Chris Christie announces Iowa leadership team

Chris Christie on Thursday announced his Iowa leadership team, publishing a roster that highlights his close ties with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.

The team of volunteers includes several Branstad donors, former Branstad staff members and Branstad's daughter-in-law. Christie, the New Jersey governor and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, helped Branstad raise money for his two most recent elections and has hired multiple former Branstad staffers for his Iowa campaign staff.

Kraig Paulsen, the outgoing speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, will serve as state chairman of Christie's Iowa leadership team.

Branstad has said he won't endorse a candidate before the 2016 Iowa caucuses, but six of his key donors endorsed Christie earlier this week.

The leadership team includes:

• State Chairman Kraig Paulsen (Hiawatha) - Outgoing speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives
• Adrianne Branstad (Des Moines) - Polk County GOP Leader, daughter-in-law of Gov. Terry Branstad
• Jeff Boeyink (Ankeny) - Former Branstad Chief of Staff, 2010 Branstad-Reynolds campaign manager
• Jean Davidsaver (Bellevue) - Former Jackson County GOP Chair
• Mikel Derby (West Des Moines) - Branstad-Reynolds 2010 campaign, Polk County Republican Leader
• David Drescher (West Des Moines) - Business leader 
• Denny Elwell (West Des Moines) - Business, philanthropic and community leader, as well as chairman of Denny Elwell Co., LC
• Patrick Finnegan (Des Moines) - Former University of Northern Iowa College Republican Chair, Romney Caucus campaign leader, Branstad-Reynolds 2014 County Chair
• Dr. Tom Gleason (Boone) - Branstad-Reynolds County Chair, Branstad-Reynolds Honorary Colonel
• Martha Gleason (Boone)
• Gary Grant (Cedar Rapids) - Former District Director for Rep. Jim Leach, Linn County GOP Leader
• Betty Gustafson (Cumming) - Branstad-Reynolds 2014 County Chair, Madison County GOP Leader
• Nigel Hanson (Ames) - Iowa State University College Republican Chairman
• John Harris (Cedar Rapids) - Linn County Supervisor
• Brian Harrison (Waukee) - Waukee City Councilman
• Mark Hudson (Marion) - Former Linn County GOP Chairman, Romney-Ryan legal team, Branstad-Reynolds 2014 County Chair
• Shelly Hughes (Waukee) - Waukee City Councilwoman
• Stewart Iverson (Clarion) - Former Senate Majority Leader
• Jim Kersten (Fort Dodge) - Former State senator, former Branstad staffer
• Gary Kirke (West Des Moines) - Business, philanthropic and community leader, chairman, Wild Rose Casino and Resort, founder of Kirke Financial Services
• Shelley Laracuente (Ankeny) - Business leader, Polk County GOP leader, Branstad-Reynolds 2014 County Chair, Branstad-Reynolds 2015 Inaugural Honorary Colonel
• Norlin Mommsen (DeWitt) - State representative
• Katie Popkes (Rock Rapids) - Branstad-Reynolds 2015 Inaugural Committee, Iowa State University College Republicans
• Heather Quist (Dubuque) - Former Republican Party of Iowa Field Director, Romney 2011 Caucus campaign leader, Branstad-Reynolds 2014 County Chair
• Bruce Rastetter (Hubbard) - Business, philanthropic, and community leader. CEO, The Summit Group
• Mike Richards (West Des Moines) Business, philanthropic and community leader, vice chairman of the board of directors of Wild Rose Casino & Resort
• Daniel Seufferlein (Cedar Rapids) - Romney-Ryan legal team, Linn County Republican leader, Branstad-Reynolds 2014 County Chair
• Allan Thoms (Cedar Rapids) - Former mayor of Dubuque, former Branstad Chief of Staff, former chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board, former Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Transportation, former Cedar Rapids City Manager, former Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development
• Jim Van Fossen (Davenport) - Former state representative
• Lisa Wagner (Spirit Lake) - Branstad-Reynolds 2014 County Chair
• Mary Whisenand (Des Moines) - Polk County GOP leader, Branstad-Reynolds 2014 County Chair, Branstad-Reynolds 2015 Inaugural Committee