International Churchill Association and the National Rifle Association.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Young America’s Foundation, the Second Amendment Foundation, the American Conservative Union and Citizen’s United. He is an Associate of Hillsdale College and serves on the Civil Service Commission of his hometown of Duvall.

He has been involved in conservative and Republican politics for over 35 years and has served in numerous volunteer and leadership positions, including serving as state chair of the Young Republicans and four times as a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

He is a much sought-after speaker, has appeared on Fox News, CSPAN, Fox Business Channel and network news, and has received numerous awards from family, law enforcement, charitable and political organizations, including The Fund for American Studies, Young America’s Foundation and Families Northwest.

He and his wife Trina have been married for 28 years and have two sons, Nathan, 27 and Adam, 22.

OREGON - SUZANNE GALLAGHER   ...resigned Aug. 9 2013 ahead of recall vote

[elected Feb. 2, 2013]
Suzanne Gallagher has been a life long Republican beginning when she met Governor Ronald Reagan in the late 1970’s. Her commitment to conservative principles is evidenced in the many political groups she has formed in addition to the stands taken in her community for over 30 years. She ran for the House and Senate in Oregon in a Democrat dominated state. Now her goal is to change that dynamic so that future citizens can one again be free.

Republican Party Experience
-Duniway Forum – Republican women, public speaking and leadership group, four years
-Tigard/King City Republican Women
-2012, Oregon Senate District #18 Candidate
-Primary: Write-in campaign. Recruited by Senate Caucus, over 1,200 votes
-General: Opponent, 16 year incumbent. Highly visible campaign. Over 100 active volunteers. Produced four mailers to voters. Knocked on over 12,000 doors.
Raised nearly
-2004, Oregon House District #35 Candidate
-Primary: Recruited by Majority House Leader. Contested.
-General: Open seat in a highly contested race, closest in state.
$60,000 with no lobby help.
-Washington County Republican Party – 20+ years
-Vice Chairman – 1990’s
-Precinct Committee Person
-Delegate and Alternate Delegate

WASHINGTON - LUANNE VAN WERVEN, interim ...to Aug. 24, 2013

[from July 30, 2013, following sudden resignation of Kirby Wilbur] 
Elected vice chair Jan. 19, 2013.  Whatcom County Republican Party chairwoman, 2008-12.

VERMONT - JACK LINDLEY ...to Nov. 9, 2013 resigned; news accounts cited health issues

[elected Feb. 18, 2012]
Republican National Committeeman from 1992-96.  Also served as state chair from 1978-81.