Duf Sundheim

Duf Sundheim
Chairman of the California Republican Party
In office 2003–2007
Preceded by	Shawn Steel
Succeeded by	Ron Nehring
Personal details
Born	George Melchoir Sundheim III December 11, 1952 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Stanford University Northwestern University

George Melchoir "Duf" Sundheim III (born December 11, 1952) served as chairman of the California Republican Party from 2003-2007.^[1]

In September 2015, Sundheim announced that he will be running for the United States Senate to replace the retiring Barbara Boxer.^[2]

Early life and education

Sundheim was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in La Grange, Illinois. Sundheim graduated from Lyons Township High School (LT). He was a member of the National Honor Society and All-Chicagoland quarterback for the state-ranked LT football team. Duf was also active in theatre, playing the lead in the school’s “Corral Show” and acting with David Hasselhoff in “The Fantasticks.”

Sundheim graduated with Honors and Distinction in Economics from Stanford University in 1975. Sundheim also earned two varsity letters on the Stanford Cardinal football team.

Sundheim earned his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, Sundheim interned for a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Better Government Association.

Law career and community service

Upon graduation from law school, Sundheim joined the Silicon Valley law firm of Ware, Fletcher and Freidenrich. In 1986, Sundheim and former Stanford classmate Stan Doty formed Doty & Sundheim, which eventually became Doty, Sundheim & Gilmore. Sundheim was President of the firm until his election as Chairman of the California Republican Party in 2003.^[3]

Sundheim served as a delegate on the U.S.-China Joint Session on Trade, Investment, and Economic Law in 1987 and the U.S.-Soviet Conference on the Law and Trade in 1990. He was President of the Palo Alto Area Bar Association, worked as an NFL Contract Advisor and General Counsel to the Themed Entertainment Association. For his work in the underserved community of East Palo Alto, Sundheim received the California State Bar Pro Bono Award.

Since 2001 Sundheim has been a Principal at GPS Mediation, APC. He is a federal court approved mediator and has served as volunteer settlement judge for the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

Political career

California Republican Party, 2003-2007

In 2003, Sundheim ran against and defeated the CAGOP Vice Chairman for the Chairmanship of the state party; the first time in 39 elections the Vice Chairman did not ascend to the Chairmanship.^[4]

As Chairman of the California Republican Party from 2003-2007, Sundheim played a key role in the only successful recall of a sitting governor in the history of California in 2003.^[5] In 2004 he ran a voter registration effort for which he received the RNC’s “Best Voter Registration Program in the United States,” and was appointed Chairman of the RNC’s National Voter Registration Task Force. Upon completion of that program, the registration differential between Republicans and Democrats was 8% (the smallest difference in California in over 80 years).^[6]

In 2005, Sundheim was the first Chairman in the history of the CAGOP to be re-elected and he was re-elected by acclamation. He served on the RNC Executive Committee from 2006-2007. During his tenure as Chairman, Sundheim raised over $100 million (an all-time record).^[7]

Starting in 2007 Sundheim turned his attention to political reform. Prior to 2008, political bosses drew legislative districts to ensure their reelection. Sundheim played a key role in passing an initiative that transferred that power to a citizen’s commission.^[8]

In 2012 Sundheim was a Senior Advisor to San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and the “Yes on Measure B” pension reform campaign. Measure B passed with the approval of 70% of the voters and saved San Jose taxpayers $1 billion.

U.S. Senate Candidate

In September 2015, Sundheim announced that he would run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Barbara Boxer. ^[9]

Personal life

Sundheim has been married to Cheryl Sundheim since November 26, 1983. They have two adult children and live near Palo Alto, California.

References

1. Simon, Mark (27 February 2003). "Moderate is state GOP's chief booster". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
2. "Former California GOP chairman Duf Sundheim enters U.S. Senate race". www.mercurynews.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
3. "Underdog Republican plots a path to the U.S. Senate". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
4. "Duf Sundheim, former state GOP chair, jumps into 2016 Senate race". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
5. "Duf Sundheim | Institute of Governmental Studies - UC Berkeley". igs.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
6. "Duf Sundheim | Institute of Governmental Studies - UC Berkeley". igs.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
7. "Letter to the Editor: Backs Sundheim". Porterville Recorder. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
8. "Former California GOP chairman Duf Sundheim enters U.S. Senate race". www.mercurynews.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
9. Duf Sundheim (2015-09-08), Duf Sundheim Announces His Campaign for the California U.S. Senate Seat, retrieved 2016-04-06