Total Spectrum (www.totalspectrumsga.com) helps dynamic corporations, associations, coalitions and individuals navigate the legislative and regulatory process by developing and implementing a political agenda at the state and federal levels. Gregg Keller will provide clients of Total Spectrum with comprehensive political solutions that will change the legislative environment, and help them achieve their public policy goals.

Keller joins Total Spectrum from the Mitt Romney for President campaign, where he was National Coalitions Director. Keller organized a political and grassroots infrastructure across 21 coalition groups in nearly 25 target states, as well as all of the Romney campaign’s national coalition steering committees.

Prior to his work with the Romney for President campaign, Keller was Campaign Manager for former U.S. Senator Jim Talent. He previously served as Sen. Talent’s State Director and worked on the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign in both Missouri and New Hampshire.

Steve Gordon, Managing Director of Total Spectrum, said, “Gregg Keller has held key campaign positions at every level from State Legislature to Presidential. He has great experience in grassroots and grasstops, coalition building, communications, and fundraising. He is one of the Republican Party’s top political talents and we are thrilled to have him as a key member of the Total Spectrum team.”

Total Spectrum, LLC was founded by Steve Gordon. He is one of the pioneers in the field of political guidance, and has 30 years of experience designing and implementing fundraising and political programs for scores of national candidates and groups. These candidates have included Senators Wayne Allard, John Ashcroft, Christopher S. Bond, Rudy Boschwitz, Alfonse D’Amato, Bob Dole, Chuck Hagel, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jon Kyl, Dirk Kempthorne, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Jim Talent, and John Thune. In 2004, Steve Gordon was a major participant and a Pioneer in the Bush-Cheney campaign.

Steve Gordon has worked with a number of entities to expand their political programs. Past and current clients include Compressus, The Constitutional Sources Project, McDonald’s Corporation, Illinois Tool Works, Staley Manufacturing, Property Casualty Insurance Association, Peabody Energy, and the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Media contact: Anne Burnley at (202) 546-0900

Over 320 St. Louis County Republicans enthusiastically welcomed candidates running for statewide and local political offices at a fundraising event Saturday evening held at the Doubletree Hotel at Westport. The St. Louis County GOP Lincoln – Reagan Day Dinner is an annual event hosted by the Republican Central Committee of St. Louis County. This year’s dinner featured John Hancock (former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party) as the program’s Master of Ceremonies and included speeches from Congressman Kenny Hulshof and State Treasurer Sarah Steelman (Republican candidates for Governor), Lt. Governor Peter Kinder and Congressman Todd Akin, who are both seeking re-election and State Senator Brad Lager, who is running for State Treasurer.

The event, which Congressman Akin stated was “the best Lincoln – Reagan Day Dinner” he had seen in St. Louis County “in twenty years” included a special surprise as State Senator Michael Gibbons addressed the crowd by telephone from his home where he is recuperating from prostate cancer surgery. Senator Gibbons told the audience that his recuperation is going very well and that he would be resuming his official duties as President Pro-Tem of the Missouri Senate and back on the campaign trail in just a few weeks.

The event, which featured a silent auction, program book ad sales, a general reception, two private receptions and the dinner exceeded the organizer’s fundraising goals. John Winston, chairman of the St .Louis County GOP called the evening “a huge success.”

“I was personally moved by Senator Mike Gibbons’ telephone call during the dinner and all of our candidate’s speeches”, Winston stated.

“We have a very talented group of candidates running to represent the Republican Party this November. Our statewide ticket is going to be very strong and we have excellent, hard-working incumbents seeking re-election, as well as, some of the most deserving candidates I’ve seen in my many years of being involved in the Republican Party running for open seats up and down the ticket,” Winston continued.

“Based on what I saw from the enthusiastic crowd Saturday night, I am convinced that the Republican Party in St. Louis County is prepared for victory this November,” Winston concluded.

Local Federal Earmark Helps to Jump Start the Revitalization of a Historic North St. Louis City Community

Senator Kit Bond’s leadership plays a critical role in the rebirth of a neighborhood. Families eagerly return to an area that was once haven for crime, drugs and dangerous properties.

Federal earmarks are vital to the revitalization of inner city communities. Earmarks can provide valuable resources for project cost that cannot be supported by any other means. Approximately seven years ago, Bethlehem Lutheran Church and 3rd Ward Alderman Freeman Bosley shared a common vision for a community in which they shared an equal interest. How could they address the severe disinvestment in a seven block area of North St. Louis that was the home to a few good families but had a disproportionate number of vacant lots, deteriorating and unsafe buildings, crime and drugs?

While both parties developed independent but similar visions for the area, both realized the undertaking would require significant support. After developing a common vision for uplifting and improving the community, they collectively sought to develop a public private partnership. Salisbury Park, a planned 100 home community, is the product of that collective vision. Included in the development of a master strategy, was the buy in and support of the local community plus local and state government support. But neither the City of St. Louis nor the State of Missouri had the resources to rebuild and fulfill the infrastructure needs to support the development. Senator Bond’s leadership and vision played a critical role in molding this project into a catalyst for not only reclaiming the project area but also spurring other landmark projects in the area.

The Hyde Park Neighborhood has a rich history in the City of St. Louis. The descendants of this neighborhood played an important role in forming the character of this City. Bethlehem Lutheran Church has over a one hundred year history of serving Hyde Park. Like many urban neighborhoods, this once proud community found itself the victim of massive flight, absentee landlords, dangerous properties and other problems that befall many urban communities. In additional to very visible social, economic and housing problems are a litany of infrastructure issues from deteriorated sewers and waterlines to streets ill suited for today’s traffic needs and others issues. New housing and families could not be brought into the community without first replacing or rebuilding the infrastructure problems of this community. Housing and building permits require the rebuilding of the infrastructure prior to permits being issued.

Alderman Bosley said, “Without a doubt, we could not have moved this project forward without the Senator’s appreciation of what was needed to revitalize this area and provide decent housing for families. There may be some that criticize the use of Federal earmarks and in some cases that criticism maybe justified, but in this case, in my community, Senator Bond’s leadership and use of this valuable tool was essential and without it would not have happened. This community will not forget him for his contribution toward improving the quality of life in this corner of St. Louis.”

Linda Primer is a community activist and a staff person for the Neighborhood Council, she said, “It seemed like the Senator spent a whole day with us. He talked to residents, walked the entire neighborhood, spoke to the media and just really showed a lot of enthusiasm and concern about this project. We really, really thank him.”

Pastor Schmidtke, the Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church said, “It was very encouraging to see Senator Bond come to our neighborhood and spend significant time with us to learn about our project and understand what a difference the new Salisbury Park is making in the lives of people. He could have sent some staff or aides, but the Senator himself came and walked the streets with us. I’m grateful that the Senator understands that to build a few houses is one thing, to resurrect an entire community is another. His leadership has been key–in fighting for the things a resurrected community needs like an infrastructure that people can count on, and programs for families and children that give them every opportunity to succeed as good citizens. Everybody talks about these needs, but Senator Bond has gone beyond talk into action through the earmark process.”

Salisbury Park has been extremely successful to date and the infrastructure is in place to continue the revitalization. There are more people living in this patch of land than prior to the development and more important, there is great interest in moving here. Families here have taken great pride in their homes and communities. Now there have been a number of new projects that have been started in the immediate vicinity to Salisbury Park. Without a doubt, Senator Bond’s leadership and his usage of a Federal earmark was critical to the success of this project to St. Louis and to this neighborhood. The new families in the community attest to it.

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St. Louis County’s 2008 Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner will be held on Saturday, March 15. Click here for more details and to register now.

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“I had the great honor of first meeting John McCain in Iraq in December 2006,” said Representative Brown. “His lifetime of service and dedication to this country’s armed forces is an inspiration to me and many of my fellow soldiers. It is of great comfort to those of us who have sacrificed to know that this country has a leader like John McCain. He personally understands the costs of war and recognizes the colossal importance of our mission’s success in Iraq. I know him to be the most qualified candidate to lead our country forward, and I am proud to support his candidacy for president.”

John McCain thanked Representative Brown, “I am proud to have the support of veterans like Jason, who are proving time and again that this generation of fighting men and women are truly the finest this country has ever seen. I thank Jason for his tremendous sacrifice and service to our nation, and I am grateful for his support.”

Representative Brown was wounded during his tour of duty in Iraq while a sitting member of the Missouri House of Representatives. He is a veteran of overseas tours in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq, and has received a Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, and a Bronze Star. He is also a life member of VFW Post 4055.

Representative Brown will serve as Vice-Chair for John McCain’s Missouri campaign.

Contact: McCain Press Office at 703-650-5550

“Congressman Akin is a great man and a true Conservative. He represents Conservative values of St. Charles County in Washington D.C, the same way that I will in Jefferson City.” stated Parkinson.

The event will take place at the Columns Banquet Center, located at 711 Veterans Memorial Parkway in Saint Charles, from 7 - 9 p.m. Voluntary donations will be accepted at the door.

Parkinson, a lifelong resident of Saint Charles, is the Republican Candidate in the February 5 special election. Mark will face off against Democrat Tom Fann of St. Peters.

To view more information about Mark, visit www.MarkParkinson.com.

Contact: Matthew Seeds (636) 578-3730

Schmitt’s numbers will show contributions from more than 240 supporters.

Schmitt’s likely Democratic opponent for the seat, Kevin Gunn, brought in $105,949 in his first quarter of fundraising, which ended Sept. 30.

Schmitt’s fundraising totals precede his campaign kick-off, which will likely take place in early February.

Further questions about Schmitt’s campaign report can be directed to Weston McKee at (314) 397-1855.

(Saint Charles) – Mark Parkinson, Republican Candidate for State Representative, received the Missouri Right to Life PAC endorsement on Monday. In a letter, Missouri Right to Life states that Mark, “is the only candidate in [his] race who will be an effective voice for the protection of innocent human life.”

“I am honored to be selected as the only candidate endorsed by the Missouri Right to Life PAC. I believe that the unborn need to have a voice at the table, and I will be there for them in Jefferson City.” stated Parkinson.

Parkinson added, “With over 250,000 pro-life citizens in Missouri, I am proud to represent the pro-life majority in the 16th district and all throughout Saint Charles County.”

Parkinson, a lifelong resident of Saint Charles, is the Republican Candidate in the February 5 special election. Mark will face off against Democrat Tom Fann of St. Peters.

To view more information about Mark, visit www.MarkParkinson.com.

Contact: Matthew Seeds at (636) 578-3730

Peter has not finalized details, but visitation will be held on Monday and funeral services will be held Tuesday.

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