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"From
REP’s beginning a decade ago,
we have been looking for
a dynamic,
conservation-minded
GOP leader on par with
the great Theodore
Roosevelt,
a courageous person who
could help us restore
our party’s great
conservation tradition.
Little did we know
back then
that the action figure we were
watching defend our planet from
alien predators would become such
a true hero to the planet—and perhaps
the salvation of our Republican Party
as well.
And
so I’d like to say this to
Governor Schwarzenegger:
Governor,
thank you
for your leadership
on
limiting greenhouse
gas emissions,
improving fuel
efficiency, and
encouraging the
development of
clean, renewable
energy resources.
You are one of the brightest lights
that we Republicans for
Environmental
Protection see
anywhere in our party
and in our country. "
— REP President Martha Marks,
addressing Governor Schwarzenegger
in Sacramento in June, 2007
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2010
California
Chapter Endorses Candidates in 2010 State Races
The
California Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection (Cal
REP) has endorsed nine GOP candidates running for state office.
The endorsed
candidates are:
•
Meg Whitman (Governor)
•
Mike Villines (Insurance Commissioner)
•
Sam Blakeslee (Senate District 15)
•
Ralph Denney (Assembly District 76)
•
Alfonso Faustino (Assembly District 12)
•
Laura Peter (Assembly District 13)
•
John Stammreich (Senate District 28)
•
Mike Stoker (Assembly District 35)
•
Alberto Waisman (Assembly District 19)
"Cal
REP is proud to endorse these candidates based on their positions on
issues that are important to our organization. We considered their
views and leadership on and contributions to issues important to
California and its economy, such as energy, conservation, pollution,
and water," said Cal REP President Virginia Chang Kiraly, who is also a
Commissioner on the California Commission for Economic Development.
Cal
REP is dedicated to restoring the GOP’s great conservation tradition,
best exemplified by the vision and leadership of President Theodore
Roosevelt. Cal REP believes that a healthy economy and a healthy
environment are mutually interdependent and that the Republican Party
should reflect a conservation ethic for responsible stewardship of our
land and natural resources.
California REP members visit
with REP Life Member Theodore Roosevelt IV at REP's Theodore Roosevelt
dinner,
held April 20, 2010 in Washington, DC. From left, California
Chapter Secretary Aurie Kryzuda, Roosevelt,
Chapter President Virginia
Chang Kiraly, and Chapter Treasurer Larry Kanz.
Speakers at the
California
chaper's March 30, 2010 energy, climate, and economic forum included,
first and second
left, Aaron Leventhal and Hank Ryan, and first and second right,
Anne
Smart and Marc Stolman. REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso, rear center,
moderated the forum. Front center, chapter Vice President Buddy Burke
was the event's lead organizer.
Chapter
sponsors energy, climate, and economic forum March 30, 2010 in Lafayette
California's
Economic Future and AB 32: The Business Case for Action
An expert
panel of business
leaders discussed AB32 (The California Global
Warming Solutions Act of 2006), climate change, and the future of our
economy. Links to their presentations are below:
Marc
Stolman - Environmental Entrepreneurs
Hank Ryan -
Small Business California
Aaron
Leventhal - Hero Arts, a green small business
Anne Smart
- Silicon Valley Leadership Group
2009
Chapter
Gives Green Elephant Award to Congresswoman Bono Mack
Congresswoman Mary
Bono Mack received
the
California chapter's Green Elephant award
May 26, 2009 for her
environmental leadership.
Chapter President Buddy Burke presented
the
award at Bono Mack's Palm Springs district office.
California
Public Lands Legislation Enacted into Law with REP Support!
An omnibus public lands bill strongly supported by
REP passed Congress with strong bipartisan support and was signed into
law in 2009. The legislation includes significant conservation
measures for California, including:
- Statutory permanence for the National Landscape
Conservation System, introduced by Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, R-CA.
The NLCS includes 26 million acres of BLM lands with special scenic,
ecological, and cultural value. NLCS units in California include the
Headwaters Forest Reserve, the King Range and California Desert
National Conservation Areas, the California Coastal, Carrizo Plain, and
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monuments, sections of
four national trails and six wild and scenic rivers, and numerous
wilderness areas across the state.
- Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild
Heritage Act, introduced by Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-CA.
Designates as wilderness 450,000 acres of mountain and desert
landscapes, including ancient bristlecone pine forests.
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness
Act, introduced by Congressman Devin Nunes, R-CA. Designates as
wilderness 85,000 acres within the park.
- California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act,
introduced by Rep. Bono Mack, R-CA. See photo caption below for details.
Chapter
Staffs Table at Spring GOP Convention
The
California Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection staffed
a table at the California Republican Party Spring 2009
Convention,February 20-21, 2009, in Sacramento. REP's table drew
favorable reactions from convention-goers who stopped by to chat with
Chapter President Buddy Burke.
2008
Dr. Terry Maple
Keynote Speaker at Chapter Annual Meeting Dinner
Dr.
Terry Maple,
co-author with Newt Gingrich of "A Contract with the Earth," was
keynote speaker at the California chapter of REP's 2008 Annual Meeting
Dinner, held at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, on May 17, 2008.
In
2008, REP gave an award to Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, R-CA, for her
sponsorship of legislation
to give legal permanence to the National Landscape Conservation System.
At left, is REP Government Affairs
Director
David Jenkins. The legislation was signed into law in 2009 as part of a
larger
package of land protection bills.
Also in the package was Congresswoman Bono Mack's bill to
designate 190,000 acres in Riverside County as wilderness,
designate 31
miles of four rivers as Wild and Scenic, and add 5,000 acres to the
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
REP
President Martha Marks, second left, spoke September 25, 2008, to the
South Peninsula Area
Republican
Council (SPARC) in Los Altos. From left, California REP Chapter Vice
President Virginia
Chang
Kiraly, Martha, Duffy Price from SPARC, and Chapter President Buddy
Burke. To read Martha's
speech, click here.
Chapter
President Buddy Burke published an op-ed, "State
Needs to Stay Strong
on Global Warming Act," May 25 in the Sacramento Bee.
2007
Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger met with REP members November 13, 2007, in the Ronald
Reagan Conference Room in the state Capitol. From left, state Senator
Tom Harman, REP President Martha Marks, Governor Schwarzenegger,
Chapter President Buddy Burke, and state Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian.
California REP
submitted the following letter to San Francisco PUC on Tuolumne River
Management:
October 14, 2007
Paul Maltzer, Environmental Review Officer
Water System Improvement Program PEIR
San Francisco Planning Department
Dear Mr. Maltzer:
The
California Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection (CA REP)
is urging the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to
undertake additional studies of the Tuolumne River before finalizing
the PEIR. We believe that the environmental review made by the
SFPUC’s plan to take 25 million gallons per day more water from the
Tuolumne River by 2030 fails to adequately identify and address all of
the environmental impacts to the Tuolumne. We urge SFPUC to undertake
additional studies of the Tuolumne River before finalizing this
document.
Protecting
the Tuolumne is not only environmentally sound but also economically
sensible. California is world renowned for its recreational facilities,
thus, enabling the tourism industry to be one of Califronia’s leading
economic drivers. Taking more water from the Tuolumne will harm
important habitat for fish and wildlife, including chinook salmon and
rainbow trout, degrade world-class recreation opportunities, and worsen
San Francisco Bay-Delta water quality. Because of these factors, our
rivers, such as the Tuolumne, attract visitors to California, along
with our legendary landmarks, such as Yosemite National Park, and the
beautiful state parks that surround the Tuolumne.
Further,
CA REP supports fiscal responsibility and accountability. While we
support the Water System Improvement Program’s (WSIP) to upgrade and
refit the Hetch Hetchy water system so that it is seismically sound, we
believe the water diversion component in the EIR will cause delay to
the entire $4.3 billion project. Unnecessary cost delays coupled with
the cost to divert Tuolumne River water will be very expensive.
Moreover, water rates in San Francisco are projected to triple by 2015
and will increase significantly in other Bay Area cities, as well. The
cost to businesses, such as agriculture, health care, and
manufacturing, will be unnecessarily burdensome and have a trickle-down
effect with transaction costs being passed to consumers and taxpayers.
Therefore, CA REP urges SFPUC to be mindful of the fiscal impacts by
not moving forward to divert water from the Tuolumne River.
CA REP supports water
conservation, efficiency, and recycling measures. Indeed, we support
the alternatives identified in your study that would eliminate the need
to divert more water from the Tuolumne by at least 74 percent. We also
support and urge SFPUC to follow best practices of other metropolitan
areas, such as Seattle and Los Angeles, especially in the face of rapid
population growth.
Requiring
more water conservation, efficiency, and recycling is the best way to
lessen impacts to the Tuolumne River while promoting a sustainable
water solution for the San Francisco Bay Area. The Bay Area is known
for its environmental stewardship and leadership, so CA REP hopes SFPUC
will take a leadership role in water efficiency and conservation.
Therefore, CA REP urges SFPUC to undertake additional studies and
consider the preferred alternatives in its initial study so that the
Tuolumne River will be protected for future generations.
Buddy Burke
California Chapter President
Virginia Chang Kiraly
California Chapter Vice President
Commissioner, California Commission for Economic Development
REP Submits Platform Plank to
State GOP Convention
California
REP submitted the following Environmental Platform Plank for the
consideration of the State GOP 2007 Convention Platform Drafting
Committee:
As
the original stewards of environmental protection in America, we
Republicans re-affirm our commitment to clean air and water,
sustainable forests and oceans, and abundant wildlife. We strongly
believe that a healthy economy and a healthy environment are mutually
interdependent. It is our duty, as the party of conservatives, to
conserve our natural resources for future generations.
We are committed to developing public policy that embraces scientific
research and economic development to produce innovative environmental
technology, new job opportunities, and best business practices to
reduce carbon emissions, lessen dependence on fossil fuels, and
diversify our energy portfolio through development of cleaner energy
sources.
We stand committed to respecting private property rights of individuals
and oppose private property confiscation without honoring the
constitutional requirements for just compensation. However, we
recognize that open space and conservation are in the best interest of
society and future generations. We encourage as many options as
possible to protect our natural resources, such as developing
public-nonprofit partnerships, using smart growth techniques for cities
and counties, and adopting innovative incentives for conservation on
private property.
We believe that periodic review should be used to streamline the
environmental regulatory system, ensure the effective performance of
its missions, and encourage private sector competition, job creation,
and the implementation of sound land use policies.
Republicans
for Environmental Protection Endorses Mike Holmes for Congress
On
November 13, Chapter President Buddy Burke joined Mike Savino,
Patricia Callan-McKinney, Janice Forbes, Sandra Harris and national
President Martha Marks at a press conference in Auburn, where they
announced REP's endorsement of fellow REP member Mike Holmes. Holmes, a
former mayor of Auburn and current City Council member, is running for
Congress against incumbent Representative John Doolittle, who is not
only anti-environment but also caught up in the Jack Abramoff lobbying
scandal.
Click here
to download the PDF endorsement press release.
California
Chapter President Buddy Burke, at the microphone,
speaks about REP's endorsement of 4th District Republican
congressional candidate Mike Holmes. At Burke's immediate left
are REP President Martha Marks and Holmes.
REP
members at the press conference: Mike Savino, Buddy Burke, Janice
Forbes, Martha Marks,
Mike Holmes, Sandra Harris, and Patricia Callan-MKinney.
Later
that same day, Martha, Buddy, state Senator Tom Harman
and Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian—REP
members all—met with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
in his state Capitol office. See a photo on the state home page.
Governor
Schwarzenegger attended a REP barbeque in Sacramento
Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger enjoyed conversation with REP
members
at barbecue hosted June 27 by state Senator Tom Harman
at his Sacramento home.
With the governor are from left, Mike Savino,
a member of the California
chapter executive committee; Bill McLaughlin,
REP's national vice president,
and Holly Burke. Read the
speech that REP President Martha Marks gave at the barbecue.
Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger chatted with
REP Vice President Bill
McLaughlin at June 27, 2007
barbecue at the Sacramento home of
state Senator Tom Harman.
Chapter
represented at state GOP annual convention
REP
member Holly Burke staffed the REP table
at the
California state GOP convention in
Sacramento, February 2007.
Energy Key Topic
at Chapter Annual Meeting
The
California
chapter held its 2007 annual meeting April 7 at the Upper Newport Bay -
Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center in Newport Beach.
Attending the chapter's 2007 annual
meeting are, from left, Michael Williams,
Ken Kassakhian,
Jack Nichols, Victoria
Sanelli, Steve Netti, Dr.
Phil Pryde,
Diane Harman,
state Senator Tom Harman, Sally
Swensen, national REP Vice President
Bill McLaughlin,
California Chapter President Buddy Burke,
Aurie Kryzuda, Gary
Duerst,
Patricia Callan-McKinney,
and Chapter Assistance Director Larry Kanz.
Ex
Com member and energy expert (and former national REP director) Dr.
Philip R. Pryde
spoke on "The Best Bets in Alternative Energy." He touched on the pros
and cons of wind, oil, water, wave, solar photovoltaic, and passive
solar energy.
Gary
Duerst
spoke on "Alternative Transportation," including gasoline/electric
hybrid passenger vehicles as well as LNG buses, which are used in areas
of the Inland Empire.
Chapter
members discussed upcoming tabling events. Chapter
President Buddy Burke introduced Mike
Williams,
from Santa Barbara who had invited Burke to promote REP at Earth Day
activities. Williams increased our membership by joining REP at the
annual meeting!
Burke
invited state Senator Tom Harman
to speak on legislation and other issues. Senator Harman noted that
Democrats have created a package of energy and fuel bills. As a result
of the current makeup of the Senate and Assembly and 'safe' seats,
there are few moderates to collaborate on pro-environment or
conservation legislation. He invited REP to plan a barbecue to be held
at his home in Sacramento sometime in June.
Chapter Staffed
Table at GOP Convention
The
California
chapter staffed a table at the California Republican Party Fall
Convention in Indian Wells, Saturday and Sunday, September 8-9, 2007.
REP Reception in
Atherton
 
REP President Martha Marks visited a
reception for REP members in Atherton on
June 29. From left, first photo, Nancy
Couperus, Charles Marsala,
who hosted the reception,
Virginia Chang Kiraly,
and Martha. Second photo, Duffy Price, Nancy
Couperus, Martha, and Luis Buhler.
Chapter Staffed
Table at South Coast Earth Day Festival
California
Chapter President Buddy Burke, center,
and Joyce Mohun,
seated, talk with new member Michael
Williams at South Coast Earth Day Festival,
April 22, 2007, in Santa Barbara.
Chapter Staffed
Table at Environmental Expo
The
California chapter staffed a table at the Cal State San Bernardino
Environmental Expo, on April 21.
Chapter Mourned
Death of Kent Stromsmoe
REP's
California chapter suffered a great loss with the June 1 death of
long-time Executive Committee member Kent Stromsmoe
of Martinez. Kent was "Our Man in Sacramento." His expertise,
connections, and knowledge of state government made it possible for us
to work with elected officials and better understand the legislative
process, enabling our organization to influence on environmental issues
and legislation. As a lifelong Republican, walking precincts since his
teens, Kent became an associate member of the California Republican
Central Committee in 1971. A former firefighter and businessman, he
owned construction and computer consulting firms,was a community
volunteer, and a passionate environmental activist -- the perfect
profile of a REP member. We will miss his wise advice in our
deliberations and his warm friendship. Everyone at REP extends
condolences to his family and friends.
REP
Policy Director Jim DiPeso gave a speech,
Reclaiming
Environmental Leadership, at the Republican Leadership
Council's California Leadership Weekend, Buellton.
2006
California
Chapter Held Annual Meeting in Walnut Creek
The
California
chapter held its annual meeting in Walnut Creek on June 11, 2006. The
group discussed the congressional primary in the 11th District, the
upcoming gubernatorial campaign, the GoGreen Initiative, and
environmental issues in Marin County.
Some
of those who attended the 2006 annual meeting: front row, Holly
Gillis,
Chapter President Buddy Burke, state
Assembly candidate Jill Buck,
and Patricia Callan-McKinney. Back row: Julie
Craven, Doug Ropel,
Luis Buhler (vice
chairman of the Bay Area region of the California Republican Party),
Lewis Taylor, Michael
Savino, Bridgett Luther
(director of the state
Department of Conservation and a former national REP staffer), and
state Assembly candidate Dr. Michael Hartnett.
Photo by Kent Stromsmoe.
REP
President Martha Marks published an
op-ed, Roadless
forests: The best deal a governor could make, in the Santa
Barbara News-Press.
REP
Director Bill McLaughlin speaks with Congressman David Dreier
at
meeting at Dreier's office.
2005
Annual meeting
attracted a good crowd
Some
of the REP members who attended the 2005 annual meeting in Olivenhain.
Seated at left: Matt Kolysko; Standing, back row, from left: Valerie
Nemeth Zachs, Larry Kanz,
Steve Netti, Dr. Phil Pryde, Brys Myers, Joyce Mohun, Kevin Swanson,
Mike Savino,
state Assemblyman Tom Harman, Deeba Hargis, Les Braund, Chapter
President Doug Hansen,
Rita Myers and former State Assemblyman Ken Maddox. Standing, front
row, from left: Vicky Sanelli,
Rita Bartel, Sally Swenson, Sheila Netti, Aurie Kryzuda and Chapter
Vice President Buddy Burke.
 
Above
left: Mike Savino, left, receives the
Volunteer of the Year award from
Chapter President Doug
Hansen. Above right: Assemblyman Tom
Harman
(R-Huntington Beach) receives the
Legislator of the Year award from
Chapter President Doug
Hansen and REP co-founder Aurie Kryzuda.
California
Director of Conservation Bridgett Luther,
a REP member and former REP staffer,
gives a presentation
to the chapter meeting. Earlier in
2005, California REP
had celebrated Bridgett's appointment
to her current position by
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
A
new chapter president takes over
Doug
Hansen, Martha Marks, and Jim DiPeso
Photo by Bernie Marks
In June 2005, California
Chapter President Doug Hansen, left, took over from the
previous president, Everette Phillips.
Doug traveled to New Mexico to meet with national REP
President Martha Marks and Policy
Director Jim DiPeso to discuss chapter planning and
projects. They met at Martha's home in Santa Fe.
Summer
Barbecue a Success!
The June 15, 2005 barbecue at
the home of Assemblyman Tom Harman and Dianne Harman
was a success. The event, an informal get together with members of the
state Assembly, Senate, and executive agencies, drew more than 50
people, making it one of the largest events in the history of the
California Chapter. In addition, many groups and people expressed an
interest in learning more about Republicans for Environmental
Protection when they heard about the event.
The event energized many
members of the chapter and it introduced REP to many important groups
and people in Sacramento.
 
Above
left: Walt Brown, California Executive
Committee member.
Above right: National REP Director Bill McLaughlin
enjoys conversation
with Chapter Treasurer Deeba
Hargis.
 
Above
left: Tab Berg discusses state issues
with Chapter President Doug Hansen.
Above right: Glenda
Freeman and Joyce Mohun
enjoy the picnic.
Chapter
Honored for Supporting Cache Creek Preservation
The
California chapter received an award in November 2005 from Cache Creek
Wild for its help in winning legislative approval of designating Cache
Creek a California Wild and Scenic River. With the chapter's support,
the Legislature passed and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
signed legislation designating Cache Creek.
Chapter President
Doug Hansen's published an op-ed, Wild
& Scenic: Republicans Support the Environment, in the
Woodland Daily Democrat.
REP Policy Director Jim
DiPeso published two op-eds in the San
Francisco Chronicle:
2004
California
Chapter Supported Heritage Tree Preservation Act
In
2004, the California chapter supported SB 754, the Heritage Tree
Preservation Act. The bill passed the state Senate but fell short in
the Assembly. Here's part of the chapter's press release about the bill:
"Old-growth
sequoias, redwoods, and other spectacular trees are an indispensable
part of California's great natural heritage. These trees have both
great economic and environmental value to our state. With old-growth
trees at a small fraction of their historic numbers, the time has come
to strengthen protections for them," said Everette Phillips, REP's
California chapter president.
"California's
old-growth trees are breathtakingly beautiful, but these trees are much
more than scenic tourist attractions. Old-growth trees are a stock of
natural capital that provide numerous vital services to the people of
California, including water storage, habitat for commercially valuable
fisheries, soil conservation, and resistance to fire and pests. These
are services that benefit the entire state and are worth protecting,"
said Steve Netti, member of the chapter executive committee.
"The
Heritage Tree Preservation Act is a balanced conservation measure that
will ensure protection for these special trees, while making sensible
provisions for removing hazardous trees, reducing wildfire danger, and
maintaining utility rights-of-way," Phillips said. "We call on our
Republican legislators and on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to lend
their active support and get the Heritage Tree Preservation Act enacted
into law."
Annual
meeting held in Newport Beach
The California chapter held its
2004 annual meeting Oct. 23 at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive
Center in Newport Beach.
From
left, front row, Tom Keegan, Diane
Harmon, ConservAmerica
Director Rita Vasquez
Myers, REP Chapter Assistance Director Larry
Kanz,
Joyce Mohun,
State Assemblyman Tom Harman, and Joy
Higg.
Back row, chapter President Everette
Phillips, Steve Netti, Doug
Hansen,
former REP Director Aurie
Kryzuda, Dr. Dee Trent,
REP Director Bill McLaughlin,
Rowena Mohun,
and past REP Director Dr. Phil Pryde.
REP Policy Director Jim
DiPeso published an op-ed, Reagan saw
forest for the trees, in the San Francisco
Chronicle:
2003
REP's
national conference held in San Diego
The
California Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection was
proud to host REP's annual meeting and conference in San Diego, Sept.
12-14, 2003.
It
was an exciting three days. REP members came from 17 states... from
Hawaii to Connecticut and Massachusetts. Events included a reception
for our keynote speaker, Congressman Sherwood Boehlert
(shown in the top left photo, below) and another special guest,
singer/songwriter and environmentalist Carole King.
REP presented four awards to
outstanding Republican environmental leaders in San Diego:
  
- REP's "Pelican Island Award for Habitat
Conservation" to San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater
(left)
- REP's "Green Elephant Award for Citizen
Activism" to San Diego REP Jim Peugh
(center)
- REP's "Founders' Award" to REP Director Dr.
Phil Pryde (right)
REP President
Martha Marks published an op-ed, How Bush
can conseve wildlands heritage, in the San
Francisco Chronicle.
REP Policy Director Jim
DiPeso published an op-ed, Natural
Gas: Conserve it, then switch to renewables, in the San
Francisco Chronicle.
And Jim gave a speech, A
traditional conservative take on wilderness, at Golden Gate
University Law Schools conference, "Wild Ideas: George W. Bush on
Wilderness and Wildlife" in San Diego.
2002
REP Policy Director Jim
DiPeso published an op-ed, Still
saving trees, in the San Francisco Chronicle.
REP Director Dr.
Philip R. Pryde, a resident of San Diego, and Policy
DIrector Jim DiPeso published an op-ed, State will
get the shaft from mining, in the Los Angeles
Times.
2001
REP President Martha
Marks published an op-ed, Green
Elephants must speak up, in the San Gabriel Valley
Tribune.
REP member Jim
Scarantino published an op-ed, End
America's energy insecurity, in the Whittier Daily
News and the Pasadena Star-News.
2000
REP Honorary Board Member Russell
Train, who served as EPA administrator under President
Nixon, published an op-ed, Don't let
oil quest spoil Alaska's north shore, in the Sacramento
Bee.
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