Norm Semanko

After earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho and law degree from Georgetown University. Semanko began working as a lawyer in the state of Idaho in 1993. Semanko specializes in environmental law, with a particular emphasis on water resources issues.

Semanko has served on a number of advisory boards, including time as president of the Coalition for Idaho Water, as president of the Food Producers of Idaho, and was on Eagle City Council where he served as president.{{Cite web|url=http://idahobusinessreview.com/2016/11/17/norman-semanko-executive-director-general-counsel-idaho-water-users-association-inc-in-boise/|title=Norman Semanko, Executive director & general counsel, Idaho Water Users Association Inc. in Boise – Idaho Business Review|last=Grigg|first=Dani|date=18 November 2016 |access-date=2017-04-14}}

Semanko was the executive director and general counsel for the Idaho Water Users Association (IWUA) from 2000 to 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iwua.org/|title=Index|website=www.iwua.org|access-date=2017-04-14}}

He currently practices law at Parsons Behle and Latimer where he is the Managing Shareholder of the Boise Office and leads the firm's Water Law Practice Group in the Pacific Northwest. He was previously with Moffatt Thomas, where he became a partner in 2017 and headed up the Water, Environmental, and Natural Resources Law Practice Groups side of the firm.

Semanko was the head of the College Republicans at the University of Idaho.

Semanko spent four years working for Sen. Larry Craig in Washington, D.C., in both the House and Senate.

Semanko was a delegate at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

Semanko was on the RNC Ethics Committee, and on the RNC Budget Committee, representing the Western Region.

Semanko was the general counsel to the Republican National Committee from 2010{{Cite news|url=http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2010/12/10/semanko-appointed-to-rnc-general-counsel|title=Semanko Appointed to RNC General Counsel|last=Prentice|first=George|work=Boise Weekly|access-date=2017-04-14|language=en|archive-date=15 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200709/http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2010/12/10/semanko-appointed-to-rnc-general-counsel|url-status=dead}} to 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://gop.com/rnc-chairman-reince-priebus-appoints-bill-crocker-as-general-counsel/?|title=RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Appoints Bill Crocker As General Counsel|website=GOP|language=en|access-date=2017-04-14}}

Semanko was Ted Cruz state director for Idaho{{Cite news|url=https://www.tedcruz.org/news/cruz-announces-idaho-state-leadership-team/|title=Cruz Announces Idaho State Leadership Team {{!}} Ted Cruz for Senate|work=Ted Cruz for Senate|access-date=2017-04-14|language=en-US|archive-date=15 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200512/https://www.tedcruz.org/news/cruz-announces-idaho-state-leadership-team/|url-status=dead}} (in which Cruz won Idaho's primary{{Cite web|url=http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2016/PresidentialPrimary/statewide_totals.html|title=Statewide Totals|website=sos.idaho.gov|access-date=2017-04-14}}), was a Cruz delegate{{Cite web|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/politics-blog/article90556057.html|title=Idaho's Semanko: GOP floor fight not about dumping Trump {{!}} Idaho Statesman|website=www.idahostatesman.com|language=en|access-date=2017-04-14}} at the 2016 Republican National Convention and serve on the Rules committee.{{Cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2016/jul/19/semanko-offers-insiders-view-yesterdays-gop-convention-pandemonium/|title=Semanko offers an insider's view of yesterday's GOP convention 'pandemonium'|work=Spokesman.com|access-date=2017-04-14|language=en}}

Semanko served has Raúl Labrador Grassroots and Coalition Chair in 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://idahopoliticsweekly.com/politics/1074-press-release-congressman-raul-labrador-introduces-campaign-team|title=Press Release: Congressman Raul Labrador Introduces Campaign Team|last=Release|first=Press|website=idahopoliticsweekly.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-04-14}} which Labrador won both the primary{{Cite web|url=http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2016/Primary/statewide_totals.html|title=Statewide Totals|website=sos.idaho.gov|access-date=2017-04-14}} and the general{{Cite web|url=http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2016/General/statewide_totals.html|title=Statewide Totals|website=sos.idaho.gov|access-date=2017-04-14}} election handily.

Since mid 2016 Semanko founded Red States Solutions which provides political consulting to Republicans.{{Cite web|url=http://redstatessolutions.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523110037/http://redstatessolutions.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2019|title=Red States Solutions|last=|first=|date=|website=redstatessolutions.com|access-date=2017-04-14}}

First elected to the position in 2008,{{cite news |last1=Curless |first1=Erica F. |title=Idaho GOP gets new leadership for election season |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/jun/15/idaho-gop-gets-new-leadership-for-election-season/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=15 June 2008 }} he was unanimously re-elected in 2010,{{cite press release |title=Semanko will serve second term as GOP chairman |url=https://idahofreedom.org/semanko-will-serve-second-term-as-gop-chairman/ |work=Idaho Freedom |date=27 June 2010 }} and choose not to run for reelection in 2012.{{cite news |title=Idaho GOP chairman Semanko won't run again |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/northwest/idaho-gop-chairman-semanko-wont-run-again/293-169037502 |work=KREM |date=27 January 2012 }}

He dealt with redistricting and settled litigation to prevent Republican primaries from being open to partisan non-Republicans.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=John |title=Lawerence Denney, Norm Semanko remove redistricting commissioners |url=https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/lawerence-denney-norm-semanko-remove-redistricting-commissioners/article_29ce4f92-4657-11e1-a55f-0019bb2963f4.html |work=Idaho Press |agency=The Associated Press |date=24 January 2012 }}

In 2006, Semanko ran as a Republican to represent Idaho's 1st congressional district. Semanko ran with a focus on limited government, lower taxes, and strong national defense.{{Cite web|date=2006-01-03|title=Semanko for Congress|url=http://www.normsemanko.org/issues.asp|url-status=bot: unknown|access-date=2017-04-14|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103052025/http://www.normsemanko.org/issues.asp|archivedate=2006-01-03}} Semanko lost the primary election, receiving 10.8 percent of the votes.{{Cite web|title=2006 Primary Results statewide|url=http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2006/primary/tot_stwd.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-04-14|website=www.sos.idaho.gov|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419071536/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2006/primary/tot_stwd.htm|archivedate=2015-04-19}}

In 2010, Semanko ran against incumbent Mayor of Eagle Jim Reynolds taking only 22.06% of the vote.{{Cite web |url=https://adacounty.id.gov/elections/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/Consolidated-Summary-11-8-11.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=5 September 2021 |archive-date=5 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905215730/https://adacounty.id.gov/elections/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/Consolidated-Summary-11-8-11.pdf |url-status=dead }}

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{{s-bef

| before = J. Kirk Sullivan

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| title = Chair of the Idaho Republican Party

| years = 2012–2014

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{{s-aft

| after = Barry Peterson (Idaho)

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{{Republican State Chairs}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Idaho Republicans

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

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