(Alexandria, VA) -- After a careful search process, the Chairman of the Boards of Directors for the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) today announced that Duane Parde, an influential force in political and fiscal policy circles, will serve as President of both organizations.
"All of us at NTU and NTUF are proud and honored to welcome Duane Parde as the new leader of our top-notch team," said David Stanley, Chairman of NTU and NTUF. "Duane has all the qualities that will strengthen our legacy of honest advocacy and education, and help us write bold, new chapters in the future history of the taxpayers' movement."
Both NTU's 18-member Board of Directors and NTUF's 10-member Board of Directors unanimously approved Parde as President and Chief Operating Officer. He will succeed John Berthoud, who passed away from natural causes at age 45 on September 27.
Duane Parde is well known both in Washington, DC and in state capitals for his principled and effective work on behalf of limited government. Prior to returning to the private sector, Parde was Executive Director of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a bipartisan membership association for state lawmakers who share a common belief in fiscal restraint, free markets, federalism, and individual liberty. He has authored many studies and legislative testimonies.
During more than a decade at the helm of ALEC (1995-2006), Parde dramatically expanded the organization's influence while advocating for goals NTU has long shared, such as: a permanent federal ban on discriminatory state and local Internet access taxes; a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; tax simplification emphasizing lower, flatter rates; and Medicaid reform through cost controls and individual empowerment.
Parde's ALEC tenure is part of a 20-year career in public policy that has included service as an aide to Kansas Attorney General Bob Stephan, as a Legislative Director (earlier at ALEC), and as State Affairs Director of the Council for Affordable Health Insurance. In late 2004, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell named him as the state and local government representative to the U.S. National Commission on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
"Duane Parde embodies the kind of selfless and tireless dedication to limited government for which our departed colleague John Berthoud was so admired," Stanley concluded. "We have absolute confidence that Duane's steady hand, sharp mind, and passionate voice will take NTU and NTUF to exciting victories in the years ahead."
The 362,000-member NTU is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes and smaller government at all levels. NTUF is the research and educational arm of NTU. Note: For further information on the organizations and staff, visit www.ntu.org.