Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today announced Haley Barbour, former governor of Mississippi and former chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association, as the keynote for the NACDS Chain Members and Political Action Committee Breakfast at the 2014 NACDS Annual Meeting. Barbour will address breakfast attendees on Monday, April 28 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Barbour also served two terms as chairman of the Republican National Committee. In 1994, under Barbour’s chairmanship, Republicans won the greatest midterm majority sweep of the 20th century, winning GOP control of both houses of Congress for the first time in 40 years.
Barbour was first elected in 2003, marking the largest voter turnout in Mississippi gubernatorial history, and he was re-elected in 2007. During his two terms as chief executive, he concentrated on civil justice reform, controlling spending, management of the state health care program and refocused Mississippi as an energy-producing state to help meet America’s energy needs in the future.
As former governor of Mississippi, Barbour has been praised for his handling of both the Gulf Oil Spill and Hurricane Katrina. He worked tirelessly and innovatively with local, state, and national leadership to tap into many resources of assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina. He created the Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal to develop opportunities for South Mississippi to rebuild bigger and better than ever.
Barbour assumed the role of chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA) in 2009 until after the November 2010 elections. During his chairmanship, Republicans increased from 22 to 29. Following his tenure with RGA, he was described by Capitol Hill’s well-read Politico as “the most powerful Republican in politics.”
For his leadership after Hurricane Katrina, Barbour was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Freedom Award, and the Gulf Guardian Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for his work to rebuild and protect sensitive Coast ecosystems. Barbour also received the 2008 Adam Smith Medal from BIPAC for his pursuit of the principles of free enterprise as Mississippi’s 63rd governor.
“We are pleased that NACDS members will have an opportunity to hear Governor Barbour’s experiences as a Mississippi public servant and leader of his political party. His leadership and tenacity – both in the national political arena and working for the people of Mississippi – emphasize his commitment to advocacy and action on behalf of others,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.
Offering a unique opportunity for more than 2,000 of today’s most influential retail executives from drug, food and mass merchandising and their supplier partners to share insights and build relationships, the NACDS Annual Meeting will take place April 26-29.
NOTE: This event is open to NACDS chain members, PAC ticket holders and invited guests only.
