Take Back Action Fund elects Perry O. Hooper Jr. to its board
The board of the Take Back Action Fund (TBAF), which leads a 501(c)(4) dedicated to political reform, on Wednesday announced they elected Perry O. Hooper Jr. as its newest member. Hooper Jr., son of Hooper. Sr. who was the first Republican Chief Justice elected to the Alabama Supreme Court — will serve a one-year term. TBAF was founded 3 years ago by its President John Pudner, the Executive Director of Take Back Our Republic (TBOR), a 501(c)(3) organization, to advocate for policies and solutions that go beyond the scope of TBOR. “Perry Hooper has been a leading conservative figure for decades, and we are thrilled to add his wisdom and experience to our team,” said Pudner. “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a genuine people-centric view of public service, and he has been a true reformer. His commitment to our cause, combined with the fact that he has been a part of nearly every major conservative success story in the modern era, makes him an ideal addition. Our vision of returning influence back to ordinary citizens now takes a tremendous leap forward, and we are grateful that Perry has come aboard.” Perry O., as he’s affectionately known, is a key power player in Alabama politics. First elected to the Alabama State House in 1983, Hooper helped guide the conservative movement in Alabama as a leader on tort reform, the creation of enterprise zones, banning partial birth abortions, and paving the way for new business development. Having a hand in most conservative victories in the state, he also was instrumental nationally as a 6-time delegate to the Republican National Convention, a National Board Member of the American Legislative Council, and a key advisor to national leaders like Jack Kemp and Bob Dole. Recently, he was instrumental in the Donald Trump victory as an early supporter and eventual Chairman of Trump Victory in Alabama. “Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to seeing conservative principles deliver results for the American people, but the ability of foreign entities to use political influence to steer policy in directions that hurt American industries and particularly American jobs is a growing plague on any ability for impact,” said Hooper. “In order for any real change to occur, we have to solve this problem, and I am honored to join the TBAF Board as we seek to address the foremost issue that is blocking good policy.” Hooper resides in Montgomery, Ala. He joins a distinguished board at TBAF that consists of Chairman Randy Brooks, Juleanna Glover, Charles Hellwig, and John Pudner.
Email insights: Auburn-based, national conservative group announces 10 new board members
In an email Monday, Auburn-based Take Back Our Republic (TBOR), a right-leaning campaign finance reform group that’s building conservative support for reducing the influence of private wealth in politics, announced new members selected to their National Board of Governors. Leading the Board is Chair Mark McKinnon, a seasoned political advisor and global vice chair of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Read the entire announcement email below. Distinguished business, political and community leaders from across the country accepted positions on the National Board of Governors for Take Back Our Republic, an independent nonpartisan group that is focusing on conservative solutions to problems with the campaign finance system. Please click the names of each of the 10 new members, listed in alphabetical order by first name, as well as Advisory Board member Abby Moffat, for their video introduction. Bruce McEver, NY, founded Berkshire Capital in 1983, pioneering the concept of providing independent merger, acquisition and strategic advisory services for investment managers and securities firms. Based in New York, Bruce is an avid biker, hiker and reader. He recently hosted a TBOR fundraiser in New York. Camille Solberg, WI, served with John Pudner on the National Faith and Values Coalition for Romney 2008. Camille is a Latina leader and a distinguished alumna of one of the most conservative Catholic college in the nation (Catholic University). Camille also serves as Regional Director for US Senator Ron Johnson. Francis Johnson, CA, was featured in Black Enterprise and Ebony Magazine as one of the top five Black Republicans in the country for his ability to raise money and organize grassroots. Francis runs a public affairs/public relations firm. Kahlil Byrd, NY, is a Republican whose expertise is building and leading large, disruptive, technology-based, bipartisan reform organizations. He was president of the education reform effort – StudentsFirst; and, cofounder and CEO of Americans Elect. His current firm, Forward Progress in Politics, is building a national bipartisan community of funders committed to essential and aggressive issue reform. Kathy Hayden, VA, has served as GOP National Committeewoman for Virginia since 2007; recently ending one of the longest serving committee member terms on April 29, 2016. She brings years of leadership, experience with grassroots efforts, and a wealth of knowledge about the workings of the American political system – all of which will help lead and direct TBOR’s current and future efforts. Kathy understands that sometimes we need to “roll up our sleeves and get to work” to affect much needed change. Kim Vaughn, AL, currently chairs the Women’s Committee of the Madison County Farmers Federation, part of one of the largest Farm Bureaus in the country, which also runs the largest insurance company in Alabama. Kim is also on the board of the Madison Farmers’ Market, which serves the thriving Huntsville market that is home to high-level engineers for thriving defense companies and NASA. Kim also runs hospitality for Providence Baptist Church. LaNell Morold, TX, is an operational and crisis management consultant assisting companies facing challenges during difficult financial and leadership circumstances. LaNell is also an author and talk radio personality. In the past she was a groundbreaking title insurance and real estate executive, who oversaw cash management and P&L, including an annual budget exceeding $100 million, and listed real estate in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and the Caribbean as well as her local market of Dallas/Fort Worth. Judge Ola Lewis, NC, made news by switching to the Republican Party as a judge. She recently felt the full blunt of huge dark money when she ran for State Supreme Court. Elected as the youngest District Court Judge, and first African-American in Brunswick County, North Carolina. Created five Speciality Courts (drug treatment, a true night court, mental health therapeutic, DWI therapeutic, sex offender accountability and rehabilitation court) Randy Brooks, AL, most recently built a real estate operation of more than 100 people, following years of experience having interactions with politicians involving development deals. Randy is one of the greatest promoters of multifaceted efforts, from Take Back’s mission to supporting youth sports. Robert Schaaf, MO, a graduate of Harvard College, has worked with his father, Republican State Senator Rob Schaaf, to prepare and promote the Missouri Anti-Corruption Act and other legislation. Some of his additional experience includes advising small business owners at the Cambridge Microfinance Initiative and working with a team to build a successful startup at TILLS Animal Health. The 10 new members join Chair Mark McKinnon, Juleanna Glover and Richard Painter, whose bios can be found, along with that of Executive Director John Pudner, here. In addition, the recently named Advisory Board was represented at the meeting by Abby Moffat, is Chaired by Beth Coulson (IL) and includes Peter Schweizer (FL), Ed MacDougall (FL), Curtis Colgate (VA) and Nick Bellas (NY). Abby Moffat (Advisory Board), MD, serves on the Board of Trustees for The Heritage Foundation. She is a former owner‐operator of an event planning business, and is chair of the Board of Trustees of the Media Research Center and a member of the Board of Overseers of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Abby is a veteran leader on the boards of nonprofits – currently, she runs the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation. As expressed on Take Back Our Republic’s website, “We believe that the way in which we elect our officials is not a partisan issue; it is an American issue. …Our organization was formed and is run by individuals who understand the political process from the inside out, and are now seeking to educate people about the power they have to shape the process from the outside in. Our staff members have participated in elections of all shapes and sizes across this great nation.” Take Back Our Republic (www.takeback.org), or TBOR, is based near the campus of Auburn University just 90 minutes from the Atlanta airport. Its mission is to conduct research, analysis and public education on conservative ideas for improving the financing of campaigns for public office. One such idea is to incentivize small campaign donations from private citizens. TBOR believes that if more Americans have a
Email insights: Conservative group, Take Back Our Republic announces new regional coordinators
In an email, Take Back Our Republic (TBOR), a right-leaning campaign finance reform group that’s building conservative support for reducing the influence of private wealth in politics, announced a slew of regional coordinators Tuesday. Launched in January by conservative political consultant John Pudner, who’s best known for for helping Tea-Party-backed candidate Dave Brat unseat then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), TBOR’s mission is to conduct research, analysis and public education on conservative ideas for improving the financing of campaigns. The new coordinators will help fulfill said mission. Here’s the full email and the list of regional coordinators: Take Back Our Republic (TBOR), an organization advocating individual participation in the American political system is the best way to preserve and strengthen liberty, today announced ten new regional coordinators. After more than a year of touring the country establishing state chapters to educate the public on conservative solutions to campaign finance reform, these new TBOR Regional Coordinators are providing a grassroots forum to convey the price we all pay for transactional donations used to elect or defeat politicians. Executive Director John Pudner, Southeast Director Joe Comerford and Florida Coordinator Wayne Rossiter will be in Miami through the GOP Debate March 10, and will be organizing in Orlando March 11-12 and Jacksonville through the March 15 Primary. Each regional coordinator worked with members of the existing Take Back team to build their State efforts during 2015 or in past political campaigns that led them to believe in the need for conservative solutions to campaign finance reform: Bryan Posthumus: IL, IN, MI, WI – After generous grants and policy ideas from the Stuart Family Foundation in Lake Forest, IL, other potential donors in all four of these states have stepped forward to discuss our efforts. Bryan’s family experienced big money attacks and support first hand in his father’s successful Lt. Governor’s race. Joe Zane will become Michigan Coordinator with Bryan’s promotion to Regional. Cameron Price: CO, NM, OK, TX (except Houston) – Building on great turnout at State Chapter meetings in Oklahoma and New Mexico and for a video conference in Colorado, Cameron will work with Advisory Board Member Lanell Morold in Dallas. Cameron is a veteran of political campaigns both as a campaign manager and in his mother’s successful elections, and travels this region as an Independent landman, and livestock consultant. Chris Beatty: DC, DE, MD, NC, VA, WV – After recruiting people from several states, as far away as Florida, for a White House rally, Chris found several potential donors and community leaders spokespeople throughout this region. He will work with Diane Cullo, Steve Thomas and Chuck Cunningham on DC efforts including passage of HR 4177. Cole Muzio: KY, OH, PA, TN – Cole’s successful work with our Executive Director on Dave Brat’s upset of Eric Cantor is documented in Taxation Only With Representation. Cole has run numerous successful referenda, zoning efforts, and campaigns throughout this region. Francis Johnson: AK, AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA – Francis is focusing on an Arizona campaign finance reform referendum and meeting with organizations throughout California, as well as a large state chapter being built in Oregon. Francis has been featured in Black Enterprise, and Ebony Magazine as one of the top five Black Republicans in the country for his ability to raise money, organize grassroots. Francis runs a public affairs/public relations firm. Heidi Linford: ID, MT, ND, SD, WY – Heidi is focusing on an Idaho campaign finance referendum. She will also work with Ogden Driskoll, the Wyoming State Coordinator and rancher from next to Devil’s Tower, to build a large organization there. Heidi ran a hugely successful convention effort in the western part of the state when Take Back’s ED was a campaign manager for a statewide effort there in 2008 and where her brother is now State Party Chair. Jacob Scott: IA, KS, MN, MO, NE – Jacob organized one of the most successful fundraisers in 2015, organizing conservative reformers in Kansas City prior to a World Series game. He introduced John to a number of Missouri legislators and legislative assistants, one of whom (Dave Myers of Springfield) will become the Missouri coordinator with Jacob’s promotion to regional coordinator. Joe Comerford: AL, FL, GA, SC – Joey first marched with TBOR’s press secretary Jared Thomas in a campaign event in 2003 for now Congressman Tom Price. It was one of several successful Georgia campaigns, though he also coordinating several huge events in Auburn, Alabama when he was a student there, and he has family connections throughout the region. Joey plans to meet with ED John Pudner and new Florida coordinator Wayne Rossiter in Coral Gables next week to focus on a Miami-Dade campaign finance referendum. Paul Lichstein: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT – Paul was the first and only Regional Coordinator for Take Back in 2015. He worked State Capitol’s throughout the region for years, and said in an HBO interview that the multi-million dollar company he runs pays more in taxes than multi-billion dollar corporations as an example of the price we all pay. He successfully connected Take Back’s ED with potential donors in NJ and NY, and worked NH events with him prior to the Primary there. York Forsyth: AR, LA, MS, TX (Houston) – York is focused on an Arkansas campaign finance referendum. As Louisiana State Coordinator, he battled with Jacob Scott’s Missouri chapter for top Take Back chapter. He has posted blogs and collected members, and helped spread the word through the University of New Orleans, where he teaches. Brandt Lewis will take over the Louisiana chapter with York’s promotion to Regional. The Regional coordinators will each help to advance some combination of the five facets of the TBOR mission; 1) compliance (never using Take Back resources or forums to advance or defeat any party or candidate, 2) development (finding and cultivating like-minded donors), 3) media (educating the public on the price we all pay through traditional and social media), 4) members and lists (building lists of like-minded activists and community
Alabama-based PAC celebrates productive 2015
The conservative non-profit Take Back Our Republic and its new political action committee Take Back Action Fund are basking in the Holiday glow of a fruitful 2015, Take Back’s Executive Director John Prudner wrote in an email to supporters Monday. The Auburn-based group boasted cited positive media coverage in outlets to from POLITICO and The New York Times to Al-Jazeera in 2015, as well as positive fundraising amid the founding of the Take Back Action Fund, a new 501(c)(4) SuperPAC dedicated to promoting the group’s mission of campaign finance reform and conservative governance. Prudner, who is also president of the Take Back Action Fund, also heralded the group’s success in promoting a report it produced on the political spending of nonprofit groups, particularly Planned Parenthood. Conservative site Breitbart, for instance, carried a story detailing the report, which highlighted data showing local Planned Parenthood groups exceeding the legal 50 percent limit on spending to influence elections in some cases, as well as a high volume of political spending in general by the nonprofit. The group also celebrated a recent December fundraising drive that garnered $37,811 in “small” donations that were matched by a larger donor and the inception of the new Take Back political committee. The campaign finance reform organization was founded in January by Prudner, who ran the campaign of Virginia U.S. Rep. David Brat, who successfully ousted former Majority Leader Eric Cantor by running to his right during the 2014 midterm elections.
