Polish American Republican Association of CaliforniaActivities of Polish Americans in the Republican Party
by John M. Malek
The Polish American Republican Association of California (PARAC) was founded in 1981 to apply organized political pressure on Washington. PARAC became a member of the California Republican Heritage Groups Council (CRHGC), a Multi - Ethnic Republican Coalition and an active member of the California Republican Party. The first President of the association was Zbigniew Wardas.
PARAC actively lobbied Republican office holders; letters and telegrams were sent to the White House, the State Department and members of Congress. The association supported many candidates for national and local political office.
It took part in the presidential campaign of 1984. A member of PARAC, Chris Ciesiolkiewicz was named California State Chairman of Poles for Reagan - Bush '84 and Polish Americans for Reagan - Bush Campaign Committees. An aggressive and highly effective campaign was waged throughout California with hundreds of Polish American volunteers signing on with the campaign.
In 1985 Chris Ciesiolkiewicz-Kolski was elected President of PARAC and remains its current President.
PARAC participates in the activities of CRHGC and sponsors resolutions and position papers for the California Republican Party Conventions. It is also associated with the National Polish American Republican CIubs, and played an active role in the 1986 elections.
In 1988 Chris Ciesiolkiewicz - Kolski was again appointed by Governor George Deukmejian as California State Chairman of Polish Americans for Bush - Quayle and Victory '88 Campaigns. A fund raising dinner generated a substantial amount of money for the Bush - Quayle, victory '88 Campaign, for Senator Wilson, several Congressman and locally for Mike Antonovich and Jeanne Nemo (Genia Czuprynska).
PARAC hopes to attract even more members and to work on behalf of Polish - Americans through the Republican Party.
Current Officers are: Chris Ciesiolkiewicz - Kolski, President; Andrzej Nizynski, Vice-President; John Malek, Secretary; Vera Karpiel, Treasurer; and additional members of the Executive Committee: Zofia Adamowicz, Kazimierz Cybulski, Hanna Tyszkiewicz.
From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.