Once I saw a documentary that described Tallahassee as a “backwoods sleepy Southern town.”

Today, many aspects of that unfair description remain.

This election there is a chance to make a real change.

The State Attorney’s Office is an elected position that has been held for nearly 35 years by the same person, who is retiring this year.  Now, is the time for a change.

I’m endorsing former Statewide Prosecutor Pete Williams in the November 8^th election.  He is IMMENSELY QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION!   Pete recognizes the disparity in cases prosecuted against various classes of individuals in our community as well as the inequality in sentencing.  I believe Pete will be an even-handed prosecutor and will also look at corruption in state and local government as well. And boy is there plenty to look at!

The other candidate is the son of a well-liked former Sheriff and very much tied into the proverbial “good ol’ boy network.”  Daddy wanted him to have the job.  Put simply, nothing will ever change if the other candidate is elected.

PETE WILLIAMS IS THE BETTER CANDIDATE:

• NOT A PART OF THE GOOD OL’ BOY CROWD DOWNTOWN
• FORMER STATEWIDE PROSECUTOR
• WELL LIKED THROUGHOUT TALLAHASSEE, LEON COUNTY, AND THE BIG BEND
• BROAD APPEAL TO ALL SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY
• AWARE OF THE DISPARITIES IN THE OFFICE OF STATE ATTORNEY

LET’S GET LEON COUNTY AND TALLAHASSEE BACK ON TRACK—VOTE PETE WILLIAMS FOR STATE ATTORNEY IN THE 2^ND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.

To learn more visit: https://www.votepetewilliams.com/

Leon GOP State Committeeman and RPOF Treasurer Jeff Howell represented the conservative viewpoint this past Sunday at a Temple Israel interfaith panel discussion on refugees and immigration.

At the discussion, Jeff speaks up for common sense: “Liberalism does not hold a monopoly over compassion and caring, there are thoughtful conservatives throughout this country and throughout this world,” Howell says.  “Secondarily I’d like to say it’s alright to question your elected officials about national security and about vetting and about what’s going on with respect to the immigration that is coming over.”

“It doesn’t mean you’re a bigot, it doesn’t mean you’re a racist it doesn’t mean you’re a xenophobe.”

For the story and to here parts of the panel discussion, visit https://news.wfsu.org/post/refugee-crisis-sparks-debate-throughout-florida-government.

Leon County State Committeeman and Republican Party of Florida Treasurer Jeff Howell will present the conservative viewpoint on international refugees at an upcoming forum at Temple Israel.

Jeff will be on a panel that will also feature US Congresswoman Gwen Graham and a representative from the Mayor of the City of Tallahassee’s office, and local Imam Amro Abdalla.

The panel will be held on Sunday, February 14th, at 6:30 PM at Temple Israel in Tallahassee.

For more information and to read the full story, visit WFSU TV.

Dear Fellow Republicans,

I am so proud of the fact that the Leon County Republican Party is off to such a strong start in 2015.  We’ve had a Leadership Speakers Series which continues with great speakers, our monthly meetings have been superb, and two new Republican Clubs have been chartered!

On June 23rd the Leon GOP will hold its Annual Lincoln Day Dinner featuring CFO Jeff Atwater and RPOF Chairman Blaise Ingoglia.  I hope you will make plans to attend.  Tickets and sponsorships can be made online or via the contact information below.  Business are encouraged to buy a corporate sponsorship.  See below for details.

I hope to see you there!

Jeff

Join us for our 2015 Lincoln Day Dinner featuring CFO Jeff Atwater

 With Special Guest RPOF Chairman Blaise Ingoglia

June 23rd
VIP Reception 6:00
General Reception and Silent Auction 6:30
Dinner 7:00
University Center Club

Individual Tickets $70
VIP Tickets $150
Tables $800
To purchase tickets click here

for Table or other sponsorship information email Chairman@leongop.com or call (850) 519-1062

The Republican Party of Leon County is happy to continue bringing speakers in to Leon County.

On March 25, former South Carolina Congressman and current Executive Director of The Energy and Enterprise Initiative Bob Inglis is coming to Leon County as part of the Leon County Republican Party’s Republican Leadership Series. Congressman Inglis will be discussing free market energy reform and how it benefits Americans.

Please join us! The event is absolutely no cost. Here are the full details. Please feel free to attend or help share the details.

Congressman Bob Inglis (R-SC)

Wednesday, March 25, 2015
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT)

Sittig Hall, Kleman Plaza, Tallahassee, Florida

Reserve your spot at EventBrite – absolutely no cost.

Northeast Republican Club of Leon County

Guest Speaker – Commissioner Bryan Desloge

 Meeting Tuesday – March 24, 2015 at 5:30 pm

Pepper’s Mexican Grill

1425 Village Square Blvd, Unit 5

Tallahassee, FL 32312

Please reply that you are coming to nerepublicanclub@gmail.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1024615464218703.

We need to know how many are coming for the restaurant to plan.

Come join fellow republican for a relaxing evening.

Food and Beverages available for purchase.

Don’t let the name fool you – this is open to all who are republican in Leon County!

Any questions please feel free to email us at nerepublicanclub@gmail.com.

Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/northeastrepublicans.

Join Tallahassee’s newest Republican Club – aptly titled the Tallahassee Republican Club – for its Inaugural Social on Thursday, April 10th, at 6 PM at Club Mint at 215 West College Avenue.

Make sure you “Like” the club’s Facebook page and RSVP for the social.

To help raise money the Tallahassee Republican Club will have a 50/50 raffle to help raise money for the club. The price of tickets is below so be sure to bring some cash. The more who play the more you can win.

Ticket prices are:

2 for $5
5 for $10
15 for $20

Purchase Tickets Online | Facebook Event Page

Leon County Republican Party

Lincoln Day 2014

Keynote Address:

Speaker Will Weatherford

February 11, 2014 at the University Center Club

VIP Reception at 6:30

Dinner at 7:00

Prices are as follows:

– Table Sponsor (Includes 8 dinner tickets and 2 VIP tickets) $800

– VIP Ticket (Includes 1 dinner ticket and 1 VIP ticket) $300

– General Admission (Includes 1 dinner ticket) $60

To purchase your tickets online, click here. If you wish to purchase a corporate sponsorship (using a company check or credit card) please contact Evan Power at vicechair@leongop.com or call (850) 519-1062.

It’s good to see the Leon GOP questioning local tax policies and getting involved in the issues.  For too long, local government initiatives, especially new taxes, are pushed through with little or no discussion and/or questioning by citizens.  The local GOP should be more active in our community.  Why can’t local government put forth revenue neutral proposals instead of always asking for a bigger share.  In this case, the City of Tallahassee wants to spend it on the bus system which always runs a deficit.  What do you think?

Continuing to Say No to the Gas Tax

A few weeks ago we shared with you that Leon County and the City of Tallahassee wanted to increase the Leon County gas tax by 5 cents to the maximum allowed under state law.  The County wants to use this to help make up their deficit while the city wants the money to try to plug part of the multi-million dollar hole in the StarMetro budget. The Tallahassee Democrat has written several editorials and blog posts questioning the need and intelligence of this increase.  It seems irrational that our elected officials would advocate increasing our taxes while our economy is struggling to come out of a recession.

We do want to congratulate our Commissioner Bryan Desloge for advocating making this move revenue neutral in the County if it is indeed implemented. Commissioner Desloge is a rare rational voice to protect tax-payer dollars in Leon County.

The City, however, has no intention to make this revenue neutral. Also, based on comments by some Leon County Commissioners it does not seem like the majority of the County Commission will vote to make it revenue neutral either.

We may hear arguments that the gas tax will merely spreads taxes between property owners and non-property owners.  That is not an honest argument as renters pay their rent to property owners who pay much more in property taxes because rental properties are not protected by homestead exemptions under Save our Homes.

The City makes the argument they need the money to balance their budget.  That may be true, but that is due to their past excesses.  As Phillip Downs pointed out in his editorial in the Tallahassee Democrat on July 9th, The City between 2004-2012 spent 1.3 Billion dollars OVER their historical 4.1% annual increase in their budget.

There will be two public hearing in the County on September 12th and September 24th to discuss the County Budget as well as the proposed increase in the gas tax.  Before those hearing we encourage everyone to reach out to their local elected officials and let them know their thoughts on this plan.  You can also join our Facebook page below to receive updated info as the public hearings approach.

https://www.facebook.com/saynotothegastaxincrease

Please read more about this important issue in the articles below from the Tallahassee Democrat.

https://www.tallahassee.com/article/20130801/POLITICSPOLICY/308010046/County-likely-approve-5-cent-gas-tax-increase

https://www.tallahassee.com/article/20130710/OPINION05/307100005/Phillip-Downs-City-pays-price-its-past-excesses

https://blogs.tallahassee.com/this-gas-tax-increase-just-makes-no-sense/

All the Best,

Evan Power
Vice Chairman