Friends,

It is hard to believe that four years have passed since you so graciously elected me to serve as your Chairman; they have come and gone so quickly!

There are truly no words adequate enough to express the gratitude I have for the opportunity, the responsibility, and the confidence that you entrusted to me and our entire leadership group. I am so proud of their efforts.

Because of their hard work, and the work of so many dedicated, hard working grassroots Republicans like you, I am proud to say that the state of our party here in Shelby County is strong. Our new leadership will inherit new and improved offices and the largest treasury in party history. We are passing the gavel to a new set of leaders, and they will be off to a good start.

There are so many to thank, it would be impossible to name them all, but there are some that absolutely must be recognized for their tireless dedication to our efforts. First and foremost, our Vice-Chairman, Paula Sedgwick, has given literally thousands of hours helping with day-to-day operations, events, planning, and staffing. There is no award tall enough to honor her great contribution our organization.

Mark White, who has chaired all four of our Lincoln Day Galas, has been an inspiration. His humble, solid, and effective leadership should be the standard we all hope to achieve.

Don Johnson - what can I say? Brilliant–An asset with which no value can be placed. There is an old saying that we are all replaceable. Don Johnson is living proof that that theory is incorrect.

Robert Hubbard, Wayne West, Jeff Jacobs, Abby Braddock, Randy Hendon, Arnold Weiner, Bob Pittman, Mary Jane Anderson, Paul Houghland, Terry Roland, Sharon Hyde, Paul Boyd and Justin Joy and so many others lent their incredible talents to our cause, and because of them, we are bigger, better, and stronger than ever.

Our McCain team, Rieta Selberg and Adrienne Stock, along with Betty Rome, Annabell Woodall, Anne Truett, Linda Casebier, Beth Webb, Donna Thompson, Kim Perry, Mary Wagner, Barbara Trautman, Caroline Newman, and so many other great Republican Women (and a few men, too!), constructed and conducted the finest campaign operation ever. You had to see it to believe it!

To our new State Treasurer, David Lillard, whose advice and counsel was called upon by me so many times, thank you for always taking the call.

To our former chairmen John Ryder, David Kustoff, and Bill Watkins, for giving so freely your experience, perspective and wisdom. I can never repay you. And to former Chairman and City Councilman Kemp Conrad, thank you for believing in me.

To Steve Stamson, Chris Turner, Ron Lollar, Tom Leatherwood, and our majority leader Mark Norris, your friendship and support never wavered. And to my good friend, former Governor Winfield Dunn, whose shoes I could never fill, but made me a better man by trying.

If there were a way to stay, I surely would! It has been an honor to serve you. But it is now time to hand over the reins to a new set of leaders, with new excitement, and a renewed sense of purpose. It is time for us to cheer them on, commit to their success, and trust in their leadership.

It is rare in life to be given an opportunity that gives so much more than it takes. Wherever I go or whatever I do, I can tell you that nothing could ever make more proud than to say those simple words “Hello, my name is Bill Giannini and I’m the Chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party.” I am eternally grateful and forever in your debt. God Bless you all, and I will see you somewhere soon on the campaign trail!

Bill Giannini
Chairman
Republican Party of Shelby County

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