2024 Officers

Chairman - Dennis Melby

Dennis previously served as Chair in 2020, and has served as Vice Chairman, Finance Chairman, Newsletter Coordinator and strives to be both a leader and a listener.

Before coming to the Central Committee, he worked at the White House, at a think tank called the American Enterprise Institute where he worked for former President Gerald Ford among other notables, at the Congressional Budget Office for the Director, and finally Long & Foster Real Estate where he retired.  He was elected 4 times to the town council in Friendship Heights, Maryland and served as local REALTOR® President. His community service has included Chair of the Police Advisory Council in Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Board member at the former Chestnut Lodge Psychiatric Hospital in Rockville.

“If you have an idea or an issue I want to know!” said Melby.  

Contact Dennis at: [email protected]

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First Vice Chair - Stacey Sauter

Stacey Sauter is a fifth-generation native of Bethesda-Chevy Chase. A member of the Montgomery County GOP Central Committee, she is the newly-elected First Vice Chair, a frequent contributor to MCGOP's weekly newsletter, and serves as an overseer to multiple sub-committees and political organizing activities. She is also an active member of multiple women's GOP clubs on the local, state, and national levels. Stacey holds a master's degree in public policy (with honors) from the University of Maryland, as well as a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. In 2022 she ran on the GOP ticket for the Maryland State Legislature. Presently she's a frequent guest on cable TVs 21 This Week. She currently resides in Potomac.

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Second Vice Chair - Monte Gingery

Appointed to the MCGOP in June 2021, Monte brings personal experience of the obstacles the county government puts in the way of creating jobs and economic growth. Monte is Principal and Director of all Gingery Development Group (GDG) operating companies, which include multifamily, commercial, retail, industrial and agricultural development in the metro Washington region, as well as VA, MD and PA.
Monte and his wife, Darby, have three children.

You can contact Monte at: [email protected]

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Secretary - Lori Jaffe

“Lori” Lorraine Jaffe, a native of upstate New York, lives in Bethesda and is a past Vice President of the Wyngate Citizens Association. She’s presently serving her sixth term as Party Secretary. Lori currently also serves as Secretary for the Chevy Chase Women’s Republican Club. Very active in the Legislative District 16 area, she’s been a poll watcher, election judge and is currently a Precinct Chair. Forty years ago, she moved to Maryland to work as a medical technologist and served as an IT Specialist and project manager for the Department of Agriculture. “I’m dedicated to conservative values.” said Lori, “We’re all here to try to make a difference, a positive difference, and I try to help people any way I can.”

You can contact Lori at: [email protected]

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Treasurer - Brigitta Mullican

Brigitta Mullican was recently appointed treasurer in August 2021.

Brigitta became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1968 while attending Richard Montgomery High School.  She has been civically minded and engaged in improving her community for decades.  She immigrated with her family to America from Germany, lived in Columbus, GA and Charlotte, NC before coming to Rockville, Maryland.  Upon turning 18 she made the decision to become a U.S. citizen. Once a U.S. citizen, she wasted no time becoming civically active.

In the 1980s Brigitta served on the Rockville Sister City Task Force, the Richard Montgomery High School PTA and Booster Club, and joined the Twinbrook Citizens Association.  In the 1990s, she continued her community involvement with the Alliance for Rockville Citizens, served on the Rockville Planning Commission for seven years and acquired extensive training through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service division.  She was a budget officer for the Office of Disability, President’s Council on Bioethics, and Center for Faith Base and Community Initiative. She retired as a budget officer after 36 years of Federal government service.

Once the 2000s hit, Brigitta was well-regarded as a true proponent for the “every-person” citizen—tirelessly advocating for the public good.  She served on the Rockville Board of Supervisors of Elections, became an active member of the Montgomery County League of Women Voters serving as treasurer for two years, and the Montgomery County Taxpayer’s League serving as Chief Election Judge for Primary and General Elections was the Vice President of the Twinbrook Swimming Pool Board, and completed the Montgomery County Senior Leadership Class of 2017.  Currently she is following the newly formed Twinbrook Village organization which is to help senior age in place and connect young and old to work together.

You can contact Brigitta at: [email protected]

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General Counsel - Joe Edlow

Joseph Edlow has been MCGOP General Counsel and Parliamentarian since 2021.  He is founder of The Edlow Group consultants in Potomac , and is also a Visiting Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He has an extensive, distinguished background in immigration policy and he most recently served as acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Prior to this position, he served as chief counsel for USCIS.  

Before that he worked on immigration issues in various capacities under the Trump administration, including with the executive office of the president and the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy. He served from 2008-2015 as assistant chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He possesses significant experience on Capitol Hill as well.

Montgomery County Republican Party