Gary Polland has been a practicing attorney for more than 30 years. His practice is a mix of government relations for Texas Strategies and trial work where he is Board Certified in Civil Trial law. Gary has a distinguished record of obtaining favorable results for his clients. In addition, he served as Republican Chairman in Harris County Texas from 1996 to 2002 being overwhelmingly elected each time. As chairman, he earned national recognition for the party's success and for his Republican party building efforts in such publications as Human Events, the national conservative weekly the American Spectator, the Houston Chronicle and Inside Houston Magazine.
Gary is on a first name basis with President Bush (he is called "Chairman"), his political alliances are widespread from the White House, where he is friends with key Presidential assistants like Karl Rove to United States Senators Cornyn, Graham, Hutchison, and Kyl; and to House leaders like Eric Canter and Ted Poe. In Texas, Gary is an advisor to the GOP and its statewide office holders. Gary is also a key fundraiser for Republicans and is responsible for raising more than $3.35 million for Republican candidates and causes during the last ten years.
Gary's a committed community and national leader. He has served locally as a member of the Executive Committee of the Community Relations Commission and in January 2006 was the leader of the Texas Legislative Mission to Israel. Gary also serves on the national boards of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Jewish Policy Center (a conservative Washington, D.C. think tank, along with such conservatives like William Kristol, Michael Medved), the board of Susan B. Anthony List (a pro-life political action committee). Most recently Gary was appointed as one of the leaders of the United Jewish Communities - Human Services and Social Policy Pillar.
Gary received his Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and his Juris Doctor at the University of Texas. While there, Gary was named a Cactus Outstanding Student, a College of Business Administration Outstanding Student and was a member of the Friars Honor Society. He has been married to the former Esther Slipakoff for 33 years and they have two sons. He served in the United States Air Force and Army reserves and he received an honorable discharge at the rank of E-7.
In 1997, Gary was named "Elected Official of the Year" by the Republic National Hispanic Assembly and in 2002 received the Tuff Tusk award from the National Federation of Pachyderm Clubs and was named Reaganite of the Year by the Reagan Alumni Association.
Gary is author of a book titled "A Time for Choosing 35 Years Later" an update of President Reagan's classic speech and is currently editor of Texas Conservative Review, a bi-weekly E-letter and co-hosts The Connection - Red, White and Blue on PBS in Houston.
