JOHN McCAIN 2008, INC.
National Finance Co-Chairs
(As of April 2007)
(first 8 national finance co-chairs--Bren, Diamond, Eisenberg, Lee, Loeffler, Moran, Perenchio and Thain--announced Dec. 14, 2006)
Donald Bren - Chairman of The Irvine Company in Southern California, a premier real estate investment company.  Bren is also a significant philanthropist focused on education and conservation.  He has played major finance roles in the campaigns of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, former Gov. Pete Wilson and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Bren is a founding member of the New Majority in Orange County, California, an organization that has raised millions for Republican candidates supportive of free markets and fiscal responsibility.  Former Marine.

Donald R. Diamond - Chairman of Diamond Ventures, Inc., a real estate investment firm.  Diamond served as vice president of ACLI International in New York City, owner and president of NBC-affiliate KVOA-TV in Tucson, and partner in Arizona Mail Order.  He was a founder, vice president and principal owner of the Phoenix Suns and owned an interest in the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Diamond served as chairman of the United Way, ran its general campaign and in 1995 was the first chairman of the United Way's Tucson Alexis de Tocqueville Society.

Lewis M. EisenbergA co-founder of Granite Capital International Group.  Former partner at Goldman Sachs.  Co-chairman of New York City Host Committee for the 2004 Republican Convention.  Finance chairman of the RNC, Jan. 2002-March 2003.  Named by Gov. George Pataki to serve as a member of the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Authority.  Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 1995 to 2001. A Ranger for the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign.   A key advisor to New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman.

James B. Lee, Jr. - Vice chairman of JP Morgan Chase; has spent more than 30 years with the firm and its predecessor companies.  During his career, he started many of the Bank’s investment banking businesses, including the loan syndications unit, now the largest in the world.  Lee rose through the ranks to run Chemical Bank’s and then Chase Manhattan's multi-billion dollar investment bank and helped launch the firm's first leadership development program.  Member of the Bank's Executive Committee, and chairs its National Advisory Board.   He is president of the Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.

Thomas G. Loeffler - Founder and senior partner of The Loeffler Group, LLP, a government affairs and international trade law firm with offices in Washington, D.C., and San Antonio and Austin, Texas.  A Pioneer in the 2000 Bush campaign and a Super-Ranger in 2004.  Loeffler served as Texas co-chairman for the George H.W. Bush presidential campaign, as national finance chairman of Phil Gramm for President, national finance co-chairman in 2000 and South Texas co-chairman in 2004 for George W. Bush for President.  Co-chairman of the RNC's Team 100.  In 1987, President Ronald Reagan named him the principal coordinator for Central America in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.  In 1978 he was elected for the first of four terms in the U.S. House, representing the 21st CD in Texas.  Began his career as chief legislative counsel for Sen. John Tower and was appointed special assistant for legislative affairs by President Gerald Ford.

John A. Moran - Retired chairman of The Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation, a private investment company based in New York City. Is the honorary co-chairman of the Republican Leadership Council of Washington, D.C.  Served as chairman of the Republican National Finance Committee from 1993-95.  National finance chairman of the Dole for President campaign.  He is a member and former director of the Chief Executive's Organization, member and former director of the World President's Organization, former member and director of United Nations Association, founder of the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and has served as a director of Wynn Resorts since October 2002.

A. Jerrold Perenchio - Since 1992, Perenchio has been the chairman and CEO and controlling shareholder of Univision Communications Inc., the largest Spanish-language communications company in the United States.  From 1973 until the partners sold the company in 1985, Perenchio was a partner and CEO of Tandem Productions and T.A.T. Communications and a partner of Norman Lear and Alan D. Yorkin.  Started his business career as a talent agent, first with Music Corporation of America then formed his own company, Chartwell Artists, which was the fifth largest talent agency in the world.  Three years in the U.S. Air Force.  Graduate of UCLA.

John A. Thain - CEO of the NYSE Group, Inc., effective March 8, 2006.  CEO of the New York Stock Exchange since joining the Exchange on Jan. 15, 2004. Previously president and COO of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. since July 2003; president and co-COO from May 1999 through June 2003; he had been a director since 1998.  President and co-COO of The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. in 1999.   From 1994-99, he served as chief financial officer and head of operations, technology and finance. From 1995-97, he was also co-chief executive officer for European operations.  MBA from Harvard University in 1979 and a B.S. degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977.

Brian Ballard - (announced Feb. 5, 2007; also named as Co-Chair of the Florida campaign)  Managing partner of the government relations firm Smith & Ballard.  A co-chair of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s inaugural committee.  Served as chief-of-staff to Gov. Bob Martinez.

The Honorable George L. Argyros - (announced Feb. 28, 2007 as part of the California Finance Team)  Chairman and CEO of Arnel & Affiliates, an investment company.  U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and Principality of Andorra, Nov. 2001-Nov. 2004.  Co-founded buyout firm Westar Capital in 1987.  Co-owner of AirCal from 1981-87; owner of the Seattle Mariners Baseball Club of the American League for nine full seasons.  Earned real estate license in 1962.  Graduated from Chapman University in 1959 with a major in business and economics.

Lawrence E. Bathgate, II Esq. - (announced Dec. 19, 2007 as part of the New York Area Finance Team)  co-founder and senior managing partner of Bathgate Wegener & Wolf, P.C., a Lakewood, NJ law firm.  J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law, 1964.  B.S. from Villanova University, 1961

The Honorable James A. Courter - (announced March 13, 2007)  Chairman of the Lexington Institute.  Partner in the DC law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand, 1994-96.  Chairman of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, 1991-94.  Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey, 1989. Represented New Jersey's 12th CD in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years, 1979-91.  Senior partner in the New Jersey law firm of Courter, Kobert, Laufer & Cohen.  Peace Corps volunteer in Venezuela.  B.A. from Colgate University and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

Mr. J. Gary Shansby  - (announced Feb. 28, 2007 as part of the California Finance Team)  Co-founder, managing general partner of The Shansby Group since its inception in 1987.  Formerly chairman and CEO of Shaklee Corporation.  More than 35 years of experience with consumer companies.  Prior to joining Shaklee, Shansby was a partner at Booz, Allen & Hamilton.  Previously, he held senior management positions for such companies as the Clorox Company, American Home Products Corporation, and the Colgate-Palmolive Company.  B.A. from the University of Washington.

Fred Malek - (announced April 3, 2007)  In 1991, Malek founded two private equity firms, Thayer Capital Partners and Thayer Lodging Group; he serves as chairman of both firms.  Campaign manager for President George H.W. Bush in 1992.  President and co-CEO of Northwest Airlines.   Director of the 1988 Republican National Convention.  Joined the Marriott Corporation in 1975 and rose to become President of Marriott Hotels and Resorts.  Deputy Director of OMB.  Deputy chairman of President Richard Nixon's re-election campaign in 1972, after Watergate.  Special Assistant to President Nixon, recruiting for cabinet-level positions, commissions and boards.  Deputy Under Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.  M.B.A from the Harvard Business School, 1964.  Served in Vietnam as an Airborne Ranger in the U.S. Army.  Graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 1959.
 
 

More Finance...
New York Area Finance Team

(announced Dec. 19, 2006)  Includes four national co-chairs, three honorary New York co-chairs, and fifty New York, New Jersey and Connecticut finance committee members.