Speaker Zellers endorses Sawalich for GOP chair

Paul Demko//December 14, 2011

House Speaker Kurt Zellers is backing Brandon Sawalich for state GOP chair.

“Brandon knows that having a strong Republican Party will help all of our candidates from top to bottom,” Zellers wrote on Sawalich’s Facebook page on Wednesday. “His business experience, proven ability to develop top-notch organizations and unflinching passion for core Republican principles are exactly what our party needs.”

Sawalich is a senior vice president with Starkey Labs and former state GOP finance chair. He has piled up an impressive list of endorsements since announcing his bid for the party’s top post earlier this week. Among his backers: Sen. David Hann, Rep. Keith Downey, GOP strategist Pat Shortridge and former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert.

Currently the only other candidate in the contest is Todd McIntyre, who is not well known in GOP activist circles. Former state Rep. Mike Osskopp and Terry McCall, chair of the GOP in the Second Congressional District, are still considering runs.