RLC endorses Bennett for Senate‏

REPUBLICAN LIBERTY CAUCUS

AUGUSTA, ME (May 14, 2012) – Former Maine State Senate President Rick Bennett has won the endorsement of the Republican Liberty Caucus National Committee in his GOP primary for United States Senate from Maine.

“Rick Bennett has shown leadership skills badly needed in the Senate,” said RLC National Chair Dave Nalle. “Receiving the Republican Liberty Caucus endorsement is a testament to his commitment to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise.”

Bennett’s endorsement will be announced to Liberty Republicans nationally, presenting him as the best hope to keep Maine’s Senate seat in the Republican column.

The Maine RLC Chapter voted unanimously during its state meeting last week to recommend that Bennett be endorsed. RLC bylaws require that federal office endorsements be made by the National Committee upon recommendation of the state chapter. The state chapters may endorse legislative and gubernatorial candidates without input from the national organization.

“I am pleased that the RLC National Committee saw in Rick Bennett qualities which we in Maine have known for a long time. He will be a great Republican candidate and an outstanding Senator,” said Maine RLC Chair R. Kenneth Lindell of Frankfort, a former member of the Maine legislature.

Lindell said, “Rick Bennett fought hard in Augusta for sound fiscal policies to protect the future of Maine families and has experience in the private sector helping the economy and creating jobs. We need more people with Rick’s background in Washington.”

Nalle added, “At the Republican Liberty Caucus we believe that less government means more liberty. We advocate the principles of individual rights, limited government, and free enterprise. We work in the Republican Party because we believe it is the best vehicle for bringing about the political changes we want and we believe that Rick Bennett will become part of the growing number of Liberty Republicans advancing those goals in Washington.”

Bennett is currently CEO of GMI Ratings, a world-renowned research firm headquartered in Portland, Maine, with offices in New York, San Diego and London. Under his leadership since 2006, GMI Ratings has grown from a money-losing start-up to a profitable enterprise employing fifty people in Maine alone. GMI Ratings is known around the world for promoting long-term decision-making for corporations, and for measuring those risks that can lead to large losses for strapped pension funds and other institutional investors. GMI Ratings is also known for pointing out when corporate CEOs are being rewarded with high pay and benefits even as companies lose money – a practice they advocate against.

For the last decade, Bennett has also served on the board of directors of GWI, the 60-plus-person telecom company and internet service provider based in Biddeford, Maine, where he has helped that business adapt and grow in a volatile, fast-moving market. Prior to GMI and his work assisting the telecom company, he worked with a number of job creating Maine businesses including a manufacturing company.

Bennett’s work has been cited in numerous publications including The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, USA Today, Fortune, and Barron’s. Rick Bennett was named by Global Proxy Watch as one of the “10 people around the world who had the most impact of corporate governance in the previous year”. And since 2008 he has been recognized annually by Directorship magazine in its list of the 100 “most influential people in corporate governance and the boardroom.” 

 

Rick Bennett has spoken publicly about corporate accountability issues at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Columbia University, the USC Marshall School of Business and The Conference Board, among other institutions. Additionally, Bennett is a non-executive director of Trucost plc, an environmental data firm, and since 2009 he has been annually elected to the Board of Governors of the International Corporate Governance Network.

Bennett was elected unanimously as President of the Maine Senate in the historic power-sharing agreement with the Democrats in the 120^th Maine Legislature. He previously served in the Maine House of Representatives.

Bennett is completing a four year term representing Maine on the Republican National Committee and will be a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Tampa. He is a former Vice Chair of the Maine Republican State Committee.

Founded in 1991, Republican Liberty Caucus is a nationwide grassroots IRS Section 527 political organization registered with the Federal Election Commission, made up of libertarian-leaning Republicans who work within the party for policies which promote smaller government and individual liberty.

Current members of Congress who had won RLC endorsement include Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Rep. Tom McClintock of California.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage was endorsed in the 2010 GOP primary by the Maine RLC as well as five State Senators and seven members of the Maine House.

RLC National Chair Dave Nalle (512) 656-8011

Maine RLC Chair Ken Lindell (207) 446-0966

Republican Liberty Caucus: www.rlc.org

Bennett for Senate: www.bennettformaine.com