Biography

David Jenkins is Vice President for Government and Political Affairs at Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP), a national grassroots organization dedicated to strengthening the Republican Party's commitment to responsible environmental stewardship.

Mr. Jenkins has written extensively about many of today's most pressing environmental issues. He also writes frequently about conservatism from a traditionalist perspective, the Republican Party, and the influence of talk radio. His writing appears on the FrumForum blog, in C.E.P. Quarterly and other policy publications, and has also been published in dozens of major newspapers across the nation.

In addition to maintaining REP's Washington D.C. presence and its relationships with members of Congress, the White House and federal agencies, Jenkins is the driving force behind REP's most widely recognized publications: C.E.P. (Conservative Environmental Policy) Quarterly and REP's Congressional Scorecards.

Jenkins serves as staff advisor to REP's Political Committee and developed REP's first candidate training manual to help GOP candidates take responsible positions on environmental issues and discuss those positions in ways that appeal to both the GOP base and the broader electorate. He also served as National Coordinator of the Environmental Stewardship Coalition for McCain-Palin 2008.

Prior to joining REP, Jenkins served for 10 years as Director of Conservation and Public Policy for the American Canoe Association (ACA). Under his direction, ACA became a leader in conservation that is widely recognized for its effective legal enforcement of the Clean Water Act, its landmark efforts to reduce pulp and paper mill pollution, its success protecting waterways from jet ski use, and its stalwart defense of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Jenkins is a life-long conservative Republican and environmentalist. He has served on the board of directors of Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) and North American Water Trails, as an adviser for River Runners for Wilderness (RRFW) and as a section editor for Paddler Magazine. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Furman University, and immediately after college served on the legislative staff of Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM).

Jenkins lives in Oakton, Virginia, with his wife, Debbie, their daughter, Alyeska, and their two dogs, Denali and Kona.