For Immediate Release                                                                                                          Contact: Danny Diaz
Monday, February 26, 2007                                                                                                               703-650-5550
 

ARLINGTON, VA – U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee today announced that conservative and grassroots leaders will join with current and former Republican legislators to make up the Arizona Senator’s leadership team in Minnesota.

The team will help rally support and provide leadership to Senator McCain’s exploratory committee in the state.

Mayor Dave Kleis of St. Cloud spoke to McCain’s unique qualifications and appeal to Minnesota voters.  “John McCain has an amazing story of service to our country,” said Kleis.  “Senator McCain is a straight talker on the issues and that makes recruiting Minnesota supporters for his effort that much easier.”

Jane Stewart, a Washington County Republican activist and secretary of the Sixth Congressional District Republicans, commented on Senator McCain’s conservative record.  “I’m proud to be on the McCain team,” said Stewart.  “Senator McCain’s common sense conservative principles will prove to be popular with Republican voters in our state.”

Senator McCain welcomed the support of his Minnesota Leadership Team.  “Having this kind of support in the various communities of Minnesota means a great deal,” said Senator McCain.  “These are dedicated Americans and I look forward to joining them in working toward a more dependable federal government based on the conservative principles we share.”
 

 
CURRENT MEMBERS OF SENATOR MCCAIN’S MINNESOTA LEADERSHIP TEAM

Jim Abeler
State Rep., Anoka
 

Bill Belanger
Fmr. State Senator, Bloomington
 

Tony Bennett
County Commissioner, Ramsey County
 

Charlie Berg
Fmr. State Senator, Chokio

 
John Berns
State Rep., Wayzata
 

DeEtta Bilek
Chair, Wadena County Republicans
 

Dave Bishop
Fmr. State Rep., Rochester
 

Joel Carlson
Fmr. State Rep., Moorhead
 

Tony Cornish
State Rep., Good Thunder
 

Ray Cox
Fmr. State Rep., Northfield
 

Carleton Crawford
Chair, Congressional District 5 Republicans
 

Steve Dille
State Senator, Dassel
 

Chuck Dimler
Fmr. State Rep., Chanhassen
 

Ron Eibensteiner
Fmr. Republican State Party Chairman
 

Dennis Frederickson
State Senator, New Ulm
 

Pat Garofalo
State Rep., Farmington
 

Steve Gottwalt
State Rep., St. Cloud
 

Larry Grewach
Chair, House District 64A Republicans
 

John Gronewald
Southwest Minnesota State University College Republicans
 

Jim Gustafson
Fmr. State Senator, Duluth
 

Rod Hamilton
State Rep., Mountain Lake
 

John Himle
Fmr. State Rep., Bloomington
 

Tad Jude
Fmr. State Senator and Rep., Maple Grove
 

Dave Kleis
Mayor and Fmr. State Senator, St. Cloud
 

Roger Knauss
Chair, Senate District 15 Republicans
 

Cal Larson
Fmr. State Senator and Rep., Fergus Falls
 

Ted Lovdahl
Chair, Congressional District 8 Republicans
 

Cal Ludeman
Fmr. State Rep., Tracy
 

Teresa Lynch
Fmr. State Rep., Andover
 

Mike McGinn
Fmr. State Senator, Eagan
 

Bert McKasy
Fmr. State Rep., Mendota Heights
 

Brendon McKeon
Chair, Carlton County Republicans
 

Lyle Mehrkens
Fmr. State Senator and Rep., Red Wing
 

Geoff Michel
State Senator, Edina
 

Connie Morrison
Fmr. State Rep., Burnsville
 

Scott Newman
Fmr. State Rep., Hutchinson
 

Ed Oliver
Fmr. State Senator, Deephaven
 

Bernie Omann
Fmr. State Rep., St. Joseph

 
Tony Onnen
Fmr. State Rep., Cokato
 

Dennis Ozment
State Rep., Rosemont
 

Jerry Paar
Co-Chair, Senate District 41 Republicans
 

Sydney Pauly
Fmr. State Rep., Eden Prairie
 

Neil Peterson
State Rep., Bloomington
 

Linda Presthus
Co-Chair, Senate District 41 Republicans
 

Art Seaberg
Fmr. State Rep., Eagan
 

Denny Schulstad
Fmr. City Councilor, Minneapolis
 

Craig Shaver
Fmr. State Rep., Wayzata
 

Ron Sieloff
Fmr. State Senator and Rep., St. Paul
 

Dean Simpson
State Rep., Perham

 
Jane Stewart
Secretary, Congressional District 6 and Senate District 56 Republicans
 

Steve Sviggum
State Rep., Kenyon

 
Jan Sweeney
Deputy Chair, Congressional District 4 Republicans
 

Barb Sykora
Fmr. State Rep., Excelsior
 

Andy Van Dam
Vice-Chair, Congressional District 7 Republicans