Congressman Dick Schulze Joins Diebel Campaign as Honorary Finance Chairman

(WINTER PARK, FL) The Honorable Richard Schulze, former congressman and a member of Ronald Reagan’s “13” Advisory Committee has joined the Karen Diebel for Congress Campaign Finance Team as Honorary Chairman.

During his congressional service Schulze spent 16 years on the House Ways and Means Committee and became the ranking member of the Oversight Committee. He was a leader in advocating fair trade. His tax plan, introduced in the early 1990’s has been called one of the best in the last 50 years.

A champion of American businesses and workers, Schulze fought to protect both from unfair foreign competition. He was also the founder of the Sportsmen’s Caucus, the largest caucus in the entire congress, and is still active in that organization today.

“I have always fought to protect the American economy by working to make sure that foreign firms did not gain an unfair advantage in dumping products and services on our shores. The American worker can compete on the world stage. We need someone in congress with the courage and dedication to fight to level the playing field. I believe that Karen has the skills and business acumen to get our economy back on track,” Schulze said.

Diebel pointed to Schulze’s deep understanding of foreign trade as a major benefit in crafting her economic platform.

“Dick Schulze served at the highest levels of Ronald Reagan’s inner circle. Their policies brought America out of a recession and laid the groundwork for an unprecedented economic revival and period of prosperity. That’s what we need today,” Diebel said.

As an Executive Director at Verizon Business, Karen Diebel helps companies grow by finding solutions to complex technological challenges. She earned a spot on the Orlando Business Journal’s 2009 list of "Women Who Mean Business.”

Karen co-founded the N. Donald Diebel Jr. M.D. Good Samaritan Fund in 2004, in memory of her late husband. In partnership with Shephard's Hope, the Dr. Diebel Jr. Memorial Health Center provides care for more than 2,000 men, women, and children annually. She is a member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., Finance). Karen received her M.B.A. from the University of South Florida.

Karen lives in Winter Park with her three sons: Conor, age 13, Liam, age 12, and Nicholas, age 10.