ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT, INC.
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE  (formed Jan. 3, 2007)
THE COMMONWEALTH PAC (2006 cycle)
 

Senior Advisor for the Southeastern Region

J. Warren Tompkins, III

(announced Nov. 27, 2006) A veteran of South Carolina and national politics, Tompkins' experience includes work on six presidential campaigns.  He started a political consulting practice, now Tompkins, Kinard & Associates, in 1991.  Atlantic Region Chair for the Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign.  Strategist for the 1988 Bush presidential campaign.  Tompkins helped elect Carroll Campbell governor in 1986 and served as Campbell's chief of staff, supervising a staff of more than 230 people and budgets totaling more than $91 million.  Executive director of the South Carolina Republican Party starting in 1981. Executive director of both South Carolina Reagan-Bush campaigns (1980 and 1984), the first at age 28.  Volunteered on Strom Thurmond's 1978 Senate campaign.  First campaign was a 1974 magistrate’s race.  University of South Carolina.
 
 

Campaign Manager

Terry Sullivan

(reported by Aaron Gould Sheinin in The State on Jan. 23, 2007)  Campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) in 2005 when she was considering running for governor.  Campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint's successful campaign for U.S. Senate in 2004, including the primary and a primary runoff.
 
 
 

Political Director

George Ramsey

(Chris Cillizza reported Ramsey joined Romney in The Fix on Aug. 11, 2006)  Campaign manager for State Sen. Greg Ryberg's unsuccessful campaign for state treasurer in the June 2006 primary.  A grassroots manager for Direct Impact, a public affairs company in Alexandria, Virginia.  Political director on then Rep. Jim DeMint's successful 2004 campaign for U.S. Senate.  Native of York County.
 

Field Managers
Katie Baham
(Jan. 2007)  In 2006, Baham served as a field representative for the SCGOP’s Victory campaign after serving as field staff for Ryberg for Treasurer.  While earning her B.A. in Political Science from the University of South Carolina from 2004-06, she worked for SC Senate Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell and the Senate Judiciary Committee.

McNeil Epps
(Jan. 2007)  Field representative for the SCGOP’s Victory 2006 campaign.  While earning his B.A. in political science from Presbyterian College, McNeil assisted in several local races as a member of the PC College Republicans.

Susan Chapman
(Jan. 2007)  Was the outreach director for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.  Worked for the GOP’s Victory 2000, 2002 and 2004 operations. Served on the 2000 recount team in Broward County, Florida, and was appointed to the Bush-Cheney Inaugural Committee in 2001. Served on the Anderson County District Five School Board for 20 years.

Heather Ammons-Grant
While at Francis Marion University Ammons served as chair of the FMU Federation of College Republicans, helped out with Victory '04 in Florence and Horry Counties and Interned in U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Florence office.  During the fall 2006 she worked in West Virginia as a field representative for the College Republican National Committee.

Chris Slick

Kati Youmans
Attended the University of South Carolina.  From Florence, SC.
 
 

Coalitions Director

Becky Fleming

Field staff for the SCGOP’s Victory 2006 campaign.  Has worked with Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and Floyd for Superintendent of Education.  Worked with the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond from 1997-2003.  Degree from the University of South Carolina.
 
 

Communications Director

Will Holley

Most recently press secretary to U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-5).  Managed Chris Wakim's unsuccessful run against Rep. Alan Mollohan during 2006 cycle.  Former press aide in White House Press Office.  Graduate of Notre Dame.
 
 

Director of Operations

Corey Utley

Utley served as political director for the Bouchard for U.S. Senate campaign in Michigan in 2006.  Prior to that, she was the deputy finance director for the Michigan Republican Party; she has also served as an account executive with The Sterling Corporation, a full service political and public relations firm in Lansing, MI.
 
 

Senior Advisor (National)

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

(announced Jan. 9, 2007)  Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002.  Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998, and elected president of the Republican freshman class.  Owner of a Greenville based market research firm.  Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and M.B.A. from Clemson University.  Born and raised in Greenville, SC.
 

South Carolina Statewide Grassroots Co-Chairs  (announced March 28, 2007)
Rick Adkins Is Chairman Of The Anderson County Republican Party.  A real estate professional, Adkins is a veteran of South Carolina politics.  He served as the 2002 County Chairman for Peeler for Governor, as the County Chairman for Bush-Cheney 2004 and as a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention.  He chairs the Anderson County Republican Party as well as the Anderson Interfaith Ministries. He is also a member of the State Board of Education.  A graduate of Clemson University, he and his wife, Teresa, have three children.

Kathy Bigham Is A Businesswoman And Trustee Of Winthrop University In Rock Hill.  A graduate of Winthrop University, Bigham is president of Thursdays Too restaurant in Rock Hill.  A member of the Clinton Junior College Advisory Board, she has served on the Winthrop Eagle Club's Board of Directors, the Wachovia Bank Advisory Board and Rock Hill Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors.  She has served as an executive committee member for the Carolinas Billy Graham Crusade, as co-chair for the Changing South Carolina to fight video poker, and as a member of the Bush for President South Carolina Steering Committee.  She and her husband, Larry, have two children and three grandchildren.

Paul Thurmond Is An Attorney Who Serves On The Charleston County Council.  A member of the County Council since 2007, Thurmond brings a fiscally conservative viewpoint to issues such as criminal justice, infrastructure improvement and planning for growth.  A former Assistant Solicitor with the 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office, he is a partner and shareholder at Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes, P.A.  A graduate of the University of South Carolina Law School, he and his wife, Katie, have one son.
 
 

South Carolina County Chairs (revised March 28, 2007)

Aiken County June Cannon Rick Osbon Betty Ryberg	Allendale County Julie Strong	Anderson County Jane Jones
.
Bamberg County Susan Rhoden	Barnwell County Dan Ross	Beaufort County Bob Holtzmacher
.
Berkeley County Cheryl Ludlam Senator Bill Mescher  Wayland Moody Steve  Querry Bill Willcox	Calhoun County Richard Sweatt Ruby Sweatt	Charleston County Daniel Dukes Councilman Henry Fishburne
.
Cherokee County Dr. Sam Swad	Chester County Tot Kennedy  Alex Stroman	Chesterfield County Larry Courtney
.
Clarendon County Moye Graham	Colleton County Joe Murrary	Darlington County Scott Anderson
.
Dillon County Nevell  Rogers	Dorchester County Tianna Keener Elizabeth Miller	Edgefield County Frank  Mauer
.
Fairfield County Coy Richardson	Florence County Mary Tepper	Georgetown County Paul Hogan Ricky Horne Glen O'Connell
.
Greenville County Dr. Robert Barnes Marjorie Barnes Councilman Joe Dill Joe Haynes	Greenwood County James Gardner Michelle Oxner Randy Oxner	Hampton County Orey Middleton
.
Horry County Representative Alan Clemmons	Jasper County Keith Dubose	Kershaw County James D'Alessio
.
Lancaster County Sara Fleming Al Simpson	Laurens County Patrick Garrison	Lee County Charlene Privette
.
Lexington County Dr. Scott Andersen  Representative Nikki Haley Representative Chip Huggins Tim Miller Representative Ted  Pitts Robert Schaeffer Irby Schultz Bill Shealy Verona Shealy Shirley Smith  Ottis Smith	Marion County Kathy Stedman	McCormick County Mid Self
.
Newberry County Margaret Brackett Senator Ronnie Cromer Betty Dominick Alan Gardner Charles Simmons	Oconee County Steve Sokol	Orangeburg County Roy Lindsey Chester Palmer Barbara Strickland
.
Pickens County Senator Larry Martin Johnathan Strange	Richland County Representative Nathan Ballentine Denise Jones Wanda Forbes Grace Rentiers	Saluda County Brandy Shealy
.
Spartanburg County June Bond Marlene Saad	Sumter County Jimmy Byrd	Union County Les Anderson
.
York County Rod Benefield

South Carolina Women for Mitt  (Women's Leadership Team co-chairs announced March 8, 2007)
Debbie DeMint.  Debbie DeMint, childhood sweetheart of Senator Jim DeMint and devoted mother of four, is a native of Greenville, South Carolina. Having recently earned a master's degree in counseling from Clemson University, she is now working to become a licensed professional counselor.  Debbie and Senator DeMint are also currently enjoying life as proud first-time grandparents.

Former South Carolina First Lady Ann Edwards.  Ann Edwards, wife of Governor Jim Edwards, served South Carolina as First Lady from 1975 to 1979.  The Ann Darlington Edwards Endowed Chair in Nursing was named in honor of Mrs. Edwards, a retired nurse, for her contributions to both nursing and the state.  She also belongs to the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women.  Governor and Mrs. Edwards remain active in public life and currently live in Charleston, South Carolina.

National Committeewoman Cindy Costa. Cindy Costa has served as the National Committeewoman for the South Carolina Republican Party since first elected in 1996.  Mrs. Costa is a business manager in Charleston and the Chairman of the South Carolina Winning Women Excellence in Public Service Series.  She is married with four children and has two grandchildren.

State Representative Nikki Haley. State Representative Nikki Haley represents Lexington County in the South Carolina House of Representatives.  She served as the President of the freshman caucus from 2005 to 2006 and currently serves as the South Carolina House Republican Whip.  Representative Haley is also an accountant and business owner.  She resides in Lexington with her husband and 2 children.

Steering Committee
 
 

More Endorsements
Dr. Don Wilton - (announced Oct. 19, 2007) Senior pastor at the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, and the immediate past president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention (2006 South Carolina Baptist Convention President).  He has served in churches in South Africa, Mississippi and Louisiana.  He began his pastorate at the First Baptist Church in Spartanburg in 1993.  His church currently has 6,900 members.  A former faculty member at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he currently teaches at the Billy Graham School of Evangelism and the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove.  Additionally, Dr. Wilton serves as President of the Encouraging Word Broadcast Ministry, which televises nationwide.  He has written and published five books, including his most recent The Absolute Certainty of Life After Death.

Dr. Bob Jones III - (reported by The Greenville News Oct. 16, 2007) Chancellor of Bob Jones University.
Dr. Bob Taylor - Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bob Jones University.

State Senator Kevin Bryant of Anderson - (announced Nov. 6, 2007)
Bryant announced his support for Sen. Sam Brownback on Jan. 11, 2007 and was a member of Brownback's South Carolina leadership team (Brownback exited the race on Oct. 19).  Elected to the State Senate in 2004, represents District 3.  Chairman of Anderson County Republican Party, 1997-01.  President of Bryant Pharmacy and Supply since 1995.  B.S. from University of Georgia, 1989.  (blog, Senate office)
 
 

South Carolina Statewide Finance Committee Co-Chairs  (announced June 5, 2007)
Jim Anthony (Pickens) - Founder, president and CEO of The Cliffs Communities, Inc.  Prior to his founding The Cliffs, he spent more than 20 years as a telephone line repairman for Southern Bell, while building an active real estate development business on the side.

Peter Brown (Columbia) - Vice President of Colite International and a Managing Partner of Colite Outdoor, LLC.  Active Finance Committee member for DeMint for Senate; served on Gov. Mark Sanford's finance team and was a member of Sanford's Inaugural Committee.  Prior to the founding of Colite International, Ltd. in 1992 he was employed by Milliken & Company.  Graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Bill Hewitt (Charleston) - Board member and chairman of Polymer Group, Inc.  Has served on numerous finance teams in the past including Sen. Jim DeMint and Gov. Mark Sanford.  Immediate past Chair at The Citadel.  Lt. Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard with tours of duty including command of the USCGC Cape Morgan and teaching electrical engineering at the Coast Guard Academy.

Senator Greg Ryberg (Aiken) - First elected to the State Senate in 1993.  Chief Executive Officer of REI, Inc.  With his wife Betty, he used to own a chain of convenience stores in South Carolina and Georgia.  Graduate of Marquette University.

South Carolina Finance Director:
Drea Byars - Republican fundraising consultant based In Lexington, South Carolina.  Over the last seven years, Byars has raised millions of dollars for South Carolina candidates and elected officials.  She currently serves as State Finance Director for U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint.
 

earlier announcement
Charleston Community Leaders
(Jan. 29, 2007 event with Governor Romney at Coen Capital in Mt. Pleasant)

Former Governor James B. Edwards
Ann Edwards
Former Congressman Tommy Hartnett
Cindy Costa (RNC Committeewoman)
Henry Fishburne
Dick Coen
Richard H. Coen
Larry Richter
Wayland Moody
Ricky Horne
Paul Hogan
Bill Hewitt
Laura Hewitt
John Rivers
Joseph Murray
Gene Zurlo
 
 
 

old information

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