RNLA Elects New Officers for 2023

Washington, D.C. – On December 8, 2022, the Board of Governors of the Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) elected new officers to lead the organization. They will join the incumbent officers in leading the over 7,000-member-strong organization in 2023.

RNLA Chair Harmeet Dhillon said: “We are excited to announce the appointment of RNLA’s new officers for 2023. These individuals have demonstrated their leadership time and time again, and we look forward to working with them over the coming year to continue the important work of the Republican Party and the RNLA.”

Executive Director Michael Thielen added: “The Board has made some outstanding choices as officers for the coming year. Our leaders represent the finest in Republican lawyers from across the country.”

Seven attorneys were elected to fill the following positions for 2023:

President Marc Ellinger is a founding partner of Ellinger Bell, focusing his practice on election law, legislative and rulemaking practice, municipal finance and structuring, issues of state and federal constitutional law, gaming law, and appellate practice. Marc has more than twenty-five years of experience in election law and campaign finance compliance, including the representation of candidates as well as ballot measure campaigns and Political Action Committees across the State of Missouri. Marc is also actively involved in representing businesses and individuals in gaming law, particularly with respect to state licensing and compliance matters. Marc is recognized by Best Lawyers of America, Super Lawyers, and is also a licensed CPA. Recently, Marc was named the 2022 Republican Lawyer of the Year.

First Vice President Tom Wheeler is a partner at Frost Brown Todd LLP and a principal in the Government Services and Appellate practice groups. His prior work in the federal government includes serving as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Justice; Senior Advisor, White House Federal Commission on School Safety; and Senior Advisor/ Senior Counsel to the Secretary, United States Department of Education. Tom is very active in elections and political activities throughout the United States, having worked on seven presidential campaigns, more than a dozen senatorial campaigns, and many congressional, state and local races. He has served as the Chairman of the Indiana Election Commission, the Indiana Recount Commission, and in various other elected and appointed roles. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Tom was counsel to then-Indiana Governor Mike Pence.

Vice President for Election Education Trevor Stanley is a partner with BakerHostetler, representing clients in election matters in all fifty states and beyond. Trevor focuses his practice in the areas of litigation and political law and provides legal guidance to some of the largest Super PACs and political committees in the United States. He also advises presidential candidates, members of Congress and other individuals and organizations in the political arena on campaign finance, “pay-to-play,” ethics and lobbying regulations. Trevor has particular experience in the state campaign finance regime. He has appeared on behalf of clients in federal and state courts, as well as before state election boards and the Federal Election Commission.

Vice President for Judicial Affairs Audrey Perry Martin is a partner at The Gober Group. Her practice is focused on advising corporations, candidates, political action committees (PACs), political parties, major campaign donors and state and local ballot measure committees in the areas of political and election law. Prior to joining The Gober Group, Audrey gained extensive knowledge and experience working at the Federal Election Commission, for Congress, a think tank, and at private law firms in Washington, D.C. and California. She has also served in the roles of Deputy Campaign Manager, General Counsel, and FEC counsel for statewide and national campaigns. Audrey has appeared on numerous media outlets, including Fox News and NPR.

Vice President for Membership Tyler Herrmann is currently general counsel for the Ohio Department of Health. He was formerly special counsel to Commissioners Donald Palmer and Christy McCormick of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Prior to joining the EAC, Tyler held several positions in Ohio including legal counsel for the state Office of Budget and Management, legal counsel and policy advisor to the speaker of the state House of Representatives, and assistant attorney general in the Ohio Attorney General's office. Tyler is also a judge advocate in the Ohio Army National Guard where he holds the rank of captain.

Secretary Ben Gibson is Managing Partner of the Tallahassee office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member of the Governmental Law practice group. Ben regularly counsels political candidates, party committees, political committees, corporate, and nonprofit entities on navigating and complying with the complex federal, state, and local laws that govern their political activity. He represents clients in administrative and enforcement matters before the Federal Election Commission, Florida Elections Commission, and the Florida Commission on Ethics. Ben has served as Chief Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida during the last three election cycles and most recently served as counsel to Governor Ron DeSantis’ reelection campaign. He has represented the RNC, NRSC, and NRCC in various high-profile election litigation. In 2018, Ben was named general counsel to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Transition Team, which included his appointment of three Florida Supreme Court Justices. Ben also previously served as the Deputy General Counsel and an Assistant General Counsel to Governor Rick Scott for nearly five years.

Treasurer Brenda Hankins is a co-owner of Election CFO, a company that provides campaign finance and treasurer services to Republican candidates, PACs, party committees, and other conservative leaning tax-exempt organization. She is also a partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig where she focuses her practice on Political and Election Law. Brenda has worked in numerous different roles in the government including as the Deputy Director and Counsel for the Office of Legislative Counsel at the Office of General Counsel for the Department of Defense, Counsel at the House Committee on the Judiciary, Legislative Director in the House of Representatives, and staff with the Surveys and Investigations team at the House Appropriations Committee. 

For more information about the RNLA’s officers and the other members of the Board of Governors, please visit the Leadership page on the RNLA’s website: http://www.rnla.org/leadership.

The RNLA is the national organization of Republican attorneys. The mission of the RNLA is to advance professionalism; open, fair, and honest elections; career opportunity; and Republican ideals. For more information, please visit http://www.rnla.org.

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The press release can be read in its entirety here.