Newsmaker
Monday, February 2, 1998
Name: Jesse Yescalis
Age: 26
Position: Executive director, Hawaii Republican Party
Education: Millersville University
Pastimes: Skydiving, swimming
Jesse Yescalis' political campaign career began when he was 12 years old. He was a volunteer in President Reagan's 1984 re-election campaign -- even though his parents are Democrats. He rouses voters for GOP
"Reagan believed in people," he said. "(Democrat Walter) Mondale believed in government. I've been a Republican ever since."
Yescalis is now executive director of the Hawaii Republican Party. His goal: to get more GOP candidates into office in Hawaii, one of the nation's strongest Democratic states.
The Lancaster, Pa., native already persuaded his parents to vote for Republican candidates a few times but still hasn't completely converted them. "I think they'll come around eventually."
Yescalis replaced Shana Davidson, who works for state Rep. Chris Halford and will help Maui Mayor Linda Lingle's gubernatorial campaign.
Because of Yescalis' experience, said Hawaii Republican Party Chairwoman Donna Alcantara, she is optimistic about the GOP's chances this fall.
"We now have the tactical experience and technical expertise to give our candidates the extra edge they need to win," she said.
Before coming to Hawaii, Yescalis was political director for the Arizona Republican Party. He also worked on the 1994 campaign staff of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.
He was part of a GOP campaign that convinced voters in rural Arizona, which traditionally voted Democratic, to vote Republican. And he helped Ridge win the governor's race, even though about 500,000 more voters were registered as Democrats.
"All over America, traditionally Democratic states and cities are electing Republican governors and mayors, and it's not by accident," Yescalis said. "Our big challenge is to convince people that we can deliver what they want."
Democrats have long dominated the state Legislature. Two years ago, there were only seven Republicans in the House; now there are 12. The governor and all Congressional delegates are Democrats.
Yescalis said convincing voters here will be a big challenge. But, he added, "There's also more opportunity than any place I've been."
By Keith Kosaki, Star-Bulletin
