Rowland Raises Funds for RGA; Bush’s First Since Step. 11
By Mindy Finn
WASHINGTON – For the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush will return to fundraising with an event for the Republican Governors Association on Oct. 25. Connecticut Governor, John G. Rowland, as the newly installed chairman of the governor’s association, will serve as host for the evening.
“An Evening with President George W. Bush,” will be Rowland’s first major event as chairman and the RGA’s first fundraiser since they were asked to curtail all fundraising by the GOP a month ago. Governor Rowland replaced Tom Ridge as chairman of the 29-member RGA when Ridge resigned as Governor on Oct. 5 to take over as Bush’s director of the Office of Homeland Security. Rowland had been vice chairman of the RGA since last February.
“No one has done more to exemplify and champion those values than Governor John Rowland, to which the people of Connecticut could attest. I thoroughly enjoyed working with John, and I am confident that he will do a tremendous job at the helm of the RGA,” said former RGA Chairman Ridge in a statement released by the governor’s association.
The event is scheduled to take place at the National Building Museum in downtown Washington. Tickets are $1,000. VIP tickets, which are primarily purchased by corporate donors and give them access to a private section of the reception, are $5000. Executive Director of RGA, Clinton Key, said he is hoping 1,000 contributors will come, but it’s hard to predict given recent events.
“As a chance to rally around our President and prepare for the political challenges that lie ahead in 2002, this gathering will bring together the President, our Republican Governors, Administration representatives, and a host of top Republican VIPs,” said the invitation letter signed by Connecticut Gov. John Rowland. “This relaxing and informative event will provide you with direct interaction with our GOP Governors to build and strengthen personal friendships and enable you to attend our business sessions where we exchange ideas, discuss policy, and lay the groundwork to build on our accomplishments,” says the letter, dated Oct. 1.
The RGA did discuss postponing the event after Sept. 11, but decided to keep the date since the President had already confirmed, although given recent events the president’s plans could change at the last minute. “We hope he’ll be there, but if not, we’ll understand, and the event will go on,” said Key.
The RGA uses donations to help Republican candidates. Financial contributors to the RGA become part of the Governor’s Club. Membership to the club can be paid through personal, corporate or political action committee contributions, the invitation says. Those who cannot attend or join the Governors’ Club can get their names listed in the event program by donating $250 or more. Those who wish to attend must clear a Secret Service security check, the invitation says.
Rowland signed on as vice-chair of the RGA in February with the intention of only holding an executive post for one year, according to Rowland’s Director of Communication Dean Pagani. As chairman of the RGA, said Pagani, Rowland spends six to eight hours per week signing off on fundraising events, campaigning for GOP candidates, and coordinating government policy and election policy. He also coordinates with the White House since Bush was a former Republican governor, Pagani said.
The next event on Rowland’s calendar for the RGA is the annual conference, Nov. 8-10 in Las Vegas. RGA members will have the option to participate in one of three breakfast conference sessions: energy dependability, transportation infrastructure or workforce development as well as scheduled golf tournaments and a skeet and trap shoot.
The Republican National Committee and its Democratic counterpart had asked party members to hold off on fund-raising for almost a month after the Sept. 11 attacks. The RNC and the Democratic National Committee resumed fund-raising the first week in October.
