Saul Anuzis
Encyclopedia
Saulius "Saul" Anuzis is a Republican Party
leader from the U.S. State
of Michigan
, he is currently serving as national chairman for the Save American Jobs Project on the American Solutions
team. He was chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
from 2005–2009 and was also a candidate for national chairman of the Republican National Committee
in 2009.
, to Lithuanian immigrants, Ceslovas and Elena Anuzis. He attended Bishop Borgess High School and later studied economics at the University of Michigan–Dearborn campus. His senior year he was elected president of the Student Government and also was one of the founders and first chairman of the College Republican club on campus. His parents and paternal grandparents, Ignas and Elena Anuzis, received the Righteous Among the Nations
award from Israel
's national Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem
, for helping three young girls escape from a Jewish ghetto and make their way from Lithuania
to Estonia
during World War II
. One of those girls, now grown, nominated them for the award.
Anuzis is a former member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He was also a gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan Jobs Commission and the Michigan Export Development Authority. He is a scout master of local Boy Scout
Troop 100 (comprising Lithuanian scouts), and is actively involved in several Lithuanian-American organizations and serves on several non-profit boards. He currently serves as honorary consul to Michigan for the Republic of Lithuania. Anuzis and his family reside in Eaton County
.
held in Detroit. After attending President Reagan
's first inaugural he was elected third vice chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. Anuzis also served six years as a member of the Michigan Republican Party's state committee and two terms as a chairman of a congressional district party.
Anuzis managed Dick Posthumus
' first state Senate race in 1982 and then worked closely with Posthumus throughout his career in Michigan politics, including running his unsuccessful bid for governor in 2002. During that time, Anuzis worked for the House Republican Campaign Committee, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee and as chief of staff to then-Senate Majority Leader Posthumus.
In 1990, Anuzis took a break from politics to focus on his family and business interests. He and partner Bruce Yuille founded Coast to Coast Telecommunications that year. They later sold that business in 2000-2001 when Anuzis and Yuille then co-founded Quick Connect USA.
Anuzis has been mentioned as a potential candidate in the 2012 U.S. Senate race
. A website called Draft Saul was set up by supporters in March, 2011.
On November 13, 2008, Anuzis officially announced that he was running in the 2009 RNC Chairmanship Election.
RNC Chairman Vote
Source: CQPolitics, and Poll Pundit
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
leader from the U.S. State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, he is currently serving as national chairman for the Save American Jobs Project on the American Solutions
American Solutions for Winning the Future
American Solutions for Winning the Future was a 527 organization created by former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Newt Gingrich for the stated purpose of engaging citizens and elected officials in a dialogue intended to propose solutions to problems affecting American society...
team. He was chairman of the Michigan Republican Party
Michigan Republican Party
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party....
from 2005–2009 and was also a candidate for national chairman of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
in 2009.
Early life
Anuzis was born in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, to Lithuanian immigrants, Ceslovas and Elena Anuzis. He attended Bishop Borgess High School and later studied economics at the University of Michigan–Dearborn campus. His senior year he was elected president of the Student Government and also was one of the founders and first chairman of the College Republican club on campus. His parents and paternal grandparents, Ignas and Elena Anuzis, received the Righteous Among the Nations
Righteous Among the Nations
Righteous among the Nations of the world's nations"), also translated as Righteous Gentiles is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis....
award from Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's national Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 through the Yad Vashem Law passed by the Knesset, Israel's parliament....
, for helping three young girls escape from a Jewish ghetto and make their way from Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
to Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. One of those girls, now grown, nominated them for the award.
Personal life
Anuzis is married to Lina (née Alksninis) and they have four sons, Matas, Tadas, Vytis, and Marius.Anuzis is a former member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He was also a gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan Jobs Commission and the Michigan Export Development Authority. He is a scout master of local Boy Scout
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
Troop 100 (comprising Lithuanian scouts), and is actively involved in several Lithuanian-American organizations and serves on several non-profit boards. He currently serves as honorary consul to Michigan for the Republic of Lithuania. Anuzis and his family reside in Eaton County
Eaton County, Michigan
Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,759. The county seat is Charlotte. Eaton County was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under U.S. President Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties...
.
Politics
In 1980, Anuzis was elected as the youngest delegate to the Republican National ConventionRepublican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
held in Detroit. After attending President Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's first inaugural he was elected third vice chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. Anuzis also served six years as a member of the Michigan Republican Party's state committee and two terms as a chairman of a congressional district party.
Anuzis managed Dick Posthumus
Dick Posthumus
Richard Posthumus is an American farmer, businessman, and politician. He was the 59th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan and majority leader of the Michigan Senate. In 2002, he was the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan....
' first state Senate race in 1982 and then worked closely with Posthumus throughout his career in Michigan politics, including running his unsuccessful bid for governor in 2002. During that time, Anuzis worked for the House Republican Campaign Committee, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee and as chief of staff to then-Senate Majority Leader Posthumus.
In 1990, Anuzis took a break from politics to focus on his family and business interests. He and partner Bruce Yuille founded Coast to Coast Telecommunications that year. They later sold that business in 2000-2001 when Anuzis and Yuille then co-founded Quick Connect USA.
Anuzis has been mentioned as a potential candidate in the 2012 U.S. Senate race
United States Senate election in Michigan, 2012
The 2012 United States Senate election in Michigan will be held on November 6, 2012 alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent...
. A website called Draft Saul was set up by supporters in March, 2011.
Republican state chairman
On February 5, 2005, Anuzis was elected chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. Anuzis was a frequent guest on regional talk radio, and was notable for raising funds for a new state Republican party headquarters and for being the only Republican Party state chairman to operate a blog. He was re-elected to a second term February 10, 2007, despite heavy statewide election losses for Republicans in 2006.RNC chairman race
On November 12, 2010, Anuzis officially announced that he was running in the 2011 RNC Chairmanship Election.On November 13, 2008, Anuzis officially announced that he was running in the 2009 RNC Chairmanship Election.
RNC Chairman Vote
Source: CQPolitics, and Poll Pundit
| Candidate | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Steele | 46 | 48 | 51 | 60 | 79 | 91 |
| Katon Dawson Katon Dawson Katon Edwards Dawson is an American politician from the state of South Carolina, former chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party and was a 2009 candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee.-Early life:... |
28 | 29 | 34 | 62 | 69 | 77 |
| Saul Anuzis | 22 | 24 | 24 | 31 | 20 | Withdrew |
| Ken Blackwell Ken Blackwell John Kenneth Blackwell is an American politician and activist who served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1979 to 1980 and Ohio Secretary of State from 1999 to 2007. A Republican, he was the first African-American to be the candidate for governor of a major party in Ohio. In 2006, Blackwell... |
20 | 19 | 15 | 15 | Withdrew | |
| Mike Duncan Mike Duncan Robert M. "Mike" Duncan was the 60th Chairman of the Republican National Committee. He was elected in January 2007, replacing Ken Mehlman, and served until January 30, 2009, when he withdrew from renomination to the chairmanship... |
52 | 48 | 44 | Withdrew | ||
- Candidate won that Round of voting
- Candidate withdrew
- Candidate won RNC Chairmanship