ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT, INC.
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE, INC.  (formed Jan. 3, 2007)
THE COMMONWEALTH PAC  (2006 cycle)
Headquarters:  3590 109th Street, Urbandale  (...moved in Feb. 21, 2007...grand opening April 4, 2007)
 

Chairman

Doug Gross

(announced May 23, 2006)  Attorney at Brown, Winick, Graves, Gross, Baskerville and Schoenebaum PLC.  The 2002 Republican gubernatorial nominee.  Lawyer and lobbyist.  Chief of staff to Gov. Terry Branstad, 1984-89.  Legislative liaison to Gov. Robert Ray, 1981-83.  Director of the Fuels Division for the Iowa Energy Policy Council.  Chief legislative assistant to Congressman Tom Tauke; worked on Tom Tauke's successful 1978 campaign for Congress.  Law degree from Drake University, 1985.  Bachelor's degree from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1977.  Born in Earling, Iowa (Shelby County).
 
 

State Director

Gentry Collins

Political director at the Republican Governors Association in the 2006 cycle; also did consulting for the Commonwealth PAC and the Massachusetts Republican State Congressional Committee.  Deputy chairman/executive director of the Iowa Republican Party in 2004.  Managed Doug Gross' 2002 campaign for governor.  Ran for State House, 1998.  B.A. in political science from Iowa State University in Ames, 1998.
 
 

Political Director

Jill Latham

(reported by Caucus Cooler on Jan. 1, 2007)  Political director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin in the 2006 cycle.  Field staffer on Bush-Cheney '04 in Wisconsin.  Legislative clerk for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  From Alexander, Iowa; daughter of Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA).  B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder, 2001.

Field Staff
Derek Flowers - Region 2
Worked on Brian Kennedy's 2006 primary campaign for Congress in Iowa's 1st CD.

Megan Cross - Region 5
Recent graduate from Iowa State University.

Jill Neunaber - Region 7

Hugh Yeomans - Region 4
Staff assistant to Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE).  Graduate of Washington and Lee University.

Scott Corrie  - Region 9

Brittany Groeneveld - Region 3
B.A. in political science from the University of Iowa.

Marcus Branstad - Region 8
Iowa field director for Sen. Bill Frist's VOLPAC.  Graduated from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake in May 2006.  Youngest child of former Gov. Terry and Chris Branstad.

Sara Craig - Region 6 (Polk County)
Worked on Iowa House legislative races in 2006.

Crystal Bouziden - Region 1
Recent graduate of the University of Iowa.  Interned on Rep. Jim Nussle's (R-IA) gubernatorial campaign in 2006; volunteered on the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2004.  Bouziden has also interned for Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) in his Washington, D.C. office and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) in his Cedar Rapids office.

Andrew Wheeler - Region 10
 

...and a few field offices opened late in the campaign:
Sioux City - 2020 Indian Hills Drive (Romney officially opened on Nov. 13, 2007)
Bettendorf - 5188 18th Street (Romney to attend grand opening on Dec. 13, 2007)
 
 
 

Grassroots Coordinator (Straw Poll Director)

Nicole Schlinger

(reported by The Caucus Cooler on Dec. 12, 2006)  President and founder of Capitol Resources ("Iowa's leading fundraising service provider for Republican candidates") based in Brooklyn, Iowa (Poweshiek County).  Two years as finance director of the Republican Party of Iowa.  Finance director on Bud Walker's congressional campaign in New York through May 2006.  B.A. in economics and policy studies from Syracuse University, Dec. 1995.  Originally from New York.
 
 

College Coordinator

Marisa Tank

Graduate of the University of Iowa, 2005.
 
 

Communications Director

Tim Albrecht

(reported by DMR's Kathie Obradovich on Jan. 9, 2007)  Communications director for House Speaker and now Minority Leader Rep. Christopher Rants (R-Sioux City) for the past four years.  A field staffer on the Forbes 2000 Iowa caucus campaign.  Graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in public relations, 2001.  From Ida Grove.
 
 
 

Advisor

David Kochel

(served as Treasurer for The Commonwealth PAC-Iowa)  Principal at JDK Marketing & Public Affairs in Des Moines.  Executive Vice President at DCI Group.  Managed Lamar Alexander's 1999-2000 Iowa caucus campaign.  Executive director of the Michigan Republican Party in the latter part of 1996.  Executive director of the Iowa Republican Party, 1995-1996.  Graduate of Iowa State University in Ames with a degree in political science, 1992.
 
 

Advisor

Brian Kennedy

(announced Jan. 30, 2007)  Associate at the Davenport law firm of Gallagher, Millage & Gallagher, P.L.C..  Served as Iowa chairman of Sen. Bill Frist's VOLPAC (announced July 13, 2006).  Candidate for the Republican nomination in Iowa's 1st CD in 2006 (announced April 2005; finished third behind Mike Whalen and Bill Dix in the June 2006 primary).  In 2003, founded Campaign of One, a Republican committee dedicated to creating a new generation of political entrepreneurs in Eastern Iowa.  A co-founder of Progress for America, a national grassroots issue advocacy organization working to support President Bush's legislative agenda.  National political director on Lamar Alexander's 2000 presidential campaign, then joined the McCain campaign as national political consultant.  Has served as Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, a member of the Republican National Committee, a Co-Chairman of the Republican National Convention Platform Committee, and Executive Director of the Republican Governors Association as well as a political advisor or campaign manager to former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and several other Republican candidates.  Graduated from Iowa State University and Drake University Law School.  Grew up in Eastern Iowa; resident of Bettendorf.
 
 

Advisor

former Iowa House Speaker Brent Siegrist

(announced Jan. 30, 2007)  Senior advisor at Eide & Heisinger, an Iowa lobbying and governmental relatins firm; joined the firm in 2004.  Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in 2002.  Served in the Iowa Legislature for 18 years representing Council Bluffs; served in the leadership as House Majority Leader from 1993-99 and Speaker of the Iowa House from 1999-2002.  Teacher and wrestling coach in the Missouri Valley School District.  Bachelor degree in social studies from Dana College, 1974.
 
 

Advisor

state Rep. Doug Struyk

(announced Feb. 17, 2007)   Represents District 99-Council Bluffs.  Attorney and co-owner of Struyk Turf, LLC, a Council Bluffs-based business.  Graduate of Iowa State University and the Creighton University School of Law.
 
 

Advisor

Minority Leader Christopher Rants

(announced Sept. 27, 2006 by the Commonwealth PAC; at the time Rants was House Speaker)  Represents District 54-Sioux City.  First elected to the Iowa Legislature in 1992; elected Speaker Nov. 12, 2002.  B.A. from Morningside College, 1989.
 
 

Advisor

former Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson

(announced March 15, 2007)  Elected to the Iowa Senate in 1994; elected Senate Majority Leader in 1996 and held that position through April 2006; did not seek re-election to the Senate in 2006.  Iverson represented Senate District 5, which includes the counties of Story, Hamilton, Wright and part of Webster.  In 2006 he served as chairman of Gov. George Pataki's 21st Century Freedom State PAC (part of initial leadership team announced in June 2006).  Iverson is a farmer and resides in Clarion (Wright County).  Prior to the Senate, he served in Iowa House of Representatives, elected 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.
 

Joe Earle
(announced March 22, 2007 "will provide insight and advice")  Director of outreach with the Iowa Christian Alliance, Jan. 2005-March 2007.  Iowa coalitions director for the Bush-Cheney 2004 re-election campaign.  Field representative for the Republican Party of Iowa in Des Moines.  Graduate of University of Northern Iowa with a degree in political science, 2003; served as chairman of the UNI College Republicans, and in 2002 worked in the field for the Republican Party of Iowa for several months.  Native of Grundy Center.  Currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary in Ankeny.

Keith Hunter
(announced March 30, 2007 volunteer)  Member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Christian Alliance (formerly the Christian Coalition of Iowa), a position he has held since 2002.  Communications director for the Christian Coalition of Iowa from 2003-05.  Member of the Polk County (Des Moines) Republican Central Committee since 1994, serving on the executive committee from 1995-96, and 2004-present.  He resides in Des Moines with wife, Ann, and his son who is currently serving in the United States Marine Corps and has done two tours of duty in Iraq.
 

Iowa Legislative Leadership Team
(initial 12 announced April 4, 2007)
·        Sen. Jim Hahn, Muscatine
·        Sen. David Johnson, Ocheyeden
·        Sen. Dave Mulder, Orange City
·        Sen. Brad Zaun, Urbandale

·        Rep. Dave Deyoe, Nevada
·        Rep. Linda Miller, Bettendorf
·        Rep. Christopher Rants, Sioux City
·        Rep. Doug Struyk, Council Bluffs
·        Rep. Dave Tjepkes, Gowrie
·        Rep. Jodi Tymeson, Winterset
·        Rep. Ralph Watts, Adel
·        Rep. Tami Wiencek, Waterloo
note: Struyk and Tjepkes previously backed McCain.
(subsequent endorsements)
·        Rep. Steve Olson, DeWitt
·        Rep. Rich Anderson, Clarinda  (July 26, 2007)
·        Rep. Chuck Soderberg, Le Mars  (July 26, 2007)
·        Rep. Greg Foristall, Macedonia

County Chairs and Leadership
The campaign started announcing its first county chairs on March 14, 2007.

Iowa Faith and Values Steering Committee (announced July 19, 2007)
Chair is Tom Coates of Des Moines

Iowa Business Coalition (announced June 20, 2007)
Chair is Jamie Myers, President of Regency Companies (Dallas County)

Students for Romney Campus Chairs
On May 1, 2007 the campaign announced 16 "Iowa Students For Romney" Campus Chairs.
 
 

Co-Chair

Marvin Pomerantz

(announced April 27, 2007)  Des Moines businessman.  President of the Iowa Board of Regents from 1987-93 and from 1995-96.  An adviser to Republican Governors Bob Ray and Terry Branstad.  Was Finance Chairman for the Republican Party of Iowa, Branstad for Governor and Gross for Governor.  Currently serves on the national board of the Republican Jewish Coalition.  In 2006, he was appointed by President Bush to serve on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council.   B.S. in commerce from the University of Iowa, 1952.  Des Moines native.  Author of The Best I Can Do.  Pomerantz's business career spans more than four decades:  Chairman and CEO of The Mid-America Group in West Des Moines, Iowa.  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gaylord Container Corporation from October 1986 to April 2002.  Executive at International Harvester in the early 1980s.  Vice president and general manager of the Forest Products Brown Systems Operation.  Vice president of Continental Can Company, Inc.  Founded Great Plains Bag Corporation in January 1961 and served as its president and general manager for 14 1/2 years.
 
 

North Central Iowa Chair

Former State Rep. Jim Kurtenbach

(announced May 10, 2007)  Elected to the Iowa House Of Representatives in 2002 and re-elected In 2004 representing District 10 (portions of Hamilton and Story Counties); made an unsuccessful run for State Senate in 2006.  A partner in the private equity firm, Prairie Oak Capital, LLC.  Associate professor of accounting; has served on the faculty at Iowa State University since August 1991.  Worked as a financial officer in the construction industry and a professional pilot.  B.S. from Iowa State University, M.S. from the University of Tulsa, and a Ph.D from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
 
 
 

Old information...
(see Jonathan Martin in Politico, Sept. 18, 2007 on Moran, Goos and Airhart)
-Tim Moran served as a field staffer for Region 10 (Northwest) but left after the Straw Poll due to another job commitment.
Experience includes organizer on Bob Vander Plaats's gubernatorial campaign.

-Christian Goos served as a field staffer for Region 9 (Southwest) but left after the Straw Poll.
Graduate of the University of Iowa, where he was an active volunteer on the Bush-Cheney campaign and Students for George W. Bush; Goos also served as chairman of the University of Iowa College Republicans.

-Chad Airhart served as coalitions director but left just before the Straw Poll for a position as exec. director of the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce.
A co-owner of McArtor Design, a small marketing and design firm, currently operating in Pleasant Hill.

-Candace Turitto served as a field staffer for Region 5 in the first part of the campaign.
Experience includes work on Nate Macias' March 2006 primary campaign for Texas State House (District 73).

The Commonwealth PAC Iowa Advisory Committee.
On June 17, 2006 Romney announced creation of this group "composed of fifty distinguished Iowa leaders from all across the state."
Organized by County; note that these were from June 17, 2006--some allegiances may have shifted.

East Fremont Karen McAllister - Fremont County chair Iris Morrison - activist Mills Sharon McNutt - Mills County Republican chair Page Elaine Christensen - activist John Christensen - former Page County Republican chair Montgomery Joni Ernst - Montgomery County Auditor  Pottawattamie Steve Cates - Congressman King staffer  Jon Jacobsen - Pottawattamie County Republican Executive Board  David Overholtzer - Pottawattamie County Chair  Suzanne Overholtzer - Pottawattamie County Republican Women Mark Rater - former Pottawattamie County Chair Matt Schultz - Council Bluffs City Council Woodbury Kyle Adema - Republican activist Debi Durham - Chamber president, former  Lt. Gov. candidate  Dr. Tim Moran - Former Woodbury Med Society President  Eldon Roth - business leader Regina Roth - business leader Bob Stewart - Republican activist Suzan Stewart - Republican activist Sioux Randy Feenstra - activist Nick Latinga - activist Jason Moser - Sioux County Executive Board Dave Mulder - State Senator (Sioux Center; Dist. 2) Mick Snieder - Orange City Councilman

Central Clarke Sandy Kale - activist Dallas Paul Bissinger - activist Kathy Lewis - activist Nancy Shirk - Republican activist; Waukee Chamber of Commerce Ralph Watts - State Representative Jasper Tim Morgan - 2006 State Senate candidate Polk Mike Carver - precinct chair for President Bush in the Urbandale area Wes Enos - Polk County Supervisor candidate Doug Gross - see above James Kelly - business leader Brenda Miller - community activist Ryan Miller - community activist Connie Schmett - activist Kim Schmett - former party counsel Jay Sherive - small business owner Mike St. Clair - activist Melissa Vander Plaats - Republican activist Brad Zaun -State Senator Story Dennis Freeman - former  legislator and Story County business leader Union Vonnie Kinkade - activist Kevin Kruse - Union County Republican co-chair Ruth Long - Union County Republican treasurer Winnebago Rich Schwarm - former state chair

West Black Hawk Kevin Patterson - activist Dubuque Michael Meyer - Republican activist Fayette James Kirkpatrick - Republican activist Johnson Jeff Fuller - activist (Iowans for Romney blog) Ben Johnson - College Republican activist Keith Steurer - activist Linn Joni Scotter - activist

 

Early Grassroots Supporter - Jeff Fuller.
Fuller of North Liberty runs the Iowans for Romney blog (first posting on May 5, 2006).  Vitreoretinal Surgical Fellowship at University of Iowa.  Residency in Ophthalmology at Medical College of Georgia. Medical School at UAB in Birmingham.  College at Brigham Young University.  Born and raised in Los Angeles area (Glendora High School).
 

Other Notes
Ann Woods Herberger, announced as National Finance Advisor in Oct. 2006 and a key Florida fundraiser, is a native Iowan who began her political career in 1987 with the George Bush for President campaign during the Iowa presidential caucuses.

On June 17, 2006 Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson reported that Gross announced Romney has hired three staff people to work in Iowa on GOP campaigns.

The Commonwealth PAC (Iowa) reported > contributions of $90,800.00 and expenditures of $76,323.36 in 2004 and contributions of $143,000.00 and expenditures of $62,622.95 in 2005.
 
 

Copyright © 2006, 2007  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action