The Story behind the Trust . . .

The Republican Leadership Trust came into existence as the result of the disastrous 2006 election defeat of U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA). The 59th Republican Ward Executive Committee, one of 69 such ward committees that make up part of the Philadelphia City Republican Committee and under new leadership, sought a copy of either Voter Vault or a local voter file program developed by the Pennsylvania House Republican Campaign Committee. When repeated efforts failed, the 59th Republican Ward, under the generous support of one of its donors, Dr. John Templeton, sought to acquire a commercial voter file/campaign management software. However, the cost of obtaining a commercial program was prohibitive (in large part, as the vendor admitted, the software was priced only for Federal or statewide candidates). In the meantime, Senator Santorum suffered the most lopsided loss of a Republican incumbent in Pennsylvania political history.

Dr. Templeton, one of the nation’s most prominent benefactors of Republican and affiliated conservative causes supported 59th Republican Ward Chairman Peter J. Wirs in assuring that no Republican committee, no matter how large or small, would ever be denied prevailing technology again. Wirs designed and Mark Bursic of Political Technology, Pittsburgh, PA, developed what was to become Republican All in One^™ Political Suite.^™ Bursic was already well known within Republican circles for developing and providing MyGOPSite^™ a web hosting service for state, county and local Republican committees. Dr. Templeton provided the initial funding to develop the software.

Republican All in One^™ was beta-tested in the November 2007 municipal elections throughout Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, including one ward inside the City of Pittsburgh and a major suburban municipality, Mt. Lebanon. Despite the total absence of lead time to use its full potential, the Republican All in One^™ beta-test produced a 7.5% increase in Republican turnout. More important, the GOP was able to score major upsets against well entrenched Democratic opponents which the Establishment fully expected to win.

Republican All in One^™ was beta-tested again in another Pittsburgh suburban municipality, Indiana Township in the April 24, 2008 Republican Primary. Despite the Presidential nomination being long settled, Republican All in One^™ again demonstrated its potential for assuring compliance with the Lincoln Rule of politics — the only way you win elections is by getting more of your supporters to the polls than your opponents.