Preceded by Ron Carey Role Political figure Name Tony Sutton | Alma mater Hibbing High School Spouse(s) Bridget Succeeded by Pat Shortridge | |
Occupation political activist, business executive Residence Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, United States | ||
Anthony G. "Tony" Sutton (born September 1967) is the former chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota and founder of a political public relations firm, Winning Strategies.
Biography
Sutton was born in Saint Paul, and graduated from Hibbing High School in Hibbing. He and his wife, Bridget, have four children and live in Inver Grove Heights, a southeastern suburb in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Sutton has served as the chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota since July 1, 2009, when he succeeded Ron Carey in the role. Tony Sutton was found guilty of circumventing Finance Laws by the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board which imposed $33,000 in fines against him and the fund he created to help with the Gubernatorial Election Recount of 2010. Amid mounting evidence of party financial disarray, Sutton announced his resignation effective at 5pm, Friday, December 2nd, 2011 on Twitter at 4:45 pm that day.
Sutton has served on numerous campaigns and committees on both the local and national level, including working as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Minnesota. He served as Secretary-Treasurer of the party from 2005-2009. In January 2011, Sutton stepped down from his role at the CEO of Baja Sol Restaurant Group to found Winning Strategies.
Sutton was a board member of CAGE, Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, a group funded in part by American Indian casino operators opposed to gambling expansion. In May 2011 he came under investigation by the Minnesota Republican Party, requesting that he explain how GOP activists on a closely held party database began receiving e-mails from CAGE. On May 14, 2011, he resigned from CAGE.
In September 2013, Sutton and his wife - with whom he is engaged in divorce proceedings - filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, citing $2.1 million in personal debts.