Resurgent Republic

Washington, D.C. (March 3, 2010) – Resurgent Republic, an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to shaping the debate over the proper role of government, announced today the members of the group’s Legal Advisory Board. The experienced attorneys on the board will join a host of political, public opinion and academic leaders who currently serve as Advisory Board members.

“This is a seasoned group of attorneys who will provide Resurgent Republic with professional advice and counsel based upon decades of experience,” said Ed Gillespie, Resurgent Republic Co-Founder.  “I am very thankful that they have agreed to serve in this capacity.”

The Legal Advisory Board includes some of the most experienced hands in Washington including former Federal Election Commission Chairmen and chief counsels at the Republican National Committee and presidential campaigns. The group will help guide Resurgent Republic’s actions – national surveys, focus groups and other public opinion research – ensuring consistency as a 501(c)(4) entity.  

“I am grateful that these leading attorneys are willing to donate their time to the cause of promoting sound, conservative solutions to our country’s problems,” said Whit Ayres, Resurgent Republic Co-Founder.

The members of the Resurgent Republic Legal Advisory Board are:

Jan Witold Baran, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP: Baran advises clients on all aspects of political law including federal, state and local campaign finance laws, government ethics requirements and lobbying laws. He has argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and is a regular commentator on television and radio and author of the book, The Election Law Primer for Corporations. He served as General Counsel at the Republican National Committee from 1989-1992 and held the same position on the Bush for President campaign in 1988.

E. Mark Braden, Of Counsel, Baker Hostetler LLP: Braden spent ten years as Chief Counsel to the Republican National Committee prior to joining Baker Hostetler, where his portfolio includes election law and governmental affairs. He has worked intimately with many elected officials, the major national political consultants and pollsters providing successful, and often highly innovative, legal guidance. In addition to federal election law, he is a leading authority on state election laws, having served as Chief Counsel to the Ohio Elections Commission and Election Counsel for the Secretary of State in Ohio. 

Benjamin L. Ginsberg, Partner, Patton Boggs LLP: In both the 2004 and 2000 election cycles, Ginsberg served as national counsel to the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign; he played a central role in the 2000 Florida recount. In 2008, he served as national counsel to the Romney for President campaign. He also represents the campaigns and leadership PACs of numerous members of the Senate and House, as well as the national party committees. He serves as counsel to the Republican Governors Association and has wide experience on the state legislative level from directing Republican redistricting efforts nationwide following the 1990 Census and being actively engaged in the 2001-2002 round of redistricting. At the Republican National Committee, Ginsberg worked as Chief Counsel from 1989-1991 and General Counsel in 1992.

Tom Josefiak, Partner, Holtzman Vogel PLLC: Josefiak served as Of Counsel at the Republican National Committee and Of Counsel to the 2008 Republican National Convention. Josefiak previously served as the Chief Counsel of the RNC. He was responsible for the day-to-day legal operations of the RNC including ensuring that all activities of the RNC, its officers and employees are in compliance with applicable federal and state election laws. He served in various legal positions at the RNC from 1992 until 1995 when he became the Chief Counsel. In 2004, Josefiak served as General Counsel for Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign and subsequently as General Counsel to the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee. Josefiak is a former Commissioner and Chairman of the Federal Election Commission.

Charles R. Spies, Of Counsel, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP: Spies served as Chief Financial Officer and Counsel for Governor Mitt Romney’s Presidential campaign, where he managed the budget as well as systems for legal compliance with Federal Election Commission, IRS and various state regulations. During the 2005 and 2006 election cycles, Spies served as General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer for the Republican Governors Association. In 2004, he served as Election Law Counsel for the Republican National Committee.  His tenure at the RNC began in 2001 and continued under four Chairmen. 

Michael E. Toner, Partner, Bryan Cave LLP: Toner served as Chairman of the Federal Election Commission in 2006 and as an FEC Commissioner from 2002-2007.  A seasoned political veteran, Toner served as Chief Counsel of the Republican National Committee in 2001-2002, as well as General Counsel of the Bush-Cheney transition team in Washington, D.C. and the Bush-Cheney 2000 presidential campaign in Austin, Texas. Prior to his tenure on the Bush-Cheney campaign, Toner was Deputy Counsel at the RNC from 1997-1999. He also was counsel to the Dole-Kemp presidential campaign in 1996.

Founded in 2009, Resurgent Republic promotes conservative, free market principles, such as lower taxes and economic growth, and supports strong national defense policies. Through a steady stream of national polls and focus groups, Resurgent Republic helps policy makers, think tanks, interest groups and others advocate for policies that are consistent with conservative principles, and to oppose policies that stifle job creation, weaken national security and undermine values that have made America a great country. 

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