William D. Powers
is the former Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee, serving as Chairman from 1991 to 2001.
Upon becoming Chairman, Mr. Powers inherited a party with a debt load of $1.5 million and no fundraising ability. Republicans controlled only 19 of 62 counties statewide, had no elected Republican mayors in the State's 6 largest cities, and held no statewide elected State offices.
In three years, Mr. Powers rebuilt the Republican Party in New York State . As a result, Republicans had a majority in 43 of 62 counties, had elected Republican mayors in 4 of the 6 largest cities - including the 1993 election of Rudolph Giuliani as Mayor of the City of New York, despite a 6 to 1 Democratic to Republican voter registration ratio in New York City, ending 20 years of Democratic control of this office - and, in 1994, saw the election of Governor George Pataki and Attorney General Dennis Vacco.
Using a strong grassroots strategy and assembling “the most aggressive fundraising machine in memory” ( New York Times , January 18, 1998), Mr. Powers demonstrated what was recognized as one of the strongest strategic minds in national and state politics. Dr. Gerald Benjamin, noted New York State political scholar, in reference to Mr. Powers, observed that: “Since World War I, at least, we haven't seen a New York State party leader of this independence and strength…. He is something extremely rare in American politics today.”
In recognition of his leadership and management accomplishments in New York State , Mr. Powers was asked by the Republican National Committee to serve as the Chairman of the State Chairman's Advisory Committee, and served as the leader of the national State Republican Party Chairmen from 1993 to 1995.
Prior to his election as Chairman of the State Party, Mr. Powers served as Special Assistant to and Director of Statewide Operations for Senator Alfonse D'Amato from 1980 to 1991. He also served in several high-level advisory roles for the New York State Senate and Assembly Regional Office and Field Operations from 1971-1981. Mr. Powers served 5 years of active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps and currently serves as the Honorary President of the Marine Corp Coordinating Council of New York (Upstate).
Mr. Powers serves on the Board of Directors of Trustco Bank NA and is one of the three members of the Trustco Board's Executive Committee. President George W. Bush appointed Bill Powers to the Board of Directors for the Federal Home Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) to serve three one-year terms on the Board, with appointments to the Freddie Mac Government Relations and Human Resources Committees.
Mr. Powers has lectured on politics, party organization and the relationship between politics and the media at several undergraduate and graduate universities including the State University of New York and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University . He has been awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by the New York College of Podiatric Medicine.
