Mitt Romney-Michigan Organization

Mitt Romney-Organization, Michigan
updated January 15, 2008

ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT, INC.
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE, INC. (formed Jan. 3, 2007)
THE COMMONWEALTH PAC (2006 cycle)
Headquarters: 28800 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 210 in Farmington Hills, MI ...official opening March 15, 2007 special guest Scott Romney, House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche, State Representatives Chuck Moss and Marty Knollenberg, former Royal Oak Mayor Dennis Cowan, and former U.S. Senate candidate Ronna Romney scheduled to attend.

Co-Chair Congressman Joe Knollenberg

(announced by the exploratory committee as a co-chair on Jan. 25, 2007; announced as a member of the Commonwealth PAC steering committee on Aug. 23, 2006) Represents Michigan's 9th CD (22 cities and townships located entirely within Oakland County). Elected to Congress in Nov. 1992 and subsequently. Prior to running for Congress, Knollenberg ran a small business in Troy, MI. United States Army, 1955-57. B.S. from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL, 1955,

Co-Chair Congressman Pete Hoekstra

(announced by the exploratory committee on Jan. 24, 2007) Represents Michigan's 2nd CD (western MI). Elected to Congress in Nov. 1992 and subsequently. Worked for 15 years at Zeeland, Mich.-based office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller Inc., where he held the title of Vice President of Marketing. B.A. in political science from Hope College in Holland; M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Co-Chair Congressman Dave Camp

(announced by the exploratory committee on Jan. 17, 2007) Represents Michigan's 4th CD (all or parts of 14 counties in northwest and mid-Michigan). First elected to Congress in 1990. Previously an attorney in private practice. B.A. from Albion College in Albion, MI; J.D. from the University of San Diego. Native of Midland.

Co-Chair Speaker of the House Craig DeRoche

(announced by The Commonwealth PAC on Aug. 22, 2006, re-announced by the exploratory comm. on Feb. 1, 2007) Elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2002; elected Speaker in 2005. Elected to the Novi City Council in 1997; re-elected in 1999. Regional marketing representative for Safety National Casualty, a workers’ compensation insurer, since 1997. Graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in finance.

Co-Chair Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard

(announced by the campaign on July 23, 2007) Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2006. Appointed Sheriff in early 1999; elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. Elected to the State Senate in 1991; re-elected in 1994 and 1998; Bouchard rose to the position of Majority Floor Leader. Elected to the State House of Representatives, 1990. B.A. in criminal justice and police administration from Michigan State University.

State Director Jason McBride

Most recently executive director of the House Republican Campaign Committee (in that position, he was the lead fundraiser). Prior to that McBride worked for Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, the 2002 Dick Posthumus for Governor Campaign and the 2000 Mike Rogers for Congress campaign. Graduate of Michigan State University. Originally from Shelby Township, Michigan.

Field Director David Mroz

Most recently the 2006 West Michigan field director for the Michigan Republican Party. He spent a number of years in the private sector, away from politics, but prior to that he was involved in campaigns at the local level. Graduate of Northern Michigan University.

Regional Field Directors

1st and 4th Congressional Districts Brandon Darin

Campaign experience includes Northern Michigan field director for the Michigan Republican Party, the DeVos for Governor campaign in 2005-06, and the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004. He attended Northwestern Michigan College in Liberal Arts and is currently pursuing his Bachelor's degree from Davenport University. Resident of Traverse City with his wife Amber.

2nd and 6th Congressional Districts Ryan Kool

From Grand Rapids, Michigan. Holland Victory Center director for the Michigan Republican Party during the 2006 election cycle. Worked as an intern in the Michigan House of Representatives and for the National Taxpayers Union in Alexandria, Virginia. Graduate of Wheaton College of Illinois.

3rd and 7th Congressional Districts Reka Holley

Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Worked on the DeVos for Governor Campaign, 2005-06, for the Michigan Republican Party, 2006, and for the Republican National Committee, 2004. Also worked as a legislative aide in the Michigan House of Representatives. Graduate of Cornerstone University, majored in history and political science.

5th and 8th Congressional Districts Stefani Zimmerman

Most recently the campaign manager for Congressman Mike Rogers' (MI-8) successful re-election campaign. Worked on the Rogers for Congress campaign in 2004 as well as the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign. Graduate of Hillsdale College and is pursuing a Masters degree in communications from Marist College.

Oakland County Ryan Klementowski

Resides in Waterford, Michigan. Worked for the Michigan Republican Party in the 2006 cycle, overseeing three field offices and hundreds of volunteers with the largest vote goal of any county in the state. He has attended the RNC Political Field School. Klementowski is a graduate of Grand Rapids Community College and is currently pursuing a degree from the University of Michigan.

Macomb County and 10th Congressional District Jon Minjoe

From Armada, Michigan. Managed the DeVos for Governor campaign in Macomb County in 2006. Previous political experience includes the Cornett for Congress campaign in Oklahoma, the House Conservatives Fund, and Wilson Strategies, a Virginia-based political consulting firm. Minjoe was formerly the political director for the Michigan Federation of College Republicans and chairman of the Albion College Republicans.

Wayne County and 15th Congressional District Gailute Dedinas

Gailute (pronounced: Gy-la) Dedinas was born in Germany and is of Lithuanian decent. After many years in the private sector in the banking/finance industry, she was wooed into politics by her brother Saul Anuzis, Michigan Republican Party chairman. Political experience includes volunteering for local and national campaigns including Bush-Cheney '04, the Kilgore for Governor campaign in Virginia in 2005, and the Michigan Republican Party where she worked as a regional field director for Wayne County in the 2005-06 cycle. She currently resides in Plymouth, Michigan.

Consultant Katie Packer

Vice president of The Sterling Corporation and director of Sterling's Washington, DC office; joined the firm in 1995. Worked for two years at the U.S. Department of Energy as a senior advisor to the Secretary. Chief of staff to Michigan Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, and managed the 2002 Posthumus for Governor campaign in Michigan. A senior aide to Sen. Spence Abraham (R-MI) first on Capitol Hill and then as deputy campaign manager of his 2000 campaign. Director of Senate Majority communications for the Michigan Senate and executive director of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee. Deputy state director for the Dole for President campaign in Michigan, 1996. Worked on many state legislative campaigns in Michigan. Graduated in 1990 from Evangel University in Springfield, MO.

Grassroots Chairman Gerry Mason

(announced Feb. 8, 2007) Michigan Grassroots Co-Chairman for Bush-Cheney '04. Has served on the Michigan Republican State Committee (MRSC) for the past ten years and currently serves as MRSC Vice Chair for Coalitions. Graduate of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University College of Law. Resident of Port Huron.

Grassroots Steering Committee
On March 5, 2007 the campaign announced its Grassroots Steering Committee comprising 44 current (32) and former (12) county GOP chairs, 41 current and former GOP state committee members, and 7 current and former GOP Congressional District chairs.

Oakland County Leadership Team
On April 11, 2007 the campaign announced its Oakland County Leadership Team comprising 26 men and women.

West Michigan Leadership Team
On April 12, 2007 the campaign announced its Western Michigan Leadership Team comprising 31 men and women.

Mid-Michigan Leadership Team
On May 11, 2007 the campaign announced its mid-Michigan Leadership Team 35 men and women.

Alcona County Chair - Mike Maturen
(announced April 27, 2007) Former evangelical Reverend serving the Saginaw area. A member of St. Anne's Catholic Church, he has lived in Harrisville, Michigan, for the past seven years with his wife Sue, and three children – Joshua, Jeremy and Rebekah. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and has been active in numerous political campaigns.

Leading the campaign in Macomb County - Michigan State Senator Alan Sanborn
(announced May 19, 2007) From Richmond Township.

Endorsements of the Republican chairs of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties (the three largest counties in Michigan) (announced May 31, 2007)
Macomb County GOP Chair Jim Carabelli - currently serving his second term as chair. Carabelli was a grassroots volunteer for both Presidents Reagan and Bush. He was honored with the Alexander Grosebeck Award for being a dedicated and hardworking Republican activist. Carabelli is currently serving his second term as a Shelby Township Trustee.
Wayne County Republican Committee Chair Susan Chmielewski - has volunteered on most national, state and local elections since President Reagan's 1980 campaign and has been a precinct Delegate since 1982. She is a charter member, past Vice Chair and Secretary of the Taylor Republican Club as well as a founding member, past Vice Chair and Secretary of the Wayne County Republican Committee. She has served as a Republican State Committee member for 16 of the last 20 years.
Oakland County GOP Chair Dennis Cowan - Unanimously reelected to a second term as chairman in December 2006. Elected to the Royal Oak City Commission in November 1987 and re-elected in 1991. Mayor of Royal Oak, 1993-2001. Actively involved in Republican politics at the local, county, state and national levels for the last 20 years. In both 2000 and 2004, Cowan worked on the Oakland County Bush-Cheney election teams. He also worked on the campaigns of Sen. Spencer Abraham, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca and Attorney General Mike Cox. In 2002, he served on Attorney General Mike Cox's Transition Team.

More Endorsements
Dr. Gary L. Wolfram
(announced June 1, 2007) George Munson Professor of political economy at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan and the President of the Hillsdale Policy Group, a consulting firm specializing in taxation and public policy analysis.

Congressman Vernon Ehlers
(announced Aug. 14, 2007) Elected to the 103rd Congress in a special election on Dec. 7, 1993. Served 11 years in the Michigan Legislature - just over two years in the House and nine years in the Senate, where he finished his tenure as President Pro-Tem. Served eight years on the Kent County Board of Commissioners, including three years as chairman. Taught physics at Calvin College in Grand Rapids for 16 years and later served as chairman of the Physics Department. Undergraduate degree in physics and his Ph.D. in nuclear physics from the University of California at Berkeley.

former Lt. Gov. Connie Binsfeld
(announced Oct. 8, 2007) Served as Lt. Governor under John Engler from 1991-99. The only female in Michigan history to hold a leadership position in the House, Senate, and the Executive Office. Served in the State House of Representatives from 1974-82, when she was elected to the State Senate and served two terms. Binsfeld and her husband, John, currently reside in Burdickville, Michigan.

State Senator Jason Allen
(announced Oct. 13, 2007) Has represented Michigan's 37th State Senate District since 2002, and is the current Senate Majority Whip. He is vice president of sales at the Captain's Quarters, the family menswear business. Served in the Michigan House of Representatives for the 104th District from 1999-2002. Elected to Grand Traverse County Board of Commission. Bachelor's degree in finance from Miami University of Ohio. Lifelong resident of Traverse City.

Gerald and Sonja "Smokie" Wall
(announced Oct. 29, 2007) They have been involved in politics since 1976. Gerald Wall is currently a 4th District Michigan Republican Party State Committee Member and chairman of the Roscommon County Republican Club.

Former Sen. Walt North
(announced Dec. 12, 2007) North's first involvement in politics began in 1962 as he campaigned for George Romney for Governor. North served as Gov. George Romney's Assistant State Treasurer, and then served for seventeen years as the Mackinac Bridge Comptroller and ten years as the Mackinac Bridge Chief Executive Officer. In 1994, North was elected to the Michigan State Senate and served for eight years.

Michigan Women for Mitt Coalition Steering Committee
(announced Nov. 7, 2007)

University of Michigan and Michigan State University Leadership teams
(announced Nov. 2, 2007)

Students for Romney Campus Chairs
On May 1, 2007 the campaign announced 22 "Michigan Students For Romney" Campus Chairs.

Michigan Small Business Coalition
On Aug. 23, 2007 the campaign announced the Romney for President Michigan Small Business Coalition, a committee of 30 men and women.

Endorsements by State Legislators
On Feb. 15, 2007 the campaign announced eight members of the Michigan Senate and 34 members of the Michigan House of Representatives -- over half of the Republicans in the Michigan State Legislature 21 Republican senators and 52 Republican representatives) -- have endorsed Romney's candidacy.

Michigan Statewide Finance Committee
On May 8, 2007 the campaign announced the 30 members of his Michigan Statewide Finance Committee, headed by six co-chairs: David Brandon (Ann Arbor), David Fischer (Bloomfield Hills), J.C. Huizenga (Grand Rapids), Peter Karmanos (Orchard Lake) John Rakolta, Jr. (Bloomfield Hills) and Ed Schwartz (Bloomfield Hills)

75-Person Steering Committee
On Aug. 23, 2006 the Commonwealth PAC announced a 75-person Steering Committee comprising "7 members of President Bush’s Ranger/Pioneer finance team, 37 members of the Michigan House of Representatives, including Speaker Craig DeRoche, grassroots activists who serve as County and District Chairs, and members of the Michigan Republican State Committee. Other members of the Steering Committee include: Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Congressman Joe Knollenberg, Peter Karmanos of Detroit-based Compuware and J.C. Huizenga of Grand Rapids."

Co-Chair/Finance Committee (announced Aug. 22, 2006) John Rakolta, Jr.

Chairman and CEO of Walbridge Aldinger Company, a Detroit-based construction company. Started with the company as an estimator in 1970 and took over from his father in 1993.

Co-Chair/Finance Committee (announced Aug. 22, 2006) David Fischer

Chairman and CEO of the Suburban Collection, Michigan's largest vehicle dealership group. Fischer's father Richard started the Suburban Collection's first dealership in 1948.