FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                         Contact: Jake DeVantier
March 9, 2010                                                                                                                                              (785) 829-0055
 
(Salina, KS) - Tracey Mann announced today 16 additional members to the Mann for Congress Steering Committee. 

"It is an honor to have these fine men and women join our Mann for Congress Steering Committee.  I am humbled to receive the support of so many leaders from throughout the District. It reminds me that the people of the Big First are looking for business and agriculture experience, not political experience, to represent them and to fill the big shoes of Congressman Jerry Moran," said Mann.

Chairman of the Mann for Congress Steering Committee, Tom Hemmer, who also served at Jerry Moran's Chief of Staff for 5 years, said, "Kansans are tired of the way our country is being run. Washington is working to force unpopular bills on Americans and find ways to raise taxes, grow government, and increase regulations.  We need leadership to stand up for what is right.  Tracey has the background and integrity to do that.  These new additions to our team exhibit the momentum that is continuing to build in our campaign."

Lee Borck, a newly added member of the committee and CEO of Innovative Livestock Services, Inc. as well as Chairman of American State Bank, both based in Great Bend, went on to say, "We will not renew government by promoting from within.  Kansas needs to send Tracey Mann to Congress to bring real change to our government."

The following men and women are additions to the Mann for Congress Steering Committee. Note that organizations are only included for identification purposes only and do not infer an organizational endorsement.

Scott Bergkamp, Salina - Businessman; Former Chairman of the Board, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce; District Chairman, Triconda District, Boy Scouts of America; Member, Parish Finance Council, St. Mary's Catholic Church; Former Chairman, Bishop Fitzsimmons Charity Golf Tournament

Lee Borck, Larned - Feedyard Owner/Businessman; Chairman of the Board, American State Bank; Past Chairman of Executive Committee, Kansas State University Foundation; Past President, Kansas Livestock Association

Tracy Brunner, Romona - Farmer/Feedyard Owner; President, Cow Camp Beef; Past Officer, National Cattlemen's Beef Association; Former President, Kansas Livestock Association; Past Chairman, Kansas Beef Council; Former President, USD 397 School Board; Past President, Dickinson County Farm Bureau

Joanne Emerick, Hoxie - Educator; Member, Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Alliance; Member, 31st Bombardment Squadron (H) Association; Six Time Award Winner, "Who's Who Among America's Teachers"

Gary Gantz, Ness City - Agribusinessman; President, D.E. Bondurant Grain Company; Chairman of the Board, Kansas Grain and Feed; Mayor, Ness City

Nick Hatcher, Liberal - Farmer; Chairman of the Board, Conestoga Energy Partners; Past President, Seward County Five State Free Fair Board; Board of Directors, Northwest Cotton Growers Cooperative; Member, USD 480 School Board

John Holthus, McPherson - Realtor/Businessman; Member, McPherson Board of Realtors; Member, Kansas Association of Realtors; Member, National Association of Realtors; Member, The Cedars Board of Trustees; Member, McPherson College Board of Trustees; Member, Board of Directors, McPherson Board of Public Utilities
 
Gary Johnson, Oakley - Businessman; Owner Mitten, Inc.; Former Director, National Association of Truck Stop Operators; Director, The Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas; Director, Western Plains Energy
Thayne Larson, Scandia - Farmer, Agribusinessman; Member, Farm Foundation; Past Member, Scandia School Board

Don LacKamp, Concordia - Banker; President and CEO, American State Bank; Former Member, Cloud County Community College Foundation Board; Former Member, St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation Board; Former Member, Golden Belt Community Foundation Board; Former Member, Kansas Banker's Association Federal Affairs Committee

Roger Morrison, Salina - Businessman; Business Manager, Morrison Ventures; Board Member, St. John Military Academy Endowment; Board Member, Salina Presbyterian Manor Endowment; Advisory Board Chairman, McPherson College Automotive Restoration Program

Ed Splichal, Belleville - Retired Banker; Past Chair, Kansas Banker's Association; Past Chair, North Central Kansas Healthcare Foundation; Pastoral Planning Commission Member, Catholic Diocese of Salina

Alan States, Hays - Banker; Member of Kansas Bankers Association; Former Director and President, Bankers Bank of Kansas; Former Director, Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership (KARL); Former Director, Downtown Hays Development Corporation; Former Member, USD 326 School Board

Dr. Wade Taylor, Oakley - Veterinarian; Past President and Board Member, Academy of Veterinary Consultants; Past Board Member, American Association of Bovine Practitioners

Jack Vanier, Brookville - Stockman/Businessman; Former Board Member, Archer Daniels Midland; Former President, Kansas Livestock Association

Dana Woodbury, Garden City - Businesswoman; Owner, Culligan of Southwest Kansas; Treasurer, Garden City Community College Endowment Association Board; Committeewoman, Western Kansas Community Foundation; Graduate, Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership Program

They are joined by the following original Members of the Committee, which were first announced last August.
 
Chairman - Tom Hemmer, Salina - Chief of Staff to Congressman Jerry Moran 1997-2002; Agricultural Assistant to Congressman Pat Roberts 1991-1996; Co-Owner Solomon Corporation

Jerry Bohn, Pratt - Farmer/Feedyard Owner; Former President, Pratt Chamber of Commerce; Former President, Kansas Livestock Association; Member, K-State Livestock Meat Industry Council; Member, Cattleman's Beef Board

Deloras Dalke, Hillsboro - Small Business Owner/Realtor; Mayor of Hillsboro; Former President, Kansas Association of Realtors

Brian Dunn, St. John - Farmer/Rancher; American Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Achievement Award National Runner Up; Former County Chairman, Kansas Farm Bureau; State and National Chairman, Farm Bureau Hay and Forage Committee; Participant, Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) Program

Bob Fee, Hutchinson - Businessman; Past President, Kansas Association of Insurance Agents; Former Chairman, Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors, Health Care, Inc.; Past Chairman, United Way of Reno County; Past Chairman, Hutchinson Red Cross

Martie Floyd, Johnson City - Farmer/Feedyard Owner; Stanton County Commissioner; Board Member, First National Bank Liberal; Member Inaugural Class Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) Program; Member, Pioneer Electric Cooperative Board

Sarah Goss, Ellsworth - President, Smoky Hill Development Corporation

Maggie Hemmer, Salina - Former Advocate, American Medical Association; Past President, Salina Charities League; Former Board Member, Salina Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts

Representative Don Hineman, Dighton - Farmer/Rancher; State Representative; Former President, Kansas Livestock Association; Former Lane County Commissioner

Daron Jamison, Hays - Businessman; Former District Representative for Congressman Jerry Moran; Past Student Body President and Presidents Award Recipient, Fort Hays State University

Joe Kejr, Brookville - Farmer; Former State Representative; Past President, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers

Kenny Knight, Lyons - Farmer/Feedyard Owner/Agribusinessman; Former President, Kansas Livestock Association

Jaret Moyer, Emporia - Farmer/Rancher; North Central Kansas Director, Community Bankers Assocation; Lyon County Director, Kansas Livestock Association; Member, Kansas Beef Council

Doyle Rahjes, Agra - Farmer; Former President, Kansas Farm Bureau; Past Chairman, Jerry Moran for Congress Committee

Tom Toll, Lindsborg - Farmer/Stockman; Former President, Kansas Livestock Association

Melvin Winger, Johnson City - Farmer/Feedyard Owner; President, Pioneer Electric Cooperative Board; Former Stanton County Commissioner

Donnie Young, Ulysses - Farmer; Past President, Kansas Corn Growers Association

Treasurer - Justin Knopf, Salina - Farmer; Member, K-State Department of Agronomy State Advisory Council; Central Kansas District Executive Board Member, K-State Research and Extension; Saline County Farm Bureau Board of Directors