JOHN McCAIN 2008, INC.
JOHN McCAIN 2008 - THE EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE  (filed with the FEC to establish on Nov. 16, 2006)
STRAIGHT TALK AMERICA (2006 cycle)

MINNESOTA LEADERSHIP TEAM (announced Feb. 2, 2008)
National Co-Chair
Governor Tim Pawlenty

Honorary State Chair
Former U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz

State Co-Chairs
U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad (MN-03)
Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek

Legislative Team
State Representative Jim Abeler, Anoka
State Representative John Berns, Wayzata
State Representative Tony Cornish, Good Thunder
State Senator Steve Dille, Dassel
State Senator Dennis Frederickson, New Ulm
State Representative Pat Garofalo, Farmington
State Representative Steve Gottwalt, St. Cloud
State Representative Rod Hamilton, Mountain Lake
House Minority Whip Denny McNamara, Hastings
State Senator Geoff Michel, Edina
State Representative Dennis Ozment, Rosemount
State Representative Dean Simpson, Perham

Local Grassroots Leadership Team

Rick Aguilar
Chairman, Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Minnesota, West Saint Paul

Chas Anderson
Former Pawlenty for Governor Endorsement Director

Tony Bennett
Ramsey County Commissioner

Charlie Berg
Former State Senator, Chokio

DeEtta Bilek
Chair, Wadena County GOP, Aldrich

Andy Brehm
Former Press Secretary, U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, Wayzata

Joel Carlson
Former State Representative, Moorhead

John Cooney
Former Campaign Manager, Congressman Jim Ramstad, Plymouth

Scott Cottington
Former Political Director, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Mendota Heights

Ray Cox
Former State Representative, Northfield

Carleton Crawford
Chair, Congressional District 5 GOP, Minneapolis

Chuck Dimler
Former State Representative, Chanhassen

Ron Eibensteiner
Former Republican Party of Minnesota Chair, Minneapolis

Larry Grewach
Chair, House District 64A, St. Paul

Jim Gustafson
Former State Senator, Duluth

John Himle
Former State Representative, Bloomington

Andrew Foxwell
Volunteer Youth Coordinator, Minneapolis

Ben Golnik
Former Executive Director, Republican Party of Minnesota, Saint Paul

Victor Gomez
Treasurer, Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Minnesota

John Gronewald
Southwest Minnesota State University College Republican

Eric Hoplin
Former Deputy Chairman, Republican Party of Minnesota, Burnsville
Former Chairman, National College Republicans

Gary Iocco
Former State Representative Candidate, Red Wing

Greg Johnson
Former Staffer for Governor Pawlenty

Tom Kelly
Former Attorney General Candidate

Dave Kleis
Mayor & Former State Senator, St. Cloud

Roger Knauss
Chair, Senate District 15, Rockville

Rory Koch
Chair, Congressional District 4 GOP, Saint Paul

Michael Krueger
Former Campaign Manager, Governor Pawlenty, Woodbury
Former Executive Director, National College Republicans

Arlene Lesewski
Co-Chair, Lyon County GOP, Marshall

Teresa Lynch
Former State Representative, Andover

Tom Mason
Former Chief of Staff, Senator Norm Coleman, North Oaks

Brian McClung
Past Chair, Minnesota Young Republicans, West Saint Paul

Bert McKasy
Former State Representative, Mendota Heights

Robert Meffert
Co-Chair, Lyon County GOP, Marshall

Lyle Mehrkens
Former State Senator and State Representative, Red Wing

Connie Morrison
Former State Representative, Burnsville

Ed Oliver
Former State Senator, Deephaven

Bernie Omann
Former State Representative, St. Joseph

Jerry Paar
Co-Chair, Congressional District 3 GOP, Edina

Syndey Pauly
Former State Representative, Eden Prairie

Linda Presthus
Co-Chair, Congressional District 3 GOP, Edina

Bill Pulkrabek
Washington County Commissioner, Oakdale

Klarice Rinne
Chair, Watonwan County GOP

Juan Carlos Ruisenor
Secretary, Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Minnesota

Leonard Runck
Co-Chair, Redwing County GOP, Lamberton

Art Seaberg
Former State Representative, Eagan

Craig Shaver
Former State Representative, Wayzata

Ron Sieloff
Former State Senator and Representative, Saint Paul

Charles Slocum
Former Republican Party of Minnesota Chair, Minnetonka

Jane Stewart
Deputy Chair, Congressional District 6 GOP & Chair, Senate District 56, Stillwater

David Sturrock
Treasurer, Congressional District 7 and Former Candidate, Congressional District 7, Marshall

Gwen Sturrock
Former Deputy Chair, Congressional District 7, Marshall

Steve Sviggum
Former House Speaker, Kenyon

Barb Sykora
Former State Representative, Excelsior

Juan Vega
Vice Chairman, Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Minnesota, Minneapolis
 

Almost a year earlier, on Feb. 26, 2008, the exploratory committee announced a first edition Minnesota Leadership Team.
 

Copyright © 2007, 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action