Opening Remarks
Adams, Rep. Elmer and Sen. Starr
Polling Trends
Chris Lane/Cygnal
Why Are You Running
Dru Draper, David Kilada
Candidates’ 90 Second Why You are Running
Panel
Building the Organization
Nick Hill/Panel
Digital Strategies
Frank Girolami, Logan Dozier
Fundraising
John Swanson/Panel
Direct Mail
Adams and Kilada
Effective Video Ads
Adams/Johnson/Panel
Adjourn
– Steve Prefontaine
A lifelong Oregonian, Senator Starr currently serves as the Senate Republican Leader. Bruce has spent over 20 years in public service fighting for Conservative values. He first served in local positions on Washington County’s GOP Central Committee, as a Hillsboro precinct committeeman, and on the Hillsboro City Council, then moved on to serve in the State House and Senate from 1999 to 2014. When he was first elected to the Senate in 2002.
Representative Lucetta Elmer is the Oregon House Republican Leader and represents House District 24, including McMinnville and neighboring Yamhill and Polk County communities. An Oregon native who grew up on a small farm between Willamina and Sheridan, she brings decades of experience as a Main Street business owner in McMinnville. As House Republican Leader, she oversees caucus strategy and financial investment in targeted races.
John grew up in Southern Oregon and received a Bachelor of Arts from Willamette University. Early proximity to the State Capitol allowed him to engage in the policymaking process, and his experience now spans 20 years. John is the Chief of Staff for State Senator Bruce Starr, whose district spans most of rural Polk County. John is a small business owner and is the Executive Director of the Leadership Fund.
Dru is a Salem-based political strategist who has spent his career helping Republican candidates and causes win tough races in Oregon. He is currently the Executive Director of Evergreen PAC, the Oregon House Republicans’ campaign committee.
Chuck has worked in Oregon politics for 48 years, running campaigns and working in the legislature. During this time, Chuck and his firm have successfully helped 54 new candidates win elections to the Oregon and Washington state Houses and Senates. There were candidates for the County Commission, City Council, and US Senate.
Lois has served in a leadership role with Oregon Right to Life (ORTL) for over 25 years, demonstrating a deep commitment to the pro-life cause. During these years, Lois led successful efforts to elect hundreds of pro-life candidates to state and local office. In her current role as executive director, Lois has been instrumental in guiding the organization through significant legislative, social, and political challenges.
Logan runs his own LLC, advising local and state political candidates on social media and digital communication strategies to help campaigns build authentic connections with voters. His work centers on message development, content strategy, and translating policy positions into clear, engaging, and shareable online content.
Frank has over 30 years of experience in innovative, disruptive use of technology to model political cohorts, delivering successful election results, and maximizing the use of Complex Data. Peer-reviewed, effective, and impactful Presenter. Candidate and Campaign School Trainer.
Nick is the Outreach Director for Marion Polk First, where he has worked in various grassroots roles for over 4 years. Born and raised in Salem, Nick has worked on the ground for this regional nonprofit, building coalitions, knocking on countless doors, recruiting and training candidates, and serving as a regional campaign manager in nonpartisan races.
Rob is a seasoned Republican strategist with two decades of experience in politics at the state and federal levels, as well as public relations, traditional media, digital media, and campaigns. Johnson Strategies represents a diverse portfolio of clients, including major corporations, politicians, and associations. Rob lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Allison, and their two sons.
David has worked in state politics and campaigns for 17 years, including as Political Director at Oregon Right to Life. Since starting Intisar Strategies in 2019, David has consulted for over 50 candidates and nonprofits in Oregon. His firm focuses on empowering underdog conservatives to turn the tide in Oregon through coalition building, people-centered strategy, and disciplined campaign execution.
Chris Lane is a Senior Partner and Pollster at Cygnal, the polling firm recognized as America’s most accurate across the last four election cycles. He has led quantitative and qualitative research for campaigns in more than 35 states, as well as for nonprofits, corporations, and international clients. Prior to joining Cygnal, he served nearly a decade in senior political roles for Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.
As vice president of external affairs for Oregon Business & Industry, Preston Mann leads strategic and coalition-building efforts to advance a healthy, competitive economy in Oregon. He brings deep experience in political and policy advocacy, communications, and partnerships, having developed initiatives for businesses, trade associations, candidates, causes, and elected officials navigating the intersection of government and business.
Justin is the owner of Perseverance Strategies, Inc., a government relations firm located in Salem, Oregon. Justin has over twenty-five years of experience in government, working at the federal, state, local and tribal levels. His current clients include The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Spirit Mountain Casino, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, City of Salem, Clackamas ESD, Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance, and WM (Waste Management).