2016: Board Of Directors
Larry T. Smith, Chairman
Larry Smith received his Bachelor’s degree and Masters degree with honors, from the University of Southern California. His work has included service as a naval officer, certified public accountant, vice president of finance of a closely held conglomerate, and various positions as owner/partner in the mining, real estate, and investment fields. He was the founding Chairman of Marine National Bank, serving for twelve years, then as Chairman Emeritus until the bank was sold in 1998. He has served on the board of directors of numerous organizations including the Family Research Council, Toward Tradition and the Family, Faith and Freedom Foundation. Currently, he serves as a Board Member of the Family Impact Council, Chairman of The Family Action PAC and serves on the Boards of FRC Action and Capitol Ministries. He served as California and National Finance Co-Chairman of the Bauer for President Campaign and as President and Director of The Pacific Club. Mr. Smith and his wife, Margie Linden Smith, live in Newport Beach, California. They have four children and thirteen grandchildren.
Kim Bengard
Kim Bengard lives in Orange County, CA with her husband of 30 years. She is a mother of four adult children and grandmother of six girls and two boys. She currently serves on the Family Research Council Board and on The Family Action PAC Board as Co-Chair of Membership. Along with her husband Tom, she co-founded the “It Takes a Family Foundation” in 1996. Mrs. Bengard has served on and supported Proposition 22, the California Restoration Project for Pastors, as well as several other pro-family and pro-life causes. She was Co-Owner of Trim Master Inc. and along with her husband was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995.
Tom Bengard
Tom Bengard lives in Orange County, CA with his wife of 30 years. He is a father of four adult children and grandfather of six girls and two boys. He currently serves on the Family Action PAC Board as part of the Membership committee. Along with his wife Kim, he co-founded the “It Takes a Family Foundation” in 1996. Mr. Bengard has supported many pro-life and pro-family causes. He was the Co-Owner of Trim Master Inc. and along with his wife was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995. He is now the owner of Bengard Manufacturing Group.
Mark W. Bucher, Esq.
Mark has been actively involved in politics since the 1993 Proposition 174 School Choice Campaign when he acted as the Volunteer Coordinator for Orange County. During that campaign, his observations of the power and influence of the unions in our state led him to found the Education Alliance, a group dedicated to assisting school board candidates who are independent of education unions, as well as authoring, qualifying, and chairing Proposition 226, which would have required unions to receive permission to use their members’ dues for political purposes. Mark also oversaw the qualification of Proposition 22, the Defense of Marriage Initiative, as well as Proposition 38, a school choice initiative.
He currently serves as the Treasurer of the Orange County Republican Party. Mark obtained his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Biola University and his Juris Doctorate from Western State University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, first in his class, and with the additional honor of Valedictorian.
Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer and his wife Michelle live in the City of Tustin with their four children. Jim serves as President of the Orange County Rescue Mission, OC Housing Commissioner, OC Homeless Commission Member and is a former City Council Member for the City of Tustin. Additionally, he is a United States Senate confirmed Presidential Appointee to The Corporation for National and Community Service. Jim is also a Board Member for the Family Impact Council.
Linda Shown
Linda Shown, a Family Action PAC founding, and current Board Member, lives in San Juan Capistrano. She has been married for over 30 years to her husband, Ted, and has 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Before becoming a full-time homemaker, Linda was a speech therapist in Houston, Texas where she also served in the Navy Reserves for a year. Since then, she has been active in local campaigns and initiatives. She is a past South Orange County Republican Assembly Board Member and currently serves on the Board of Directors of TGSA Logistics, Inc.
Ted Shown
Ted Shown, a Family Action PAC founding, and current Board Member lives in San Juan Capistrano. He has been married for over 30 years to his wife, Linda, and has 3 grown daughters and 2 grandchildren. He is the President of TGSA Logistics, Inc. Previously, he has served as Chairman of the Mission Viejo Economic Development Commission and was on the board of Capistrano Valley Christian Schools. Ted now serves on the board of Premier Christian Education Group and is a former Board Member of Gateways to Better Education. He is retired from the Navy with the rank of Commander.
Joe Burke
Joseph Burke is a nationally recognized Addy award winning marketing executive specializing in social media marketing, e-commerce and national brand campaigns. Burke is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, a Hylan Scholarship recipient and former NCAA athlete. Joseph makes his home in Orange County California with his wife Ellen, a University Professor, and their three children.
Jim Righeimer, Advisory Board Member
Jim is a Co-Founder of the Family Action PAC and the Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa. He is the Former Chairman of Orange County Housing Commission; City of Costa Mesa Planning Commission; Orange County Airport Land Use Commissioner; Campaign Chairman for Congressman Dana Rohrabacher; and Co- Author, Prop 226 “Paycheck Protection.” He currently serves as Chairman of the Family Impact Council.