Meet Our Team

Joel Sawyer

Executive Director

Joel serves the South Carolina Republican Party as the Executive Director, ensuring the party will continue to grow while promoting the conservative message. Before acting as Executive Director, Joel served as the Communications Director, where he coordinated all aspects of the party's communication.

Prior to this, he worked in Governor Mark Sanford's office as Communications Director. Before joining the Sanford administration, he was a reporter for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. He lives in Irmo with his wife, Anna, and daughter, Sara Ann.

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Kurt Pickhardt

Director of Operations

Kurt is from Greenville and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Political Science. He has been active in Republican politics since interning at the South Carolina Republican Party headquarters during college. As an intern, Kurt gained broad and deep experience. He worked on legislative special elections, assisted in planning events surrounding the 2008 First-in-the-South Republican Party Presidential Primary and met many of the White House hopefuls who visited South Carolina. Kurt looks forward to helping elect reform-minded conservative candidates to local, state and federal office in 2010 and beyond.

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Lindsey Helms

Office Manager

Lindsey Helms graduated from Clemson University with a BS degree in Political Science. During her time at Clemson, Lindsey was an intern for Mitt Romney and also worked with two local South Carolina House of Representatives campaigns. After graduating in May of 2009, she moved back to her hometown of Columbia. As a lifelong conservative, she is thrilled to be starting her career with the South Carolina Republican Party.

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Wesley Donehue

Marketing and Technology

Wesley Donehue is a South Carolina political operative who has run, worked on, or advised countless winning campaigns. He is a partner with the political Internet development and consulting firm Under The Power Lines and the owner of political consulting firm JUMP! New Media. Wesley also serves as the Political and Communications Director for the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus and as an advisor to US Senator Jim DeMint, Congressman Gresham Barrett, Congressman Joe Wilson, and numerous members of the South Carolina General Assembly. When he's not working, you can typically find Wesley updating his blog www.wesleydonehue.com from Starbucks or playing along one of South Carolina's amazing beaches with his wife Elizabeth and yorkie Gucci.

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