The Republican State Leadership Committee released a statement today naming Ed Gillespie, former Republican National Committee Chairman and counselor to President Bush, as its new chairman. Former Congressman and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Reynolds will serve as vice chairman. Read the full statement after the jump.
Heading into a pivotal year for Republicans at all levels of government, Ed Gillespie, former Republican National Committee Chairman and Counselor to the President, has been named Chairman of the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC). The RSLC is the nation’s largest caucus of Republican state leaders – focused on electing Republican Attorneys General, Lieutenant Governors, Secretaries of State and state legislators. Gillespie will provide strategic guidance on political and communication activities – with a particular focus on 2010 political redistricting efforts. In addition, former NY Congressman and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman (NRCC) Tom Reynolds – who also served in the NY State Assembly – will serve as Vice Chairman and lead the redistricting effort.
“There is a great deal of momentum for Republicans this election year, but momentum alone will not guarantee success. We are looking at every opportunity to increase and obtain legislative majorities – and Ed Gillespie’s record of winning will help our winning cause,” said Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) President Scott Ward. “There is a lot at stake this year because state elections will determine who draws state legislative and Congressional district boundaries after completion of the 2010 census. These elections will help shape the political landscape for the next decade and we are fortunate to have Ed’s steady leadership guiding us through this election year.”
“Having worked with Ed Gillespie for many years, I know his expertise and insight will be invaluable to state leaders across the country in this vital year for our party and our country,” said Mississippi Governor and Republican Governors Association Chairman Haley Barbour. “Ed understands what it takes to win as we most recently saw with his guidance in Bob McDonnell’s successful candidacy for Governor of Virginia. The RGA intends to help elect a lot of Republican governors this year, and with Ed’s leading the RSLC, we’ll have a lot more state legislators to help enact their positive agendas.”
“The elections in the states this year are instrumental in shaping the political landscape to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington for years to come,” said Congressman and NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. “With Tom Reynolds leading their efforts to affect redistricting, the RSLC will have a major impact on those critical state races.”
“Having worked in federal and state elections, I understand the importance of the state legislative races in the year before redistricting,” Gillespie said. “I’m thrilled to be part of the RSLC team, and look forward to a big year in state races across the country.”
Congressman Reynolds will chair the redistricting efforts for the RSLC. Mr. Reynolds, a former NRCC Chairman, will bring his expertise having been a leader in NY redistricting since the early ’90s.
Ed Gillespie is one of the country’s top communications strategists with a long record of success in business, politics and government. He most recently served as General Chairman of Bob McDonnell’s victorious campaign for Virginia Governor. A former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Gillespie in 2004 became the first GOP chairman in 80 years to preside over his party’s winning the White House, House and Senate. One of a small number of Americans to have had offices in the West Wing of the White House and within steps of the Dome of the US Capitol, Gillespie was a long-time aide to former House Majority Leader Dick Armey. As policy and communications director for the House Republican Conference, he was a principal drafter of the Contract with America, the 1994 campaign platform on which Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years.
Tom Reynolds formerly represented the 26th Congressional District in Upstate New York reaching from the Buffalo suburbs and extending to the western suburbs of Rochester. As chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee from 2003-2007, Mr. Reynolds was one of eight elected leaders of the House Republican Majority Conference. Before his election to the U.S. Congress, Mr. Reynolds served five terms in the New York State Assembly and was elected the Republican leader from 1995 until 1998.
The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. In 2009, Republicans swept all three offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia for the second time in state history and increased the Republican majority by six seats. In addition, over the last year, Republicans have won 35 special elections for the state legislature from New Hampshire to Washington State and every region of country. During the 2008 elections, the RSLC helped maintain the number of Republican Attorneys General and Lieutenant Governors; and delivered new Republican majorities in the Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee state senates, as well as an unprecedented majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The RSLC has over 80,000 donors from all 50 states.
