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Congressional Endorsements
In 2004, the Republicans for Environmental Protection endorsed twenty candidates for Congress, including these members of REP's’s Honorary Board:
* Senator John McCain (AZ)
* Representative Sherwood Boehlert (NY)
* Representative Mike Castle (DE)
* Representative Vern Ehlers (MI)
* Representative Wayne Gilchrest (MD)
* Representative Nancy Johnson (CT)
* Representative Tim Johnson (IL)
* Representative Sue Kelly (NY)
* Representative Mark Kirk (IL)
* Representative Jim Leach (IA)
* Representative Jim Saxton (NJ)
* Representative Chris Shays (CT)
* Representative Rob Simmons (CT)
* Representative Jim Walsh (NY).
We are pleased that one non-incumbent whom REP PAC endorsed and supported through our state chapter won a big primary victory. REP member Dr. Joe Schwarz (pictured in the last Green Elephant with fellow REPs McCain and Michigan Chapter President, Rob Sisson) should win in his heavily-GOP district, becoming the second REP member elected to Congress. (The first was Rep. Rob Simmons of Connecticut.)
Republicans for Environmental Protection rose to the occasion
for "Operation Sherry"
By far the most satisfying primary win this year (from REP’s perspective) came on Sept. 14, when New York Congressman Sherwood Boehlert—who was targeted for defeat this year by the Club for Growth and a pugnacious far-right-wing opponent—won 58% of the primary vote, guaranteeing his re-election in November. Boehlert specifically asked REP to take the lead in presenting his environmental record. We responded with our first major-league political effort.
Here’s a recap of our various firsts:
* In April 2003, hundreds of REP members contributed checks totaling over $10,000 directly to Boehlert’s campaign fund via our first-ever “bundling” effort.
* Last fall, singer/songwriter Carole King—a great Sherry Boehlert fan—brought her star power to a REP fundraiser for the congressman. REP members and non-members alike attended, boosting funding for our “Operation Sherry.”
* This past summer, thanks to additional contributions from members, REP was able to send out thousands of first-class-mail packets to GOP sportsmen and conservationists throughout Boehlert’s district, reinforcing public appreciation of the congressman’s outstanding pro-conservation voting record and boosting REP’s membership and “brand name” recognition there. The key feature of those packets was the Fall 2003 Green Elephant, with Boehlert’s keynote speech at our San Diego conference and photos of him with REP members at that meeting.
* In two more firsts, the REP PAC conducted a successful fundraising drive (which it can legally do only within REP America’s membership), which in turn allowed REP PAC to commission its first professional poll. The results of this survey of 400 GOP voters in Boehlert’s district provided the underlying support message for press releases and letters to the editor sent around the district in the weeks before the primary.
* The new REP Conservation Fund secured additional funding from our friends at the Environmental Accountability Fund (EAF) to conduct an independent expenditure campaign. The Conservation Fund then teamed up with REP America to produce and mail two different informational flyers to 10,000 pro-conservation GOP voters in the district. The Conservation Fund subsequently followed-up with live phone calls to those same voters.
This was our first major political campaign, and we learned a lot in the process. We look forward to applying our new savvy to other campaigns in the future.
The leaders of REP, REP PAC and the REP Conservation Fund want to express our deep appreciation to Carole King, EAF, and all the REP members who responded so generously to our “Bundling for Boehlert” request, to REP’s fundraising efforts, and to REP PAC’s and the REP Conservation Fund’s separate initiatives.
All told, we reached our goal of raising and spending $50,000 for our “Operation Sherry.” Profound thanks to everybody who helped make our first major political effort a success!
