Republican National Committee Ken Mehlman

President Bush To Ask Republican National Committee To Pick Ken Mehlman As New Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Jones 703-647-2964

Ken Mehlman

WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush today announced he will ask the Republican National Committee (RNC) to elect Bush-Cheney ’04 Campaign Manager Ken Mehlman as its chairman at the RNC’s winter meeting in Washington, DC, January 18-19, 2005. Current RNC Chair Ed Gillespie announced on Friday that he will not seek another term, but will serve until the winter meeting.

“Ken Mehlman has served the Republican Party and the Administration with honor and distinction. As Campaign Manager, he helped us achieve our historic 2004 election night gains. Ken has a clear vision for making our gains durable while continuing to help expand the message and reach of the Republican Party. He’ll be a great success at the RNC with his boundless energy and commitment to continue growing Republican majorities,” said President Bush of Mehlman.

Ken Mehlman most recently served as the campaign manager for the President’s historic re-election. Prior to joining the campaign, Mehlman worked as the White House Director of Political Affairs for President Bush’s first two and a half years, during which he oversaw and executed the President and the Administration’s political strategy with state parties, national committees, candidates, and state and local elected officials in support of the President’s agenda.

Mehlman served as National Field Director for Bush-Cheney 2000, where he worked with the campaign leadership in all fifty states and the Republican National Committee to execute winning political plans and mobilize strong grassroots.

Before joining President Bush, Mehlman was Congresswoman Kay Granger’s (TX-12) Chief of Staff and Congressman Lamar Smith’s (TX-21) Legislative Director. He practiced environmental law in Washington and assisted campaigns in Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia, Texas, and Georgia, as well as the 1992 and 1996 Presidential campaigns.

Ken is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is a native of Baltimore, Maryland