Republican State
Party Executive Directors
2010
COMPILED
BY
DEMOCRACY IN
ACTION - Updated June 5, 2010
ALABAMA - JOHN ROSS
(March
2007) Prior to joining the party, Ross served for over three years as a
district field representative for Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-4), 2003-07.
A policy analyst on Bob Riley’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign and then
served as a
member of Riley’s Inaugural Committee. Intern in the press
office of former Gov. George Allen’s Senate campaign in Virginia, 2000.
M.P.A. from the
University of Alabama, 2003; bachelor's degree in political science
from the
University of Richmond, 2001. Native of Guntersville.
ALASKA -
ARIZONA - BRETT MECUM
(Jan. 2009) Joined
the party as director of communications in mid-Feb. 2007, and served as
political director starting Oct. 8, 2007. Consultant (Mecum &
Associates, LLC), 2003-07. Graduate of the State University of
New York at Albany, 2001.
ARKANSAS - CHASE DUGGER
(effective Oct. 1, 2009) Dugger served as the party's political
director in the 2008 cycle. Attended Arkansas State University at
Jonesboro; served as chairman of the Arkansas Federation of College
Republicans.
CALIFORNIA - BRENT LOWDER, Chief Operating Officer
Executive director of Rudy Giuliani's California campaign (announced
July 12, 2007) and earlier the campaign's lead California finance
person ("The Fix" Feb. 5, 2007). Executive director of William E.
Simon & Sons, and served as a senior aide to Bill Simon during his
2002 campaign for Governor of California. Deputy finance director
on Matt Fong's unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate against incumbent
Sen. Barbara Boxer in 1998. Worked on Pete Wilson's gubernatorial
campaign in 1994.
COLORADO - JAMES GARCIA
(Aug. 2009) Directed Victory 2008 in Colorado, Fall 2008. A field
director
for the Rudy Giuliani
Presidential Committee in Iowa and Florida, starting May 2007. A
field director on
Shelley Sekula Gibbs for Congress in Texas, Fall 2006. A field
director for the Tom DeLay
Congressional Committee in Sugar Land, Texas, 2005-06. B.A. in
political science from University of Houston, 2006.
CONNECTICUT - LIZ (STAFFORD) KURANTOWICZ, Chief of
Staff
(Feb. 2009) Also serves as the party's finance director. Deputy
finance director on Gov. M. Jodi Rell's 2006 election campaign,
2005-07. Bachelor's degree in philosophy and political science
from Fordham University, 2004.
DELAWARE - SETH WIMER
Spokesman on Recorder of Deeds Steve McDonald's state Senate campaign
in Lancaster County, 2007. Served two terms as chair of the
Delaware Federation of College Republicans.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - PAUL CRANEY
(April 17, 2007) Legislative aide and campaign director to New Jersey
Assemblyman Steven Corodemus, 2005. B.S. in political studies
from Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., 2004.
FLORIDA - RONNIE WHITAKER
(Feb. 2010) A regional political field director for the Republican
State Leadership
Committee, Jan. 2007-Dec. 2009. Field representative for the
NRCC, 2005-06. Communications
director for the Republican Party of Virginia, Jan.-June 2005.
Managed Kevin Triplett's unsuccessful 2004 campaign against Rep. Rick
Boucher
in VA 9th CD, 2003-04. Senior legislative assistant for Rep.
Ander Crenshaw
(FL), 2001-03. Senior legislative assistant and earlier
legislative
assistant to Rep. Dan Miller (FL), 2000-01. Legislative aide to
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (TX), 1999-2000. B.S in
political science/communications from Florida State University,
1998. Graduate of
Crescent City High School in Crescent City, Florida.
GEORGIA - TOBY CARR
(announced April 16, 2009; effective May 1, 2009) Previously served as
an aide to State
House Majority Whip, Rep. Jan Jones. House Caucus Campaign Coordinator
for the Georgia Republican Party in 2008,
managing the party's efforts to elect candidates to the state House of
Representatives; also managed the GAGOP's effort for Lauren McDonald
in his run-off for Public Service Commission. Graduate of the
University of Georgia, 2001. Dunwoody native.
HAWAI'I - JUSTIN MENOLASCINO
IDAHO - JONATHAN PARKER
(Jan. 2009) District director for Rep. Bill Sali, July 2007-Jan. 2009.
ILLINOIS - CURT CONRAD
(Sept. 2009) Previously political director for the party.
INDIANA - KEVIN OBER
(since mid-2007) Earlier served as political director and
field director of the party. Previously deputy
commissioner for the Indiana Department of Administration.
IOWA - JIM ANDERSON
(announced Dec. 5, 2009) Came to the party from postion as deputy
political director at the RNC. Directed the RNC’s Victory campaign in
Iowa, announced June 24, 2008. Director
of communications in the Office of Marketing, Communications, and
Partnerships for the U.S. Commercial Service within the International
Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce. Prior to
working at Commerce, Anderson served at the Treasury Department as
media coordinator for the Office of Public Affairs. A
team leader for surrogates in the Office of Public Liaison for the 55th
Presidential Inaugural Committee after the 2004 presidential
election. Southern Oregon field director for Victory
2004 as well as Delegate and Caucus Coordinator at the 2004 Republican
National Convention. Bachelor’s degree in public administration
from James Madison University, 2003. Native of Gwynedd Valley,
Pennsylvania.
KANSAS - ASHLEY MCMILLAN
(Feb. 2010) Most recently grants specialist for Sen. Pat Roberts.
Director of operations on Roberts’ successful 2008 campaign, starting
June 2007. Worked in Roberts’ Washington office starting in July 2004
as an intern and then serving as a legislative correspondent and
legislative aide. B.A. in political science from Washburn
University, 2005. Fifth generation Kansan, grew up on a farm
outside of Jamestown.
KENTUCKY - [STEVE ROBERTSON]
Chairman White
fulfills the responsibilities of executive director.
LOUISIANA - CHARLIE DAVIS, deputy chairman
(announced May 28, 2010) President and CEO of the 2010 Southern
Republican Leadership Conference. A member of the Electoral College in
2008, delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention, and is
on the board of the Louisiana Family Forum. B.S. in economics from
LSU. Graduated from the Louisiana School for Math, Science &
the Arts.
[previous ex. dir.
Matthew Parker left to serve as deputy campaign manager on Rick Scott
for Governor campaign in Florida]
MAINE - CHRISTIE LEE-MCNALLY
MARYLAND - KIM JORNS
(started Jan. 1, 2010) Previously finance director for the Republican
Party of Virginia for one year starting in Jan. 2009. Director of
development for the Tax Foundation, 2008-Jan. 2009. Political
event coordinator on the Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign,
2007-08. Finance director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin,
2005-07. M.P.A. in non-profit administration from Arizona State
University, 2004; B.S. in communication from Michigan State University,
2001.
MASSACHUSETTS - ?
NICK CONNORS
through mid-May 2010; now has moved over to RNC Victory 2010 Director
for Mass.
MICHIGAN - JOSHUA VENABLE, Chief of Staff
Previously held other positions at the party including finance director
(Nov. 2007 through the 2008 campaign), strategic planning director
(2007) and deputy political director (2005-06). 72-Hour director
on Michigan Victory 2004. Degree in political science/psychology
from Hillsdale College, 2002; served as chair of the College
Republicans, 2001-02.
MINNESOTA - RYAN GRIFFIN
(announced June 26, 2009) State director for Mitt Romney presidential
campaign. Lobbyist for Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek.
Worked on Tim Pawlenty's successful 2002 campaign for Governor and has
worked with both the House and Senate Republican Caucuses.
MISSISSIPPI - BRAD WHITE
Chairman White
fulfills the responsibilities of executive director.
MISSOURI - LLOYD SMITH
(started March 2009) Came to the party from position as chief of staff
to Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau); worked for Emerson and
previously for Rep. Bill Emerson since 1981. Senior advisor on Jim
Talent's unsuccessful 2006 campaign against Claire McCaskill. Directed
Missouri Victory 2004. Campaign manager on Jim Talent's
successful 2002 U.S. Senate race against Jean Carnahan.
MONTANA - BOWEN GREENWOOD
(March 2010) Currently candidate for the Republican nomination for
Montana State Legislature, House District 78; also a community
education instructor at St. Peter’s Hospital. Came to the party
after working for the Montana Telecommunications Access Program.
Communications director for Secretary of State Brad Johnson,
2006-09. Public relations specialist for the Montana
Telecommunications Access Program. Communications director on
Denny Rehberg's 2000 campaign for Congress. Communications
director on Rick Hill's 1996 campaign for Congress. Reporter for
the
Yellowstone County News
in Huntley. Degree in government from Georgetown University,
1994. Born in Helena, fourth generation Montanan. Blogged
as NeoMadison on "What's Right."
NEBRASKA - JORDAN MCGRAIN
(announced Feb. 3, 2010) Independent strategist and fundraising
consultant to state and municipal candidates since 2006. Campaign
manager for Attorney General Jon Bruning's U.S. Senate campaign,
through Nov. 2007. Development consultant for an Omaha company
specializing in non-profit capital campaigns. Nebraska director
for Victory Enterprises, the Davenport, IA-based firm founded by Steve
Grubbs. Staff assistant to Rep. Lee Terry, 2000-01.
NEVADA - CORY ADAIR
(March 2010) Most recently campaign manager on Martha Roby for Congress
in AL-2, started Oct. 2009. Worked for the Mississippi Republican
Party for 2 1/2 years, starting as legislative director in 2007 and
finishing as executive director.
House campaign director for the Alabama Republican Party in the 2006
cycle. B.A. in political science from the University of Alabama,
2004. From Tallassee, Alabama.
NEW HAMPSHIRE - ANDY LEACH
(Jan. 2010) Previously director of operations at the party starting in
March 2009. Worked on John Sununu's 2008 U.S. Senate campaign,
and earlier as constituent liaison in Sununu's Senate office. Served as
the party's executive director in 2006 under Wayne Semprini. One
of two field coordinators (coordinated data, maps, call sheets and such
for the field reps) for NH Victory in Fall 2004. Worked on Sen.
Gordon Humphrey's 2002 and 2000 campaigns.
[some details from Granite Status]
NEW JERSEY - ROB CRESSEN
(announced April 5, 2010) Cressen also served as executive director at
the party a decade ago in 2000-01 under Garabed Haytaian.
Executive director of Ocean County Republican Organization since
2001. A consultant for the Legislative and Congressional
Redistricting Commissions for the 2000 redistricting/reapportionment
cycle. Executive director of the Assembly Republican Majority in
1999. Campaign manager for Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assemblymen
Joe Azzolina and Sam Thompson in 1997 Press officer for the New Jersey
State Assembly in 1995. Graduate of Rowan University.
NEW MEXICO - RYAN CANGIOLOSI
(Jan. 2009) Also board member of New Mexico Turn Around, a political
action committee; business manager at Jalapeno Corporation; owner of Up
Music and Recording, and recording engineer at Santa Fe Center
Studios. Chairman of the Republican Party of Bernalillo County
for six months, 2008-09. Recruiting manager for Robert Half
International, 2006-08. Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
M.B.A. in policy and planning from the University of New Mexico, 2008;
B.A. in music from the University of New Mexico, 1998.
NEW YORK - TOM BASILE
(announced Oct. 15, 2009) Founder and principal of Empire
Solutions, a strategic communications company, and managing director of
Middleberg Communications. Worked on Scott Vanderhoef's 2006
campaign for lieutenant governor. Press secretary to Sen.
Trent Lott and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural
Ceremonies. Senior advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority
under Ambassador L. Paul Bremer and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
for seven months, 2003-04. Director of communications for the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency under Christine Todd Whitman. Worked on
Bush-Cheney 2000 planning major events. Public relations
coordinator for the State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic
Preservation under Gov. George Pataki, 1997-2000. J.D. after
attending Fordham and Georgetown University Law Schools. B.A. in
political science from Hofstra University. Rockland County native.
NORTH CAROLINA - RUSSELL PECK
(hired Nov. 24, 2009) New Jersey Victory Director in Fall 2009; played
a key role in Chris Christie's campaign for Governor of New
Jersey. North Carolina Victory 2008 director in Fall 2008.
Organizational director and political director for John McCain 2008 in
Florida, Jan.-July 2007. Director of voter registration for the
Republican Party of Florida, 2005-06. Special assistant in the
U.S. Department of Labor for the first part of 2005. Southwest Florida
field director on Bush-Cheney '04. B.S. in finance from Florida
State University, 2003; earlier attended Oklahoma State University.
NORTH DAKOTA - ADAM JONES
(Dec. 2008; moved to North Dakota
from Utah to take the position) Western region event and surrogate
director on McCain-Palin 2008. Pollster at Dan Jones and
Associates. Campaign manager on Jeff Evans for state Senate
VA-20, 2007. Degree in political science from the University of
Utah, 2007. Intern at the Scottish National
Party; senior collections analyst at Kirton & McConkie in
Salt Lake City; staff assistant/intern for Rep.
Rob Bishop UT-01.
OHIO - JASON MAUK
(executive director
during the 2008 campaign) Previously served as the party's political
director, and in the 2004 cycle as communications director.
Worked as a political reporter for the Ohio News Network.
OKLAHOMA - [GARY JONES]
Chairman Jones fulfills the
responsibilities of executive director.
OREGON - ANDREW OVER
(effective March 3, 2008) Came to the party from position as deputy
campaign manager on Friends of Gordon Smith (Smith's 2008 re-election
campaign). Deputy state director to Sen. Smith. Deputy
campaign manager on Mike McGavick's 2006 campaign for U.S. Senate in
Washington State. Assistant to the chief of staff for Sen.
Smith. Lane County field director on Oregon Victory 2004.
Research director on Gordon Smith's 2002 campaign for U.S.
Senate. B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, 2001.
PENNSYLVANIA - LUKE BERNSTEIN
(executive director
during the 2008 campaign) Coalitions director for Bush-Cheney '04 in
Pennsyvlania. Press assistant to Sen. Rick Santorum in his
Washington office, 2002-04. Worked for a financial firm in the
World Trade Center in New York City prior to 9/11. Graduate of
Dickinson College, 2001. Native of Conyngham, PA.
RHODE ISLAND - ROBERT J. COUPE
(from late March/beginning of April 2010) Also serves as
Secretary of the party. Attorney at Miller & Caine, LLP, from
Cranston. Candidate for state representative in 2008.
Served as an Assistant General Counsel for Gov. Mitt Romney’s Executive
Office of Health and Human Services. Practiced law in Boston with
the firm of Choate Hall & Stewart. J.D. from Boston
University, 2001. Worked in the State House for Lt. Gov. Bernie
Jackvony and directed the RI GOP’s Victory 2000 program. Managed
Treasurer Nancy Mayer’s 1996 Senate campaign against Jack Reed.
Campaign coordinator for Sen. John Chafee’s 1994 re-election
campaign. Staffer to Sen. John Chafee after interning with Rep.
Claudine Schneider. B.A. from Colby College, 1989.
Graduated from Bishop Hendricken High School. Johnston native.
SOUTH CAROLINA - JOEL SAWYER
(interim executive
director from Feb. 2010) Worked for Gov. Mark Sanford for six and a
half years, leaving as communications director on Aug. 5, 2009 to found
New Level Strategies. Reporter for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
SOUTH DAKOTA - LUCAS LENTSCH
(started as interim executive director on Jan. 12, 2009)
Broker/auctioneer with Dakota Properties and works with the family
farms of Lentsch and Jaspers near Veblen and Eden, respectively.
Candidate for state Senate District 1 in 2008. Created, built and
sold a dairy industry staffing company. Veteran and former
Commanding Officer of Battery A, 2/147th Field Artillery, previously
headquartered out of Sisseton; served in Operation Iraqi Freedom
(2003-05). B.S. in agriculture from South Dakota State
University.
Veblen High School graduate.
TENNESSEE - JOHN NEWMAN
(announced as chief
of staff and state director on July 29, 2009; state director only from
early 2010) Candidate for county trustee in Madison County; one of the
25 Madison County Commissioners. Experience includes West
Tennessee field representative for Sen. Fred Thompson, member of the
Republican State Executive Committee, and chairman of the Madison
County Republican Party. B.S. in organizational leadership from
Union University. Native of Jackson, TN.
TEXAS - JESSE LEWIS
(started Jan. 11, 2010) Previously director of the External
Relations Division of the Texas Workforce Commission. Worked for the
state GOP before, as a field representative, statewide field director
and deputy political director from 1999 to 2003. He also has served as
chief of staff for Texas House members Arlene Wohlgemuth and Sid
Miller. B.A. in political science, communication from the
University of Texas at Arlington.
UTAH - IVAN DUBOIS
Experience includes
BYU-Idaho university relations.
VERMONT - ERIK MASON
Deputy campaign manager on Gov. Jim Douglas' 2008 re-election
campaign and oversaw state legislative campaigns. Field director
on Gov. Douglas' 2006 re-election campaign. Degree in political
science from Arizona State University, 2001. Graduate of
Spaulding High School. From Barre.
VIRGINIA - DAVID REXRODE
(started Jan. 4, 2010) Deputy campaign manager on Attorney General Bob
McDonnell's successful 2009 campaign for Governor of Virginia.
Coalitions director on John McCain 2008 to July 2007. Director of
coalitions at the RNC starting in 2005. Deputy director of
coalitions for the Central Region for Bush-Cheney '04. Graduate
of James Madison University, 2001; while at James Madison managed Randy
Fisher's first campaign for Augusta County sheriff. Native of
Augusta County, VA (Waynesboro area).
WASHINGTON - DAN BRADY
(from Jan. 2009)
Principal at Summit Consulting Group, Jan. 2001-Dec. 2008.
Legislative aide for the King County Council, Jan. 1997-Dec.
2001. In-state administrative director to Sen. Slade Gorton,
April 1991-Dec. 1996. J.D. from Seattle University School of Law,
2002; B.A. degrees in economics and political science from the
University of Washington, 1990.
WEST VIRGINIA - TROY BERMAN
(effective Sept. 1, 2009)
Managing consultant at Potomac Venture Concepts. Managed state
Senate campaign in PA-17. Managed Shelley Sekula Gibbs'
congressional campaign in TX-22. Consultant to the New York
Senate Republican Campaign Committee. Press secretary for the
Maryland House of Delegates Republican Caucus. Deputy regional
field director in Cuyahoga County for Ohio Victory/Bush-Cheney
'04. J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law, 2004;
B.A. in political science from University of Maryland, Baltimore
County.
WISCONSIN - MARK JEFFERSON
(executive director
during the 2008 campaign) Previously served as RPW Assembly campaign
director. Legislative staffer for 11 years in the Wisconsin State
Assembly. Campaign manager and staffer on several legislative
races. B.A. from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Born in
Friendship, WI.
WYOMING - RYAN TAYLOR
(April 2010)
Previously press secretary to Rep. Cynthia Lummis starting when she
took office in Jan. 2009. Communications director for Sen. John
Barrasso’s 2008 campaign; deputy communications director to Sen.
Barrasso starting in June 2007. Deputy press secretary to Sen.
Craig Thomas, Jan.-June 2007. Deputy communications director on
the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Jan.
2005-Jan. 2007. B.S. in political science from the University of
Wyoming. Grew up in Rawlins.