SEMA News - May 2009

Just miles from the state capitol, Wisconsin Representative and State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus member Steve Kestell welcomes thousands of enthusiasts to Madison on the final stop of the 2008 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour.

In its daily efforts to promote and protect the auto hobby, SEMA continues to partner with state lawmakers from across the country through the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Formed in 2005, the caucus is a bipartisan group of state lawmakers whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles. Supported by SEMA’s government affairs office in Washington, D.C., the caucus serves to raise the motor-vehicle hobby’s profile in state legislatures and in the public’s eyes. Working in state capitals, many of these legislators have sought to preserve and protect the hobby by improving existing motor-vehicle statutes and creating new programs to safeguard and expand the hobby. Approximately 370 state legislators from all 50 states are involved in the caucus.

	AssemblyNew York member Nancy Calhoun and her ‘96 Corvette.
	Florida State Representative Bill Heller with his ‘26 Dodge.
	Ohio State Representative Kenny Yuko (left) with his brother John (center) who restored their father’s ‘31 Ford Model A.
	New York Assemblymember Bill Reilich with his pair of Ford Thunderbirds.
	California Assemblymember Mike Duvall with his ‘55 Ford at a local car show.
	New York Assemblymember Ginny Fields (left) is a regular at car shows with her ‘54 Kaiser-Darrin.
	Wyoming State Representative Mike Gilmore outside of his street-rod shop in Casper with a ’34 Ford coupe.
	Nebraska State Senator Colby Coash, with his wife Rhonda and their ‘74 Corvette Stingray.

State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus

(As of May 2009)

Chairman:
Assemblymember Bill Reilich (New York)

Immediate Past Chairman:
Senator John Brueggeman (Montana)