Ellen Sauerbrey Addresses 2008 Montgomery County GOP Convention
Proud to be an American

A cheering crowd of local GOP activists welcomed former Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey as she delivered the keynote address to their fifth annual convention, held Saturday February 16 at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. Ambassador Sauerbrey described her work with the United Nations as head of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.

The humanitarian programs of the United States and our commitment to human rights for the most vulnerable, persecuted people in the world “makes me so proud to be an American,” she said. “Even though our country is criticized, people are still fighting to get into the United States, not to get out.”

Ambassador Sauerbrey talked about the process of settling refugees, whether through diplomacy that allows them to return to their own countries or through resettlement in a third country, which is often the United States. The program involves a process of education and skill building that allows refugees to begin new lives with dignity. “It’s a phenomenal thing we do and it gets almost no mention from the press,” she added. Sauerbrey talked about her work with numerous refugee communities around the globe, including those from Bhutan, Burma and Iraq.

The Convention line-up included speakers who represented all levels of GOP politics. On the national level, activists heard from RNC National Committeeman Louis Pope and RNC National Committeewoman Joyce Lyons Tehres who had both worked on Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. Both spoke of party unity and the importance of getting behind John McCain for president. At the state level, Maryland GOP Chairman Jim Pelura also stressed the importance of Republican unity.

Also attending was the current Miss MarylandUSA, Casandra Tressler. She is a Montgomery County resident of many talents and devotion to many worthy causes. In her speech to the convention she passionately addressed the issue of domestic violence.

The local level of GOP politics was well represented by County GOP Chairman Bill Witham and numerous Central Committee members, including First Vice Chair Dan Willard who planned, coordinated, and emceed the event. Representatives and chairs from various committees, including Organization, Communications, Finance and Outreach discussed goals and offered opportunities for activists. Others who spoke to the forum include local clubs and precinct organizers. At one point mid-morning the activists met separately according to their legislative districts and caucused on issues important to their communities. Among the top issues were taxes, transportation, illegal immigration and education.

Photos of the convention are posted in our Photo Gallery

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Gilbert Gude, former Maryland Republican congressman and state lawmaker who championed environmental causes that included preserving the Potomac River, has died. He was 84. Gude served as representative for the 8^th Congressional District from 1967 to 1977. In 1953, Gude was appointed to a two-year term in the Maryland House of Delegates, and later won an election for four more years. He served in the state Senate from 1962 to 1967.

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Vince DeCain chosen to fill Opening on Central Committee for Legislative District 18

Our new member of the Central Committee, Vince DeCain, is an attorney with substantial experience in the public, political, and private sectors.

In the public sector, he has served Presidents Reagan, and Bush One, as well as Bush Two. His service has included senior level positions at the Departments of Defense, State, and Commerce.

In 1980, he served with the Maryland Republican Campaign and then with the Reagan-Bush Transition Committee. In the intervening years, Vince and his wife, Joan, have been precinct co-chairs manning their poling places and performing other responsibilites as well. E.g., as recently as this past Fall, he worked with the Maryland Republican Lawyers Group and with the National Republican Lawyers Group.

In the private sector, Vince has served as General Counsel and as Vice President for International Operations of several different Corporations. He was also a Special Agent in the U.S. Counter Intelligence Corp.

Vince sees his serving as a member of the Central Committee as a great opportunity to continue helping our party, in three primary ways:

1. Getting out the vote,
2. Building a compelling image of our party, and
3. Developing candidates who can serve and grow.

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Malhotra chosen to fill At-Large Opening on Central Committee

At its monthly meeting on April 24, 2007 the Montgomery County Central Committee (CC)chose Sam Malhotra to fill an at-large vacancy on the CC.

Sam Malhotra is an experienced, results oriented executive with demonstrable skills in strategic vision. He is the Founder/CEO of Subsystem Technologies, Inc. (SUBSYSTEMs), a professional services firm based in Rosslyn, VA he founded in 1986. The firm's foundation is based on the values of partnership, integrity, and trust. He has assembled a team of highly skilled and respected experts, and is comprised of professionals that have successfully held positions as senior executives adding consulting and coaching methods to their skill competencies. Since then, the firm has enjoyed a strong reputation of delivering innovative solutions to its clients. SUBSYSTEMs delivers Professional Services including - Program Management Support, Information Assurance, and Technology Solutions to the Federal Government.

Sam is a profit-oriented manager, skilled at all aspects of business, especially in business development, evolving Technology Solutions, Information Assurance, & Program Management Support. He has built a successful business from the ground up, providing professional services into the Federal Government Sector. He has a well-developed sense of future market directions and is extremely skilled at making strategy innovations in a business to create and sustain market dominance. SUBSYSTEMs is the recipient of many awards including the Inc 500, Deloitte & Touche 500, and Washington Technology FAST 50.

Sam is on the Board of Visitors for Computational, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences College at the University of Maryland, College Park. Additionally, he serves on the George Mason University's Diversity Advisory Board and leads the Diversity Subcommittee. He serves on the Board of Small & Emerging Government Contractor Access Forum (SECAF). He is the Chair of the Indian American Republican Council of Maryland. He sits on several boards of startup firms that have an interest in servicing the Federal Government.

Sam received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, and attended Harvard Business School's OPM program '95-'98, and is currently enrolled at Georgetown University where he seeking an Executive Masters in Leadership.

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Jessica's Law passed the House (by unanimous vote) and Senate (SB 413 and HB 930)...The children of Maryland are safer!

This is the group picture of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women (MFRW) on their "Red Scarf Day" in Annapolis, when the MFRW began their successful lobbying efforts to pass Jessica's Law. The Law passed both the House and Senate on Monday, March 26, 2007.

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County Executive Isiah Leggett has announced vacancies in the County's boards, committees and commissions. Public participation on boards, committees, and commissions contributes to the work of County government and provides a valuable service to the community when a variety of issues, concerns and viewpoints are presented. [We urge qualified Republicans to apply for these positions - webmaster]

Below are announcements of current opportunities to serve on the following important boards.

• Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board
• Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
• Washington Suburban Transit Commission

Please share these announcements with anyone who may be interested. You may access vacancy announcements for these and other boards, committees, and commissions here.