You’re Invited!

U.S. Representative Steve Southerland
Candidate for Congress, Florida District 2

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013
7:30am to 9:00am (ET)

Governor’s Club
202 S. Adams Street • Tallahassee, FL

Minimum contribution is $250

Continental breakfast will be served.
Please RSVP by Tuesday, April 30th to Lorri Silvera at Lorri@SoutherlandForCongress.com.

Gun Control is About Your Freedom, presented by Capitol Conservatives

It’s not about hunting or sport shooting

featuring Marion Hammer

Tuesday, March 12

6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Tallahassee Elks Lodge

276 North Magnolia Drive

Want to Meet the Leadership of the Florida Legislature and Get a Briefing on the 2013 Session?

If you’re in Tallahassee on Tuesday February 12, 2013 here’s your chance to hear from Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford.  There is limited seating so you must RSVP by February 8th.   This is a unique opportunity to hear from Florida’s top two Legislative Leaders about the important issues facing Florida. Here’s your invitation:

Holy Comforter Episcopal School
cordially invites you to
The Inaugural
Holy Comforter Episcopal School Lecture Series
Featuring
The President of the Senate
Don Gaetz
(R – 1st District)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives
Will Weatherford
(R – 38th District)
Topic:
An overview of the 2013 Florida Legislative Session
Tuesday, February 12, 2013 – 7:00 PM
Holy Comforter Episcopal School
Student Center
2001 Fleischmann Road, Tallahassee
RSVP to Holly Wilbourn by February 8th
850-383-1007 or hwilbourn@holy-comforter.org

On Gratitude and the Future of the GOP

My friends pointed out that I did not post anything on my GOPJeff.com website about my recent re-election as Treasurer of the Republican Party of Florida.

I guess I assumed that everyone learned about it on Facebook, but it was pointed out to me that a lot of folks aren’t on Facebook and get their news about Republican events via my website instead.  So, therefore…

THANK YOU!  To all the members of the State Committee of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) for unanimously re-electing me to another 2 year term as Treasurer.  I am humbled and honored by the standing ovation that occurred at the Annual Meeting of RPOF…I don’t think I’ve ever had a standing ovation for anything, so it was quite an experience.  I began volunteering for Republican causes as a teenager some 35 years ago.  It’s a gratifying experience and I am still volunteering.

So many times p0litical leaders fail to show gratitude, so I must also say THANK YOU! to the Republican voters of Leon County who back on August 14, 2012 re-elected me as their State Committeeman, which is a prelude to my re-election as Treasurer of the State Party.  I posted a THANK YOU! on this website back in August, but I thought another THANK YOU! to my local folks was in order for making all this possible.  It is the Leon County Republicans who share a large portion of the credit.

Moving on…..

I hope everyone is resting up from the disappointing results of last November’s elections.  The past few months have been a time of reflection for all of us, but if you saw the President’s Inaugural Speech you see what we are dealing with…..an unabashed progressive statist of Orwellian proportions.  Tying the progressive liberal agenda to the Founding Fathers and the principles of liberty & equality is purely left wing doublespeak when you consider what he is really advocating is a greater role for government in everyone’s lives.

One day soon, liberty, industriousness, personal responsibility, and free-market democracy capitalism (a la Jack Kemp) will be back by POPULAR DEMAND!

A close friend of mine who is a Conservative, NRA member, and good American  contacted me shortly after the election to inform me that he was switching his party registration from Republican to No Party Affiliation (NPA).  I found it ironic because he also said he’d continue to support me and my efforts to reform the Republican Party and would “vote mostly Republican in future elections.”   So why leave the Republican Party?  Why quit?

When there were great injustices Abraham Lincoln did not quit……when Hitler invaded Poland, Winston Churchill didn’t throw in the towel,  Eisenhower didn’t cancel D-Day because it was cloudy and overcast……and in the face of the Soviet Empire, Ronald Wilson Reagan didn’t quit the Republican Party.  Reagan WON!  They LOST!

Don’t quit!

Get Involved!

The pendulum of power swings back and forth as the Founding Fathers intended it to.  Obama and the Left always over-reach.  Just watch the NRA mobilize….NRA runs circles around the Republican Party in terms of voter mobilization, policy, and political victory.  The Republican National Committee could learn a lesson or two from the NRA.

But don’t give up….join your local Republican Party or Club….Donate or volunteer for a Conservative Cause.

REAGAN DIDN’T GIVE UP….NEITHER SHOULD YOU!

Last week, I had the opportunity to be interviewed on WFSU FM 88.9’s radio program “Perspectives” about the recent local elections in Tallahassee and Leon County.  Lynn Hatter was the Host and we were joined by local Democrat activist Brian Lupiani.

Notice how most of those who called in with questions aimed their questions at yours truly….always fun being a Republican in Democratic Leon County!

Apparently some lady called in named “Monica”—whose real name was not Monica, and took me to task for using the term “Career Politician” which she considered to be an honorable title.   I told her it’s purely subjective if a longtime politician is a good leader you call them “a public servant” if they’re crass political climbers you call them “career politicians.”  I felt the best politicians were those who come from the working class private sector and have some understanding for the burdens that bad laws put on the rest of us.

Later, I learned off the air from the Democrat guest on the show that “Monica” was really some woman on the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee calling in to be disagreeable with me.   It’s all good!–  She had her 15 seconds of fame!

Listen and tell me what you think.

https://news.wfsu.org/post/perspectives-leon-and-tallahassee-election-recap

Some may wonder why I am endorsing an individual for a GOP leadership position in Palm Beach County when I am the State Committeeman in Leon County.  Well, I’m also the Treasurer of the Republican Party of Florida and as an Officer it’s important for me to acknowledge Republican leaders statewide who I come to know. Rarely, do I make endorsements out of county, but we need to get the ball rolling on the upcoming next series of election cycles and begin rebuilding the GOP….. I speak for myself when I endorse Mike Barnett.

Mike Barnett, is running for Vice-Chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee.  I’ve come to know Mike over the past 3 years because he is the Alternate Chairman of the Congressional District 22 Caucus and has attended many RPOF statewide meetings.  He is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and practices law in Boca Raton.  He is very  active in all levels of Republican campaigning and most recently headed up the efforts of the Romney/Ryan campaign in Palm Beach County.  In addition, he has served in leadership roles for Adam Hasner, Joe Kaufman, Rick Perry, Melanie Peterson for State Senate, and Fran Hancock for State Committeewoman.  I should also mention that he is the Chairman of Black Republican Caucus of Palm Beach County.

Finally, I would note that much has been said and written post-election about the lack of progress by the Republicans to reach out to different demographics.  I agree.  While we do not need to abandon our Conservative free-market or faith and family values principles, we MUST communicate better our foundational beliefs to different groups of the electorate.  We must not relinquish any ground to the other party.  Too often GOP efforts to do outreach are too little, too late.

Electing a quality individual like Mike Barnett as Vice Chairman of the Palm Beach GOP would go far to project the kind of milestones and achievements we will need to be successful in 2014, 2016, and beyond.  I endorse Mike without reservation.

BRADLEY MAXWELL FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 9

I have had the pleasure of knowing Bradley Maxwell for the past several years and believe he would represent well Leon County and House District 9 in the Florida House of Representatives.

A businessman, family man, person of faith, and principled Conservative BRADLEY MAXWELL reflects what residents of Northeast Leon County are looking for in a Representative.

The current incumbent is a partisan Democrat who has used her position as a backbencher in the Florida House of Representatives to criticize and snipe at Republicans in the Florida Legislature as well as our Governor.  She has sponsored no positive legislative initiatives beneficial to House District 9 or Leon County.  Her role as antagonist to the Republican Leadership in the Florida Legislature means nothing gets done for the residents of Northeast Tallahassee and House District 9.

Bradley Maxwell represents a clean break from the tired old rabid partisanship of the past 4 years.

Remember to vote BRADLEY MAXWELL for HOUSE DISTRICT 9 on November 6, 2012!

ENDORSEMENT:  PETE WILLIAMS  for  STATE ATTORNEY!

It’s time for a change in Leon County and the 2^nd Judicial Circuit.   We need a new State Attorney.    I’m voting for PETE WILLIAMS!!

The current incumbent has been there too long –28 years!  The incumbent took nearly $ 500,000 in DROP retirement, then resigned after last being elected, and assumed his office again, thereby collecting a salary and a pension.

Pete is giving the incumbent a run for his money this November 6^th.  He has been endorsed by both the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and the Tallahassee Democrat.  He has run a strong campaign and offers fresh ideas about what a State Attorney should do to protect the public.  If you are looking for a quality candidate that can WIN this election season you should vote for PETE WILLIAMS for STATE ATTORNEY !

PETE WILLIAMS PRIORITIES FOR KEEPING US SAFE:

• Quick resolution of cases
• Supporting and partnering with law enforcement in order to achieve a more efficient use of prosecutorial resources
• Targeting sexual offenders, child abusers, and violent offenders
• Where appropriate, enhancing rehabilitative sentencing programs to help offenders become productive members of society
• Bringing down Tallahassee’s high crime rate

PETE WILLIAMS BACKGROUND:

Pete attended Yale University, where he earned a BA in Economics. Following his Yale career, he was awarded a Masters of Business Administration from Stanford University and then earned his law degree from the University of Florida in 1986. He was a member of the Florida Law Review and has been admitted to the state bars of Florida, Alabama, California and the District of Columbia. Pete was Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by the Florida Bar from 1999 to 2009, and has earned the highest possible “AV” peer review rating for legal ability and ethical standards by Martindale-Hubbell.

Pete has served in the State Attorney’s Office prosecuting criminals in the 1^st Judicial Circuit and was selected by the Attorney General in 1998 to prosecute Antitrust and Economic Crimes.

In 2003, Pete Williams was appointed by the Attorney General as Florida’s Statewide Prosecutor, a position which supervises 40 Assistant Prosecutors and a budget of $ 6 million, prosecuting such crimes as internet crimes against children, RICO, fraud and public corruption.

You can learn more about PETE WILLIAMS by going to his website at

https://www.votepetewilliams.com/

I am supporting PETE WILLIAMS because he will bring integrity back to the State Attorney’s Office.  He deserves our support November 6, 2012.

In the race for the Leon County Soil and Water Conservation District, Seat 5, there is a clear leader.

I have been proud to work hand in hand with William Helmich since we first met at the house of Christian Camera in 2010.

William has worked for the citizens of Florida since 1997 and was the chief of Staff for Senator Marco Rubio from 2003 through his run for the US Senate as an advisor and Chief of Staff.

William has resided in Leon County since 1999 and has become a leader of our community. I know firsthand of William’s love for the big bend and our how the synergy between citizens and the environment make our home town such a special place. Mr. Helmich brings both the passion and skills to ensure that the environment of Leon County and the Big Bend are protected from those that would take advantage of it for personal gain.

I am proud to endorse William Helmich for Supervisor in the race for Leon County Soil and Water Conservation District, Seat 5. On November 6 I will be honored to cast my vote for William Helmich.