California Delegation to the 2008 GOP National Convention Elects Leadership
Delegation conducts its official meeting and elects Chairman and Co-Chairmen of the California Delegation
 
(Burbank, CA) - Today, the California Delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention met in Burbank for their official delegation meeting, including the election of the Delegation's leadership.

John McCain 2008 California Campaign Chairman and former California Secretary of State Bill Jones was elected Chairman of the Delegation that will travel to the Twin Cities in September. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will serve as the Honorary Chairman of the Delegation. Additionally, the Delegation elected former California Governor Pete Wilson, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, and California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring as the Delegation's Co-Chairmen.
 
"I am honored to have been elected Chairman of the California Delegation.  The 2008 Republican National Convention will be the most exciting and important political convention in recent history, and it is my pleasure to head the largest and most diverse delegation of any state," said Bill Jones, John McCain 2008 California Campaign Chairman.  "Ours is a delegation representative of every corner of California and the excitement and enthusiasm of our grassroots volunteers and supporters will propel us forward as we come together to pledge our delegate's votes to Senator John McCain."
 
About Delegation Chairman Bill Jones

Bill Jones commitment to public service and widely recognized achievements has allowed him the honor of serving four Governors and four Presidents.  He served twelve years as a legislator from Fresno in the CA State Assembly.  In 1990, his fellow Republican legislators elected him to serve as Assembly Republican Leader.  Bill was first elected CA Secretary of State in 1994, making history as the first resident of the Central Valley to serve in a statewide constitutional office in over a century.  He also received national acclaim when in 1994 he authored and passed into law California's immensely popular "Three Strikes" law.  In 2000, Bill served as Senator McCain's CA State Chairman and is currently serving in the same capacity.  He is a second generation CA rancher and farmer with a Bachelor's Degree in agribusiness and plant sciences from CA State University, Fresno.  In 2005 Bill was appointed to the CA Bay Delta Authority by Governor Schwarzenegger to help with water issues in the state.  Bill has been married to his wife Maurine for 36 years and has two daughters and four grandchildren

About Governor Pete Wilson

Born in Illinois in 1933, Pete Wilson attended Yale University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned his law degree at the University of California and went into practice as an attorney. Wilson got his indoctrination into politics at the age of 27 by serving as an advance man for Richard Nixon during the 1960 presidential campaign. Wilson served as State Assemblyman, Mayor of San Diego, and U.S. Senator prior to assuming the office of Governor in 1991. During his first term, a budget impasse between the Governor and the legislature forced the state to operate without a budget for a record 61 days. This caused state employees and creditors to be paid with warrants rather than with checks. Wilson pushed successfully for changes in workers' compensation laws, the goal of which was to reform the system and prevent businesses from leaving the state.

About Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner

California Insurance Commissioner, Steve Poizner, took the Oath of Office on January 8, 2007.  A highly-successful businessman and entrepreneur, Poizner's company developed life-saving technology which placed GPS receivers into cell phones.  As a result, 9-1-1 emergency responders are able to locate cell phone callers with pinpoint accuracy during an emergency.  In 2001-02, Steve served as a non-partisan White House Fellow in Washington, D.C., where he was the Director of Critical Infrastructure Protection in the National Security Council.  He is also a co-founder of EdVoice and has served on the boards of several organizations committed to assisting disadvantaged children in K-12 schools.  Steve also spent a year teaching 12th grade government at Mount Pleasant High School in East San Jose.   As Insurance Commissioner, Poizner oversees the California Department of Insurance (CDI), the largest consumer protection agency in the state.  CDI has more than 1,300 employees, a $200 million budget and regulates more than one-seventh of the California economy.  

About CRP Chairman Ron Nehring

Ron Nehring was unanimously elected Chairman of the California Republican Party in February 2007, following terms as the party's Vice Chairman and President of the California Republican County Chairmen's Association.  During his five years as Chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County, he led the party to unprecedented strength in local elections, leading to Republican victories in hundreds of local government offices.  Ron Nehring advances conservative principles in state and local government.  From 2004 through 2006 he has served as a Trustee for the Grossmont Union High School District, one of the largest high school districts in California.  In 2005 and 2006 he served as a Member of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, bring a fire victim's and citizen perspective to the Board's deliberations.

California National Delegation Committees

In addition to the election of the Delegation leadership, the delegation members to sit on the committees on Rules, Credentials, Platform/Resolution, and Permanent Organization were also selected.

Rules: Bob Laurie and Jill Buck;
Credentials: John Peschong and the Hon. Rosario Marin;
Platform/Resolutions: Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Jennifer Russo;
Permanent Organization: Sonia Denham and Assemblyman Van Tran.

About the California Delegation

The California Delegation is the largest delegation to the Republican National Convention. With 173 delegates, 170 alternates, over 400 guests and an internationally composed media delegation occupying two hotels, California plays a vital part of the 2008 GOP Convention.

About the 2008 Republican National Convention

The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center from September 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the four-day event. For more information about the 2008 Republican National Convention, please visit their website at www.GOPConvention2008.com.