Shawn Steel
Encyclopedia
Shawn Steel is the Republican
National Committeeman from California
. Elected in 2008, he will serve a four year term. Steel challenged the Treasurer of the RNC and won at the California Republican Party state convention with a 61 to 39% vote with over 1200 ballots cast. Steel also was the first RNC member to formally endorse, former Lt Governor Michael Steele, who was elected as Chairman of the Republican National Committee in February 2009.
He is a past chairman of the California Republican Party
(GOP) and founding director of the California chapter of the interest group, the Club for Growth
. He was the cofounder of the successful 2003 campaign to recall Democratic
Governor of California
Gray Davis
. An attorney
from Palos Verdes, Steel has also written articles published in every major newspaper in his state and in several national newspapers.
for the U.S. presidency. After the Goldwater defeat he helped form [1965] numerous chapters of Young Americans for Freedom [YAF] in the Los Angeles region. In 1966, Steel was statewide chairman of Youth for Reagan, for high school students, Ronald Reagan
for governor of California. In 1967, Steel became state chairman of California YAF, leading opposition against left wing student groups on college campuses.
degree, with California state teaching credentials, from California State University, Northridge
, his master of arts
from the University of Southern California
in Los Angeles
, and his Juris Doctor
from Northrop Law School.
Tim Morgan, 590-380 reflecting a major triumph for Steel.
As California Republican Party Chairman, Steel was a co=founder of the Recall Davis movement. Along with Ted Costa, of Peoples Advocate, they were responsible for organizing the historic recall campaign against Governor Davis. The success of the Recall paved the way for Arnold Schwarzenegger
's election as governor. His was the first signature on the recall petition. Steel and Ted Costa served Governor Davis with the Notice of Recall Petition.
As Chairman Steel was criticized by senior California Republican leaders as well as national leaders. Corporate raider Gerry Parsky
, and President George W. Bush's unofficial representative in California questioned the strategy of recalling Gray Davis. Some party leaders objected to Steel's efforts to unseat Davis, fearing it was too risky. Steel at the CRP convention in February 2003 convinced an over whelming majority to endorse the Recall, thus turning the tide for the recallcampaign.
formed the California Club for Growth, which is designed to promote free market Republican candidates.
Steel was appointed by Republican Governor Pete Wilson
to the California State Acupuncture Board. He was appointed in 1995 and served until 2000. Steel was elected by his peers as Chairman of the Acupuncture Board for two one-year terms.
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...
National Committeeman from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Elected in 2008, he will serve a four year term. Steel challenged the Treasurer of the RNC and won at the California Republican Party state convention with a 61 to 39% vote with over 1200 ballots cast. Steel also was the first RNC member to formally endorse, former Lt Governor Michael Steele, who was elected as Chairman of the Republican National Committee in February 2009.
He is a past chairman of the California Republican Party
California Republican Party
The California Republican Party is the California affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party chairman is Tom Del Beccaro and is based in Burbank, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. The RPC also has a headquarters in Sacramento....
(GOP) and founding director of the California chapter of the interest group, the Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
. He was the cofounder of the successful 2003 campaign to recall Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
. An attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from Palos Verdes, Steel has also written articles published in every major newspaper in his state and in several national newspapers.
Early life
Steel graduated from Van Nuys High School [1964] growing up in the San Fernando Valley. Steel's lifetime of conservative political activism began in 1964 as a leader in the San Fernando Valley Youth for Goldwater [YFG]. YFG was a youth group supporting Barry M. Goldwater of ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
for the U.S. presidency. After the Goldwater defeat he helped form [1965] numerous chapters of Young Americans for Freedom [YAF] in the Los Angeles region. In 1966, Steel was statewide chairman of Youth for Reagan, for high school students, Ronald 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....
for governor of California. In 1967, Steel became state chairman of California YAF, leading opposition against left wing student groups on college campuses.
Education
Steel received his bachelor of artsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree, with California state teaching credentials, from California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
, his master of arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Northrop Law School.
California Republican Party
Shawn Steel, was elected Treasurer of the California Republican Party in 1995 and served 2 four year terms. In 1999 he won a hotly contested election for the CRP's Vice Chair position against the grandson of Leonard Firestone, the rubber baron founder. In 2001 in a rematch, former Assemblyman Brooks Firestone challenged Steel for the CRP's chairman's position. This was considered a classic moderate vs conservative struggle. Steel prevailed. Seven years later Steel challenged the sitting Treasuer of the Republican National Committee [RNC] Tim Morgan.On February 24, 2008. He won against incumbentIncumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Tim Morgan, 590-380 reflecting a major triumph for Steel.
As California Republican Party Chairman, Steel was a co=founder of the Recall Davis movement. Along with Ted Costa, of Peoples Advocate, they were responsible for organizing the historic recall campaign against Governor Davis. The success of the Recall paved the way for Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
's election as governor. His was the first signature on the recall petition. Steel and Ted Costa served Governor Davis with the Notice of Recall Petition.
As Chairman Steel was criticized by senior California Republican leaders as well as national leaders. Corporate raider Gerry Parsky
Gerry Parsky
Gerald Parsky is an American politician, who has served as chairman of the Board of Regents of the University of California, as well as several sub-cabinet positions under Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush....
, and President George W. Bush's unofficial representative in California questioned the strategy of recalling Gray Davis. Some party leaders objected to Steel's efforts to unseat Davis, fearing it was too risky. Steel at the CRP convention in February 2003 convinced an over whelming majority to endorse the Recall, thus turning the tide for the recallcampaign.
California Club for Growth
In 2004, Steel and former California State Assemblyman Tony StricklandTony Strickland
Anthony A. "Tony" Strickland is a California State Senator, representing the 19th District. Strickland is a member of the Republican Party and a former Assemblyman, representing the 37th District from 1998 to 2004.-Early life:...
formed the California Club for Growth, which is designed to promote free market Republican candidates.
Public service
Steel teaches Ethics and Jurisprudence at Cleveland Chiropractic College in Los Angeles. He also is a regular lecturer at Palmer West Chiropractic College [Sunnyvale] and Southern California University of Health Services [La Habra]Steel was appointed by Republican Governor Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
to the California State Acupuncture Board. He was appointed in 1995 and served until 2000. Steel was elected by his peers as Chairman of the Acupuncture Board for two one-year terms.