When I ran for Leon County State Committeeman in 2008, I ran with a message of “Let’s get the GOP back on track!!”
The position of State Committeeman (SCM) has no real defined job duties. Contrary to what many of my friends and family thought, the position I occupy pays nothing. I am of the opinion that anyone who holds a Party leadership position from precinct committeeman/committeewoman on the local level all the way up to State Party Chairman should do these jobs out of a sense of passion for the cause……not avarice.
There is no real definition of what an SCM’s duties are or what is expected of us. The Constitution of the Republican Party of Florida boiled down to its essence says that the role of the “State Committee” is:
• To develop a strong and informed Republican Party in Florida
• To support principles of the GOP and secure the election of candidates running under our Party banner
• To encourage all able and qualified Republicans to seek office at all levels of government.
• To regulate the use of the name “Republican” on organizations and clubs through a formal process of chartering.
My philosophy is that the job of State Committeeman is what you make of it. Whether one is successful depends on the person’s intelligence, drive, passion, and political savvy.
My view is that an SCM is a leader within the Party but also a servant. My role is not to serve the GOP establishment but rather the rank and file Republican voters who elected me to this position. Whenever I am called to make a decision I do not think of the Party bigwigs, bosses, consultants, or “Blackberry toting lobbyists” but rather the moms, dads, working families, business owners, 2nd Amendment protectors, people of faith, military, veterans, and countless others who vote and support our conservative ideals. This Party belongs to THEM!
I remember that slogan, “Let’s get the GOP back on track.” What a prescient message that was. At the time, many in the GOP were not even willing to admit that anything was wrong. The County Chairman here in Leon complained to me about your slogan “it makes it seem like there’s something wrong with the Party” he said.
Looking back, the signs were there, but only you and I and a handful of others saw them. Keep up the great work! The GOP in Leon County has never been stronger!
GOP GATOR wrote: “At the time, many in the GOP were not even willing to admit that anything was wrong. The County Chairman here in Leon complained to me about your slogan “it makes it seem like there’s something wrong with the Party.”
Well there was something wrong with the party on the local level but the GOP voters were smart enough to choose the right Committeeman. Our candidate field was Jeff Howell, a Mr. Kester who was an anointed appointment from the Greer machine (remember Jim Greer, perhaps it is best if you don’t) and a savvy young man, whose name escape me, with little if any campaign experience.
Jeff has kept his promises. The Leon Republican Executive Committee has money in the bank, committees planning events and getting the word out that the Leon County Republican Executive Committee does have an active and engaged Republican community thriving in what has often been called a “one party” town. Need I say, D e m o c r a t?
We are on track, the train has left the station, and those not on board will be left behind.
An added irony, those candidates who ran against Jeff do not even attend our meetings. If their platform or ideas were so great, you think they would be there for us with rolled up sleeves, pitching in and doing some of the grunt work. Perhaps they were more interested in having the position than doing any of the actual work. Like mosquitoes at a picnic, we are better off without them.