Norm Semanko

Norm Semanko is a former Idaho Republican Party chairman and currently practices law at Moffatt Thomas.[1]

Norm Semanko
Chair of the Idaho Republican Party
In office June 2008 – June 2012
Preceded by	J. Kirk Sullivan
Succeeded by	Barry Peterson
Personal details
Political party	Republican

Career

After earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho and law degree from Georgetown University. Semanko began working as a lawyer in the state of Idaho in 1993. Semanko specializes in environmental law, with a particular emphasis on water resources issues.

Semanko has served on a number of advisory boards, including time as president of the Coalition for Idaho Water, as president of the Food Producers of Idaho, and was on Eagle City Council where he served has president.[2]

Semanko was the executive director and general counsel for the Idaho Water Users Association (IWUA) from 2000 to 2016.[3]

He currently practices law at Moffatt Thomas. He has been an Attorney of Counsel since 2011, became a partner in 2017 and leads the Water, Environmental, and Natural Resources Law Practice Groups side of the firm.[3][1]

Political career

Semanko was the head of the College Republicans at the University of Idaho.

Semanko spent four years working for Sen. Larry Craig in Washington, D.C., in both the House and Senate.

In 2006, Semanko ran as a Republican to represent Idaho's 1st congressional district. Semanko ran with a focus on limited government, lower taxes, and strong national defense.[4] Semanko lost the primary election, receiving 10.8 percent of the votes.[5]

Semanko was a delegate at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

Semanko was on the RNC Ethics Committee, and on the RNC Budget Committee, representing the Western Region.

Semanko was the general counsel to the Republican National Committee from 2010[6] to 2011.[7]

Semanko was Ted Cruz state director for Idaho[8] (in which Cruz won Idaho's primary[9]), was a Cruz delegate[10] at the 2016 Republican National Convention and serve on the Rules committee.[11]

Semanko served has Raúl Labrador Grassroots and Coalition Chair in 2016.[12] which Labrador won both the primary[13] and the general[14] election handily.

Since mid 2016 Semanko founded Red States Solutions which provides political consulting to Republicans[15].

Idaho Republican Party Chair

First elected to the position in 2008,[16] he was unanimously re-elected in 2010,[17] and choose not to run for reelection in 2014.[18]

He dealt with redistricting.[19]

References

1. "Our Team - Moffatt Thomas". Moffatt Thomas. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
2. Grigg, Dani. "Norman Semanko, Executive director & general counsel, Idaho Water Users Association Inc. in Boise – Idaho Business Review". Retrieved 2017-04-14.
3. "Index". www.iwua.org. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
4. "Semanko for Congress". 2006-01-03. Archived from the original on 2006-01-03. Retrieved 2017-04-14.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
5. "2006 Primary Results statewide". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
6. Prentice, George. "Semanko Appointed to RNC General Counsel". Boise Weekly. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
7. "RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Appoints Bill Crocker As General Counsel". GOP. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
8. "Cruz Announces Idaho State Leadership Team | Ted Cruz for Senate". Ted Cruz for Senate. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
9. "Statewide Totals". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
10. "Idaho's Semanko: GOP floor fight not about dumping Trump | Idaho Statesman". www.idahostatesman.com. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
11. "Semanko offers an insider's view of yesterday's GOP convention 'pandemonium'". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
12. Release, Press. "Press Release: Congressman Raul Labrador Introduces Campaign Team". idahopoliticsweekly.com. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
13. "Statewide Totals". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
14. "Statewide Totals". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
15. "Red States Solutions". redstatessolutions.com. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
16. "Idaho GOP gets new leadership for election season: EBSCOhost". web.a.ebscohost.com. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
17. "Semanko will serve second term as GOP chairman | IdahoReporter.com". IdahoReporter.com. 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
18. "Idaho GOP chairman Semanko won't run again: EBSCOhost". web.a.ebscohost.com. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
19. "Party leaders fire two redistricting members: EBSCOhost". web.a.ebscohost.com. Retrieved 2017-04-14.