As a special thanks to our most generous supports, the RPT is continuing to send profiles on members of the Chairman’s Circle. Each month we will be profiling a new member of this popular donor club. As a reminder, the Chairman's Circle is composed of individuals who have agreed to contribute or raise $25,000 to the Party over a 12 month period.

This month's profile is of State Senator John Carona, of Dallas.

First elected to the Texas Legislature in 1990, Senator John Carona is now in his fifth term in the Texas Senate, representing District 16 in Dallas County. Previously, Senator Carona was elected to three terms in the Texas House of Representatives. Senator Carona has distinguished himself in the Texas Legislature as an effective leader – authoring or serving as chief sponsor for nearly 500 bills that have become law and helped to streamline Texas government. An advocate for transparency and greater citizen participation in the legislative process, Senator Carona is using social media tools to help usher in such changes.

Senator Carona currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee and as Joint Chairman of the Legislative Oversight Board on Windstorm Insurance. He also serves as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting and the Senate Criminal Justice, Education and Jurisprudence committees. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee.

Senator Carona is the epitome of a “citizen legislator” – he is first and foremost a businessman. He currently serves as president and CEO of an international realty management firm employing over 8,000 people – a company he founded in Dallas back in 1979. Raised in East Dallas, he graduated from Bryan Adams High School and then earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in insurance and real estate from The University of Texas at Austin in 1978. Senator Carona is married, a proud father of five children and grandfather to three – so far.

Dallas County Republican Party Chairman, Wade Emmert, said “Senator Carona has always been a champion of the DCRP, our Republican principles and candidates,” a sentiment echoed through the years by former DCRP Chairmen Jonathan Neerman and Nate Crain.

Republican Party of Texas State Chairman Steve Munisteri recently thanked Senator Carona for his generous support, saying "It is my pleasure to recognize Senator Carona for his role in supporting the work of the RPT and helping us stay established on sound financial footing with his generous contribution. He has been a tremendous voice for Texas in the State Senate, and we look forward to working with him towards more Republican victories and successes in 2012."