Former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Mark Everson ended his dark horse bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday.
“I am ending my campaign for the Republican nomination for the presidency, effective immediately,” Everson announced on Thursday. “While encouraged by my interactions with voters over the past eight months, particularly in recent weeks throughout New Hampshire, I simply have not generated enough media exposure or funding to continue."
Besides serving as IRS commissioner for four years under then-President George W. Bush, Everson worked for the Reagan administration as deputy commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) where his portfolio included ports and overseeing the Border Patrol. Everson also worked as controller and deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Not surprisingly given his role at the IRS, Everson has made tax reform one of the centerpieces of his campaign. During his time on the campaign trail, Everson claimed his tax plan would remove 150 million Americans from paying income taxes while backing a value-added tax (VAT).
Besides tax reform, Everson promised to confront the lawlessness of the big banks, re-establish the draft, add means testing measures for future Social Security recipients and backed immigration reform while opposing President Barack Obamas executive action on immigration. Everson also pledged to serve only one term if he was elected in 2016.
Everson briefly served as president and CEO of the American Red Cross in 2007, but the board of governors demanded his resignation after six months when he became romantically involved with Paige Roberts, the CEO of the Southeast Mississippi Red Cross. Both Everson and Roberts divorced their spouses and are now living along the Gulf Coast in Mississippi raising their child.
Despite his campaign failing to gain traction and failing to be included in the early debates, Everson sounded a hopeful note on Thursday.
“My conversations with Americans across our great country—from Marengo, Iowa to Dover, New Hampshire and from Gulfport, Mississippi to Santa Fe, New Mexico—have reinforced my belief in the resiliency, optimism and patriotism of the American people,” Everson insisted. “Americans yearn for constructive solutions to the challenges we face as a nation. It is my hope and belief that the vigorous but sometimes sloppy contest underway amongst Republicans will produce a strong nominee poised to gain victory a year from now and unite us as a people. I thank the Republican National Committee and the state party in New Hampshire. Despite never having held elective office, each welcomed my participation in the process. I am deeply appreciative to friends...and those who have offered support throughout this endeavor, including the many fine Americans I have met over the course of the campaign.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
