New Look Leadership Takes Over Republican Party of Minnesota
Keith Downey, Kelly Fenton and Chris Fields elected to lead MNGOP
Bloomington, MN - The Republican Party of Minnesota elected a new leadership team today at their State Central Committee meeting in Bloomington. Former State Representative Keith Downey was elected Party Chair, current Party Deputy Chair Kelly Fenton was reelected for a second term and former Minneapolis congressional candidate Chris Fields was elected Party Secretary.
“Today we start a new and exciting chapter in the story of the Minnesota Republican Party,” said new Chairman Keith Downey. “While challenges remain, we can be optimistic about the future of our party. We will be going back out to the people of Minnesota, and I will be encouraging all Minnesotans to take a fresh look at the Republicans.”
Downey served two terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives and was the Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He is a business consulting specialist and was a partner with Virchow Krause Consulting.
“I’m honored to be reelected as Deputy Chair and am ready to work with Chairman Downey for the next 572 days to offer Minnesotans an alternative to the failed strategies we’re seeing now from the DFL in St. Paul and Washington,” said Fenton.
Fenton was first elected Deputy Chairwoman in December 2011. She is a longtime Republican activist and volunteer and former school administrator and teacher. She lives in Woodbury with her husband and three children.
“We owe our thanks to Chairman Pat Shortridge for what he’s done to restore credibility to our party. His outstanding work makes it possible for the new leadership team to focus on growing our party and spreading our positive message to young people, minorities, farmers, miners and anyone interested in policies and reforms that work,” added Fields.
Chris Fields was the endorsed Republican candidate for Congress in 2012 in the 5thDistrict. Chris is a twenty-one year U.S. Marine veteran and served two combat tours in Iraq. Chris and his wife live in Minneapolis where he runs a successful law firm.
The new leadership terms begin immediately and Chairman Pat Shortridge has promised a smooth transition.
“I will be helping Keith and the new leadership team any way I can as we work to elect Republicans to office at all levels,” said Shortridge.
