1.   His Republican opponent, Susy Heintz, is a former state Republican chairwoman and a chief strategist for Gov. John Engler, a rising Republican star.

2.   Rep. Jennifer Dunn was once the Republican chairwoman in Washington state.

3.   Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, Republican chairwoman of the Labor and Human Resources Committee, has proposed target review times for the agency to meet.

4.   There have been Republican chairwomen in the past.