Key People-Gov. George Pataki (R-NY)

Key People-Gov. George Pataki (R-NY)
updated Oct. 12, 2006

21st CENTURY FREEDOM PAC

Chairman Sandy Treadwell

Member of the RNC. Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee from March 8, 2001- Nov. 15, 2004. Served in Gov. Pataki’s administration as New York Secretary of State for six years. Chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee for nearly a decade. Reporter for Sports Illustrated, and author of The World of Marathons. Graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in journalism.
Note: Robert E. Davis served as the initial chairman of the PAC. A small business owner in Western New York, Davis is founder of The Partnership, Ltd, an advertising, marketing and public relations firm that specializes in retail marketing. He is also chairman of the Erie County Republican Committee.

Executive Director Rob Cole

Started working for then-Assemblyman Pataki as an intern in 1992. Graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside with a degree in political science. Native of New York.

Political Director Leonard B. Rodriguez

One of six White House Associate Political Directors through to 2003, when he left to do consulting. In 1999 Rodriguez led the Bush for President Exploratory Committee's Hispanic outreach effort for the Iowa Straw Poll and continued with the campaign in Austin, serving as national director of Bush/Cheney 2000's Hispanic Coalition.

Press Secretary Alicia Preston

Joined Meridian Communications, a New Hampshire-based consulting group co-founded by Jack Heath and Mike Biundo, in January 2005. (Meridian was announced as a consultant to the 21st Century Freedom PAC on Jan. 11, 2006). Served as press secretary to New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson. Worked six years at WNDS TV in Derry as chief political reporter and then news director. Also worked as reporter and news director at WKXL AM/FM in Concord and WPNH FM in Plymouth and as a staff writer for the White Mountain Journal in Lincoln. New Hampshire native.

Finance Chairman Walter Ganzi Jr.

Chairman, CEO and Co-owner of The Palm Restaurants and Palm Management Corporation (PMC), which operates 30 fine dining steakhouses. Served as President George H.W. Bush's National Finance Co-Chairman for his 1988 presidential campaign and was the finance chairman for the 1989 Presidential Inauguration. 1963 graduate of Paul Smith's College, and 1964 graduate of Denver University. Resident of Naples, Florida.

Executive Director of the Finance Committee Diane Crookham-Johnson

(initially Iowa executive director; see below)

IOWA
Iowa Office of 21st Century Freedom State PAC: Aurora Business Park, Building 13, Urbandale (Gov. Pataki opened on Sept. 29, 2006)

Chairman State Senator Stew Iverson

(announced June 14, 2006; part of initial leadership team) Represents Senate District 5, which includes the counties of Story, Hamilton, Wright and part of Webster. Iverson was elected Senate Majority Leader in 1996 and served through April 2006; he announced in June 2006 that he will not be seeking re-election. Iverson is a farmer and resides in Clarion (Wright County). Elected to the Iowa Senate in 1994; elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1989. Served fifteen years on the Dows Community School Board. Served in the United States Marine Corps as budget chief of the First Marine Division. B.A. in accounting from Buena Vista College; attended Ellsworth Junior College.

Co-Chair Former State Rep. Steve Sukup

(announced Sept. 26, 2006) Co-owner of Sukup Manufacturing Co., a family-owned agricultural business in Sheffield started by Eugene Sukup in 1963. Candidate for the 2002 Republican gubernatorial nomination; gained 64,490 votes, finishing second to Doug Gross in the June 2002 primary. Served in the Iowa House starting in 1994 and finishing as speaker pro tem. From Daugherty in North Central Iowa.

Executive Director Craig Schoenfeld

(announced Sept. 26, 2006) Attorney and lobbyist at Wasker Dorr Wimmer & Marcouiller, P.C. in West Des Moines. Managed Rep. Greg Ganske's 2002 campaign for Senate through late 2001. Communications director for the Iowa Republican Party. Political director of Iowa Victory 2000. Political director of Iowa Victory 2000. Caucus planning director on Bush's 2000 Iowa caucus campaign (starting Sept. 1999 worked in tandem with the campaign's field operations, preparing county and precinct leaders and supporters for the intricacies of the Iowa caucus process). Director of communications for the Iowa House Republican Caucus 1999-2000. Analyst/legal counsel to the House Republican Caucus from 1994-98. M.A. and J.D. from Drake University, 1994. B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 1991.

Operations Director Noreen F. Bush

(announced Sept. 26, 2006) Experience in government and with Iowa Victory '04. J.D. from Drake University Law School, 2006. B.A. from Mount Mercy College, 2003.

Senior Political Advisor Ed Failor, Jr.

(announced June 14, 2006; part of initial leadership team) Executive Vice President of Iowans for Tax Relief. During the 2004 presidential campaign Failor served as executive director of Iowa Victory 2004, helping Bush to carry the battleground state.

Diane Crookham-Johnson

(announced June 14, 2006 as Executive Director; now Executive Director of the national PAC's finance committee) Vice President for Administration of Musco Lighting Corp. of Oskaloosa; finance roles on a number of Iowa campaigns. Appointed chair of the Republican Party of Iowa's Victory Fund in June 2005. Finance chair for the Republican Party of Iowa, 2002-05. Finance chair for Doug Gross' gubernatorial campaign in 2002.

Loras Schulte

(announced June 14, 2006; part of intial leadership team) Chairman of the Benton County Republican Party and a member of the State Central Committee of the Iowa Republican Party. Managed Gary Bauer's Iowa caucus campaign in 1999-2000 and Pat Buchanan's Iowa caucus campaign in 1995-96. He resides in Norway (Benton County) and works as a computer consultant.

Jo Ellen Hill

(announced June 14, 2006; part of initial leadership team) Managed Mark Leonard's campaign for Secretary of Agriculture in the June 2006 Republican primary. Regional chair for Bush-Cheney '04. Member of the Polk County Republican Central Committee and Executive Committee. Campaign co-chair for the Iowa Federation of Republican Women.

Grassroots Advisory Team
On September 26, 2006 Gov. Pataki announced a Grassroots Advisory Team comprising 14 county chairs "named to help the Governor's get out the vote effort for Republicans."

Note: Gov. Pataki announced the initial Iowa leadership team for his 21st Century Freedom PAC on June 14, 2006, in advance of the Iowa Republican state convention: State Sen. Stew Iverson (Chairman), Ed Failor, Jr. (Senior Political Advisor), Diane Crookham-Johnson (Executive Director), Loras Schulte and JoEllen Hill. As reported by the Hotline, Schulte subsequently sent out an e-mail stating that his "involvement in the PAC is not an endorsement of the Governor for President but it does reflect how seriously I take the job of helping to fund our 2006 candidates for the State House..."

Also note: The year end 2005 FEC report for Pataki's PAC showed payments totaling $6,000 to Erik Helland of Des Moines for political consulting; first payment on Oct. 12, 2005.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Office of 21st Century Freedom State PAC: 20 Market Street, Manchester (Gov. Pataki opened on Oct. 2, 2006)

New Hampshire Office Chris Larson

(reported by Hotline On Call on Sept. 7, 2006) Previously worked for the DCI Group. (DCI Group on retainer to the PAC since 2003).

New Hampshire Leadership Team
On October 12, 2006 Gov. Pataki announced 10 New Hampshirites as a Leadership Team to help "organize grassroots efforts across New Hampshire during the final weeks of the 2006 election cycle."

also Alicia Preston(see above)