TUCSON—Elected Republican Precinct Committeemen and Committeewomen (PCs) gathered Saturday for their biennial Statutory Meeting to elect new Party leadership to the 2015-16 term. The meeting, held at the Fraternal Order of Police on Dodge Blvd in Tucson, had over 200 PCs attending either in person or by proxy.
The Pima County Republican PCs unanimously elected local businessman, Bill Beard to the office of Chairman. Chairman Beard is a longtime Tucson businessman and has managed many large scale operations, including multi-million dollar contracts from inception to completion. He is also an appointed member to the Pima County Election Integrity Commission and a former candidate for Pima County Recorder in 2012. Beard has also served over 2 decades on the Board of Directors for the Tucson Arizona Boys’ Chorus.
Other elected officers at the meeting are:
First Vice Chair - Yale Wishnick
Second Vice Chair - Ralph Kayser
Third Vice Chair - Daniel Estrella
Fourth Vice Chair - Bill Wildish
Secretary - Mary Preble
Treasurer - Terry Lavery
Members at Large: Todd Clodfelter, Mary J Essenmacher, Steve Fuentes, Caleb Rhodes and Kuuleme Stephens
Newly elected Chairman Beard told the audience, “There is an old saying about speaking truth to power. Our job as PC's is to speak truth about our candidates and the Republican Party to the voters. I am pretty much a what you see is what you get. While I respect your Right to hold a different view, I will concentrate my political efforts on the things where we agree and get those things done. I will always respect someone else’s Right to differ. I will make one promise that I want you to hold me to… I will always listen. We may differ but I will listen to your concerns."
“The game plan for the Pima GOP is not new,” he continued, “we find good candidates, educate voters about those candidates, turn out the vote come election time and find the cash to make it all happen.”
Presumptive Congresswoman-elect Martha McSally had this to say, "I congratulate Bill Beard as the new Pima County GOP Chair and everyone elected to the new leadership team. Each member brings an incredible amount of passion and dedication to moving Pima County forward and serving our community, and I look forward to working with Chairman Beard and the entire team to make sure Southern Arizona has the strong leadership it deserves."
Chairman Beard succeeds outgoing Chairman Carolyn Cox who served from 2011-2014 and saw the Party through to Republican State and Congressional victories in this last election.
Pima County’s Central Committee new leadership team reflects representation from nearly all of the 7 legislative districts in Pima County. 104 State Committeemen were also elected by acclamation at the meeting - representing Legislative Districts 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 14 - who will vote at the Arizona Republican Party's Statutory Meeting scheduled to be held Saturday, January 24, 2015 in Tempe, Ariz.
