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'''Stephen Peter Munisteri''', known as '''Steve Munisteri''' (born 1958), is a businessman and a former attorney from [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], who was elected chairman of the [[Republican Party]] of [[Texas]] at the state convention held in [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]] on June 13, 2010. He unseated the incumbent [[Cathie Adams|Cathie Louise Mingee Adams]], the former director of a crisis pregnancy center in Plano, Texas, and the wife of a Dallas chiropractor. Adams had held the position for only eight months.<ref name=txgop>"Republican Party of Texas Elects Steve Munisteri Chairman", texasgop.org, June 12, 2010</ref>

|name=Stephen Peter "Steve" Munisteri

|birth_date=December 25, 1957

|birth_place=Reared in [[Houston, Texas]]

|religion=[[Presbyterian]]

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]

Munisteri is the first challenger in modern Texas Republican history to defeat a sitting incumbent for the position of state chairman. Early in his political career, Munisteri served as State Chairman of the Texas Chapter of [[Young Americans for Freedom]]. In 1980, he founded the [[Young Conservatives of Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yct.org/steve-munisteri-chairman-of-the-republican-party-of-texas-and-founder-of-young-conservatives-of-texas/|title=Steve Munisteri - Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas and Founder of Young Conservatives of Texas, January 3, 2011|publisher=yct.org|accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref>

'''Stephen Peter Munisteri''', known as '''Steve Munisteri''' (born December 25, 1957), is a businessman and a former [[]]from [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]]. who in 2017 was appointed to the [[White House]] staff as deputy assistant to U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] and principal deputy director of the Office of Public Liaison.<ref>[[https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/docs/disclosures/07012017-report-final.pdf]</ref><ref>[https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office]</ref>

 

 

Munisteri became the first challenger in modern Texas Republican history to defeat a sitting incumbent for the position of state chairman.  

 

Early in his political career, Munisteri was the state chairman of the Texas Chapter of [[Young Americans for Freedom]]. In 1980, he founded the [[Young Conservatives of Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yct.org/steve-munisteri-chairman-of-the-republican-party-of-texas-and-founder-of-young-conservatives-of-texas/|title=Steve Munisteri - Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas and Founder of Young Conservatives of Texas, January 3, 2011|publisher=yct.org|accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

Munisteri was reared in Houston, where his father was an officer of Brown and Root, later president of Enserch Engineers and Construction, Comstock International, and the Texas division of Ford, Bacon & Davis. His mother was first a homemaker but later an editor of professors' textbooks at [[Rice University]] in Houston and still performs such work on a contract basis. Munisteri has three brothers and two sisters. He graduated from Memorial High School in the Hedwig Village section of Houston, where he was in the National Honor Society and the debate team. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas Law School, completing both degrees in five, instead of the customary seven, years. With his law degree in hand, Munisteri returned to Houston to open his solo law practice, which he continued in partnership with others, for twenty-seven years.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.betweenthesynapse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Bio-explained-3.pdf|title=Biography: Personal Information for Stephen P. Munisteri|publisher=betweenthesynapse.com|accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref> Munisteri founded the firm on November 1, 1982, the day before the defeat of [[Bill Clements]] as the first Republican governor of Texas since 1873. The firm is now known as Sprott, Rigby, Newson, Robbins & Lunceford, P.C.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msrnr.net/ourhistory.htm|title=Our History|publisher=msrnr.net|accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref>  

Munisteri was reared in Houston, where his father was an officer of Brown and Root, later president of Enserch Engineers and Construction, Comstock International, and the Texas division of Ford, Bacon & Davis. His mother was first a homemaker but later an editor of professors' textbooks at [[Rice University]] in Houston. Munisteri has three brothers and two sisters. He graduated from Memorial High School in the Hedwig Village section of Houston, where he was in the National Honor Society and the debate team. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]] and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas Law School, completing both degrees in five, instead of the customary seven, years. With his law degree in hand, Munisteri returned to Houston to open his solo law practice, which he continued in partnership with others, for twenty-seven years.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.betweenthesynapse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Bio-explained-3.pdf|title=Biography: Personal Information for Stephen P. Munisteri|publisher=betweenthesynapse.com|accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref> Munisteri founded the firm on November 1, 1982, the day before the defeat of [[Bill Clements]] as the first Republican governor of Texas since 1873. The firm is now known as Sprott, Rigby, Newson, Robbins & Lunceford, P.C.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msrnr.net/ourhistory.htm|title=Our History|publisher=msrnr.net|accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref>  

   

   

Munisteri is divorced from the former Deanna Armstrong, whom he met through the University of Texas during the unsuccessful 1976 [[Ronald W. Reagan]] presidential campaign. They rode together on a bus from Austin to [[Kansas City]], [[Missouri]], to attend the 1976 Republican National Convention<ref name=bio/> held at the Kemper Arena, which nominated [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford]], and then [[U.S. Senator]] [[Robert J. Dole]] of [[Kansas]] for [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]]. Munisteri is a [[Presbyterian]]. The couple had no children.<ref name=bio/>

Munisteri is divorced from the former Deanna Armstrong, whom he met through the University of Texas during the unsuccessful 1976 [[Ronald W. Reagan]] presidential campaign. They rode together on a bus from Austin to [[Kansas City]], [[Missouri]], to attend the 1976 Republican National Convention<ref name=bio/> held at the Kemper Arena, which nominated [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford]], and then [[U.S. Senator]] [[Robert J. Dole]] of [[Kansas]] for [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]]. Munisteri is a [[Presbyterian]]. The couple had no children.<ref name=bio/>

Munisteri is also a [[boxing]] promoter in Houston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=10420&more=1|title=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=10420&more=1|title= Travis Walker and Raphael Butler, both of Whom Decked Vitali Klitschko in Sparring, Co-Headline Friday, April 6, on ShoBox, March 31, 2007|publisher=eastsideboxing.com|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref> Munisteri Sports & Entertainment, Inc., teamed with Worldwide Entertainment and Sports Corp. of West Orange, [[New Jersey]], to oversee seven heavyweight boxers under Munisteri's direction. The boxers were Obed Sullivan, Derrick Banks, Talmadge Griffis, David Bostice, Ed Wright, Robert Davis, and Ike Ibeabuchi. However, the joint arrangement failed, and Munisteri is retiring from the boxing business. He still manages one fighter and handles announcing and color commentary for boxing shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://austinnovation.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/steve-munisteri-boxing/|title=John Egan, Ten years before Texas GOP chairmanship, Steve Munisteri boxing deal fell through the ropes|publisher=austininnovation.wordpress.com|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref>

Munisteri is also a [[boxing]] promoter in Houston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=10420&more=1|title=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=10420&more=1|title= Travis Walker and Raphael Butler, both of Whom Decked Vitali Klitschko in Sparring, Co-Headline Friday, April 6, on ShoBox, March 31, 2007|publisher=eastsideboxing.com|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref> Munisteri Sports & Entertainment, Inc., teamed with Worldwide Entertainment and Sports Corp. of West Orange, [[New Jersey]], to oversee seven heavyweight boxers under Munisteri's direction. The boxers were Obed Sullivan, Derrick Banks, Talmadge Griffis, David Bostice, Ed Wright, Robert Davis, and Ike Ibeabuchi. However, the joint arrangement failed, and Munisteri retired from the boxing business. He still manages one fighter and handles announcing and color commentary for boxing shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://austinnovation.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/steve-munisteri-boxing/|title=John Egan, Ten years before Texas GOP chairmanship, Steve Munisteri boxing deal fell through the ropes|publisher=austininnovation.wordpress.com|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref>

==Early political involvement==

==Early political involvement==

Munisteri was active in politics early in his teenage years, first working as a volunteer for the campaigns of Texas Republicans [[Henry C. Grover]] and [[John G. Tower]] in 1972, when the two top Republicans were at odds with each other.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/steve-munisteri/about/|title=Tribpedia: Steve Munisteri|publisher=texastribune.org}}</ref> He formed a  conservative club at Memorial High School. In 1976, Munisteri was elected state vice chairman for Texas Young Americans for Freedom, was an active volunteer for Ronald Reagan, and attended the 1976 Republican National Convention. From 1977 to 1980, he served as state chairman of the YAF and was also elected to YAF's national board of directors. Under Munisteri's chairmanship, YAF began the practice of issuing legislative rankings for members of the Texas House of Representatives, a number of whom had more liberal voting records than their constituents had believed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rwkctx.org/PDF/january2011newsletter.pdf|title=Steve Munisteri, January 20, 2011|publisher=lonestarreport.org|accessdate=January 20, 2011}}</ref>

Munisteri was active in politics early in his teenage years, first working as a volunteer for the campaigns of Texas Republicans [[Henry C. Grover]] and [[John G. Tower]] in 1972, when the two top Republicans were at odds with each other; Grover considered more [[conservative]] than Tower.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/steve-munisteri/about/|title=Tribpedia: Steve Munisteri|publisher=texastribune.org}}</ref> He formed a  conservative club at Memorial High School. In 1976, Munisteri was elected state vice chairman for Texas Young Americans for Freedom, was an active volunteer for Ronald Reagan, and attended the 1976 Republican National Convention. From 1977 to 1980, he served as state chairman of the YAF and was also elected to YAF's national board of directors. Under Munisteri's chairmanship, YAF began the practice of issuing legislative rankings for members of the Texas House of Representatives, a number of whom had more liberal voting records than their constituents had believed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rwkctx.org/PDF/january2011newsletter.pdf|title=Steve Munisteri, January 20, 2011|publisher=lonestarreport.org|accessdate=January 20, 2011}}</ref>

In 1980, having experienced dissatisfaction with the top-down leadership of the national YAF organization, Munisteri at the February 1980 convention proposed a new Texas-based conservative organization to the Texas YAF board. The board voted unanimously to create a new organization named Young Conservatives of Texas. The organization was officially founded on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 1980 at the Driskill Hotel in Austin. Munisteri served as the first state YCT chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yct.org/steve-munisteri-chairman-of-the-republican-party-of-texas-and-founder-of-young-conservatives-of-texas/|title=Steve Munisteri - Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas and Founder of Young Conservatives of Texas, January 3, 2011|publisher=yct.org|accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref>

In 1980, having experienced dissatisfaction with the top-down leadership of the national YAF organization, Munisteri at the February 1980 convention proposed a new Texas-based conservative organization to the Texas YAF board. The board voted unanimously to create a new organization named Young Conservatives of Texas. The organization was officially founded on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 1980 at the Driskill Hotel in Austin. Munisteri served as the first state YCT chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yct.org/steve-munisteri-chairman-of-the-republican-party-of-texas-and-founder-of-young-conservatives-of-texas/|title=Steve Munisteri - Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas and Founder of Young Conservatives of Texas, January 3, 2011|publisher=yct.org|accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref>

# He "understands the need for unity within the party by conducting this campaign in a positive manner [and] has remained focused on what needs to be done to improve the effectiveness of the party, even while he has been attacked personally." Hubbard did not say what personal attacks had been involved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigjolly.com/sections/texas/361-why-i-am-supporting-steve-munisteri-for-chairman-of-the-rpt.html|title=Ed Hubbard: Why I am supporting Steve Munisteri for Chairman of the RPT, June 6, 2010|publisher=bigjolly.com|accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref>

# He "understands the need for unity within the party by conducting this campaign in a positive manner [and] has remained focused on what needs to be done to improve the effectiveness of the party, even while he has been attacked personally." Hubbard did not say what personal attacks had been involved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigjolly.com/sections/texas/361-why-i-am-supporting-steve-munisteri-for-chairman-of-the-rpt.html|title=Ed Hubbard: Why I am supporting Steve Munisteri for Chairman of the RPT, June 6, 2010|publisher=bigjolly.com|accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref>

Upon becoming chairman, Munisteri immediately focused his sights on the reelection of Perry, who won a third full four-year term in the general election on November 2, 2010. Perry also served the last two years of the unexpired term of former Governor and [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]]. He defeated the 2010 challenge of the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] William Henry "Bill" White, a businessman, former state party chairman and a former mayor of Houston.<ref name=dallas>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-gopchair_13tex.ART.State.Edition1.29a2407.html|title=Houston lawyer Steve Munisteri named to chair Texas Republican Party, June 13, 2010|publisher=dallasnews.com|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref>

Upon becoming chairman, Munisteri immediately focused his sights on the reelection of Perry, who won a third full four-year term in the general election held on November 2, 2010. Perry also served the last two years of the unexpired term of former Governor and U.S. President [[George W. Bush]]. Perry turned back the 2010 challenge of the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] William Henry "Bill" White, a businessman, former state party chairman and a former mayor of Houston.<ref name=dallas>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-gopchair_13tex.ART.State.Edition1.29a2407.html|title=Houston lawyer Steve Munisteri named to chair Texas Republican Party, June 13, 2010|publisher=dallasnews.com|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref>

Munisteri has issued a regular "Chairman's Update" to Texas Republicans with information regarding his activities as Chairman. In December 2010, Munisteri announced that the RPT had fully retired its crippling debt and would end 2010 with zero debt, all bills paid, a record net worth, and a record positive cash balance in its accounts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://franklincountytexasgop.blogspot.com/2010/12/rpt-debt-free.html|title=RPT: Debt Free |publisher=franklincountytexasgop.blogspot.com|accessdate=December 8, 2010}}</ref>

Munisteri issued a regular "Chairman's Update" to Texas Republicans with information regarding his activities as Chairman. In December 2010, Munisteri announced that the RPT had fully retired its crippling debt and would end 2010 with all bills paid, a record net worth, and a record positive cash balance in its accounts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://franklincountytexasgop.blogspot.com/2010/12/rpt-debt-free.html|title=RPT: Debt Free |publisher=franklincountytexasgop.blogspot.com|accessdate=December 8, 2010}}</ref>

Few state chairmen have presided over a more successful party than Munisteri. The Texas GOP in 2012 continued to hold all statewide constitutional office, the eighteen statewide judgeships, and all three members of the [[Texas Railroad Commission]]. Under Munisteri, his party gained a net of three seats in the U.S. House and twenty-four seats in the Texas House.

Few state chairmen have presided over a more successful party than Munisteri. The Texas GOP in 2012 continued to hold all statewide constitutional office, the eighteen statewide judgeships, and all three members of the [[Texas Railroad Commission]]. Under Munisteri, his party gained a net of three seats in the U.S. House and twenty-four seats in the Texas House, which, however, is dominated by a coalition of Democrats and [[Moderate Republican]] Speaker [[Joe Straus]], who like Munisteri was a youthful partisan of John Tower..

Munisteri and Melinda Fredericks of Conroe, another intraparty rival of Cathie Adams, were reelected as chairman and vice-chairman at the state Republican convention held in June 2012 in [[Fort Worth]], Texas.

Munisteri and Melinda Fredericks of Conroe, another intraparty rival of Cathie Adams, were reelected as chairman and vice-chairman at the state Republican convention held in June 2012 in [[Fort Worth]].

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Texas]]

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[[Category:Republican Party]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Presbyterians]]

[[Category:Presbyterians]]

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[[Category:Lawyers]]