“Thanks to balanced federal policies, railroads sustain over one million jobs across the economy and ensure that the goods essential to our daily lives – from food and clothing to energy and water treatment chemicals – are moved efficiently and safely.”

Shelley Keeney Taylor is serving her fourth term as a Missouri State Representative after her initial election in 2008. She previously worked as the district assistant for House Speaker Rod Jetton and State Senator Jason Crowell. Taylor also served as an elementary teacher with the Leopold School district and earned an M.A. in Education Administration in 2004.

Born in Cape Girardeau, Taylor currently lives in Marble Hill. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Marble Hill Study Club-GFWC, Farm Bureau, National Rifle Association, Women in the Outdoors and National Wild Turkey Federation.

“Freight railroads play an important role in the economic development of New Mexico – investing over $725 million since 2010. These private infrastructure investments are critical to the future development of our state’s natural resources and they support major industries like agriculture, mining, utilities, and oil.”

A strong advocate of grassroots politics, James Strickler has been very active in politics for the past 30 years. He has served as a precinct chairman, party vice chair, and state delegate, in Texas and New Mexico. In November 2006, Strickler was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, where he currently serves on the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee as well as the Ways and Means Committee. He was re-elected in November 2014 and is serving a fifth two-year term.

Strickler is President of JMJ Land and Minerals Co. (JMJ), an independent oil & gas producer involved in the promotion of drilling deals in the San Juan Basin, as well as actively acquiring oil and gas leases, minerals and royalties. Raised in Austin, Texas, he earned a BBA in Petroleum Land Management at the University of Texas.

“Freight rail helps companies reduce their carbon footprint. Trains are four times more fuel-efficient than trucks—with the nation’s railroads moving 40% of intercity freight while accounting for less than 1% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.”

Frank Smizik served the Town of Brookline in many capacities prior to being elected in 2000 as the Representative from the 15th Norfolk district. He was a member of the Democratic Town Committee, a Town Meeting member, the Commissioner and Chairman of the Housing Authority, and a Vice Chair of the School Committee. Smizik also served for 25 years as a legal services lawyer addressing housing and other civil issues facing low-income persons. He was involved in landmark litigation creating rights for persons displaced by urban renewal and also worked on litigation strategies to avoid homelessness.

As Chairman of the Massachusetts House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, Smizik hopes to ensure that all legislation relating to transportation, energy, capital infrastructure, and economic development policy takes into consideration the challenge of global climate change and includes appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures.

“We in Virginia enjoy an extensive rail system, which plays an important role in growing our national economy and employs thousands of people in both direct and indirect rail jobs. Roanoke’s own FreightCar America, which began building freight cars in 2005 to support the national freight rail system, has improved our region’s employment.”

John S. Edwards has served in the Virginia Senate since 1996. Prior service includes the U.S. Marine Corps as a Captain and JAG Officer. He was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia from 1980-81. Edwards is a graduate of Princeton and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Edwards is a partner in his law firm and a Roanoke native.

“Freight rail infrastructure investments support the economic development of Mississippi’s towns and cities more. Shipbuilders in Pascagoula, plastics manufacturers in Hattiesburg, construction materials suppliers in Jackson, and many other Mississippi industries use rail to make their operations more productive and competitive.”

Robbie Brown’s responsibilities for the Mississippi Municipal League include managing the Certified Municipal Officials training and education program, providing members with technical support and information, archiving sample municipal ordinances so that cities and towns may use them to develop their own ordinances, and keeping members informed of grant opportunities.

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Brown attended Mississippi College where he received a B.A. in History and an M.S.S. in Political Science. He also received a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Florida. Brown and his wife Adriane, along with their three children, reside in Clinton, Mississippi.

“Central Florida businesses and consumers benefit from the billions of private dollars spent every year by freight railroads on the rail network that connects us to the global supply chain. In 2005, Haines City invested in their infrastructure by building a railroad spur that connects the Haines City Industrial Park to the main CSX line. Creating this rail access and putting the infrastructure in place is an additional recruitment tool for Haines City to bring industry and create jobs in our area.”

Cyndi Jantomaso has served in the capacity of Deputy Director, Director and now President/CEO of economic development for the Haines City Economic Development Council (EDC) located in Central Florida. She was recently appointed by the Polk County Board of Commissioners to the Northeast Polk County Roadway Advisory Committee. Jantomaso serves on the Board of Directors for the Haines City Chamber of Commerce, as a General Partner with the Central Florida Economic Development Council, and she is a member of the Florida Economic Development Council and the International Economic Development Council.

A Massachusetts native, Jantomaso is a long-time resident of Florida.

“Rail access is crucial to making Broward County’s Port Everglades even more successful. The port’s rail hub, completed in 2014 through a public-private partnership, has increased capacity and efficiency significantly, adding thousands of local jobs and taking 180,000 trucks off our roads in the process.”

Representative Chip LaMarca became active in public service in 2002, serving on many City of Lighthouse Point boards and committees. In 2005, he was elected to a seat on the Lighthouse Point City Commission. In 2010, after serving the citizens of Lighthouse Point for two terms, LaMarca was elected to serve on the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. LaMarca was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018.

LaMarca represents Broward County on the Florida Association of Counties Board of Directors and Chairs the Finance, Tax and Administration Committee. He is also a Co-Chair of the Broward Six Pillars strategic planning program. On a national level, he has been selected to serve on the National Association of Counties Board of Directors. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Large Urban County Caucus and is a member of the Community and Economic Steering Committee.

“Energizing New Jersey’s economy is a top priority, and the health of our freight railroads is a critical factor. Here in our state and all around the nation, railroads are pulling their weight by investing massive amounts of private capital – not taxpayer dollars – to improve and expand the rail network.”

Gordon Johnson has been a member of the New Jersey State General Assembly since 2001. He serves as the Chair of the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, a member of the Budget and Judiciary Committees, a member of the Budget and Judiciary Committee as well as the Speaker Pro Tempore. Johnson served 24 years with the Englewood, New Jersey, Police Department, attaining the rank of Patrol Sergeant. He was appointed Undersheriff and subsequently Sheriff of Bergen County. A Major in the U.S. Army Reserve, Johnson also works as a law enforcement consultant.

“Private sector investment in the rail network has a multiplier effect for businesses in Pennsylvania and throughout the economy. The expansion of East Penn Manufacturing in Berks County, which added approximately 400 jobs to our region, is a great example of this success.”

Commissioner Christian Leinbach has been a Berks County Commissioner since 2008 and Board Chair since 2012. In 2013, he served as President of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. Leinbach was elected to the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board in 2012 and in 2014 was elected to the NACo Executive Committee. Leinbach also served as President of the National Association of Republican County Officials (NCRCO) in 2013-14 and received the NCRCO Republican County Official of the Year Award for 2014. The PA Department of Community and Economic Development awarded Leinbach the C. Alan Walker Award for Public-Private Partnerships in 2014 and the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence in 2015.

Leinbach and his wife Jennifer have been married for nearly 35 years and live in a log home.

“We’ve seen the economic power of rail firsthand in Gloucester. The newly developed Port of Paulsboro, which will create thousands of jobs in our region, would not be possible without access to the nationwide rail network. Rail makes it possible for our port to reach the entire country.”

Dave Mayer was first elected Mayor in November 2009 and then re-elected in 2013. He began his service as an elected in May of 2003 when he was elected to the Gloucester Township Council. Mayer was then elected to the State Assembly in 2003 and 2005, where he served on the Assembly Transportation and Education committees and sponsored many pieces of legislation including the New Jersey Stars program.

Mayer earned a B.A. from Rutgers-Camden, a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration also from Rutgers-Camden and a Law Degree from Rutgers-Camden School of Law. He has taught courses in political science, public administration and public policy at Camden County College, Rutgers-Camden and Rowan University.