Martin J. Connors III was Special Assistant to United States Secretary of Education, Lama Alexander and Liaison to the Governors for America 2000. He was previously the Executive Director for the Southern Exchange and New England Exchange Foundations, two domestic policy think tanks from 1986 to 1991. From 1983 to 1986 Mr. Connors was the Executive Director of the Alabama Republican Party. In 1993 he also coordinated the Development of the Republican Exchange Satellite Television Network, and Mr. Connors chaired numerous policy conferences for Republican leaders. Mr. Connors was a candidate for U.S. Congress in 1992.