When most candidates campaign, they don’t have to explain to constituents what they are running for. “Brooks for School Board”, “Taylor for Sheriff”, “Smith for Congress” – voters know what Brooks, Taylor, and Smith hope to be doing after the election. When I first ran for Leon County Republican State Committeeman, I found myself having to explain what I wanted to do after Election Day.

As State Committeeman, I am one of three people, along with the Chairman of the Leon County Republican Executive Committee (LCREC) and the Leon County Republican State Committeewoman, who represents Leon County on the State of Florida Republican State Executive Committee. The Chairman is elected by the Precinct Committeemen and women who sit on the LCREC, but the State Committeeman and State Committeewoman are elected every four years by Leon County’s registered Republicans.

The Constitution of the Republican Party of Florida does not define the specific duties of a State Committeeman. Instead the Constitution states 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

A State Committeeman is expected to attend State Executive Committee meetings and to participate in decisions about the direction of the party. This is a clear requirement for a State Committeeman. However, there is much work to do in Leon County away from hotels and convention centers. The job of State Committeeman is what one makes of it.

As State Committeeman, I am a leader within the Party, but I am also a servant. Yes, many bigwigs attend RPOF meetings, and I am party to important decisions. But I have a responsibility to work hard for local candidates, to grow the local party, and to facilitate as much participation as possible. Fulfilling the responsibilities that require unobserved toil demands diligence, accessibility, and passion. Elected office and decision making project glamour, but the glamour is a distraction. A State Committeeman must be willing to serve, and not the GOP establishment, but Republican voters. Whenever I am called to make a decision I do not think of the Party bigwigs, bosses, consultants, or tablet-totting 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. I am their State Committeeman, and I must ensure that the Republican Party of Florida works for them.

On Wednesday we will commemorate the 236th anniversary of our nation’s founding. Parks, town squares, backyards, and beaches will host throngs celebrating July 4th. While we enjoy a day off, a grilled burger, good times with friends and family, and spectacular fireworks, let us all reflect on Independence Day and the blessings bestowed upon us as Americans.

Our country was founded on the belief that government is instituted to secure our right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” and derives its power from the “consent of the governed”. During the Constitutional Convention, a woman asked Benjamin Franklin what kind of government the United States would have. Franklin answered, “A republic, if you can keep it.” To ensure that future generations are as blessed as we are, we need to work to protect the republic that was founded to secure our rights.
Enjoy your July 4th festivities and celebrate our liberty!

Today, I was privileged to speak in front of the Tallahassee Republican Women’s Club about the need for our Party to unite and work towards victory in November. A full crowd of 60 plus attended the lunch meeting at Hotel Duval. We also heard from lawyer, activist, and Constitutionalist Kris Anne Hall, who spoke of the courage of women who defended liberty during the American Revolution. Behind every Founding Father was a successful woman who understood what the fight for freedom meant to herself, her family, and country.

Dear Leon County Republicans,

Sixty days from today on August 14, 2012 the Republican voters of Leon County will vote to elect their State Committeeman. Four years ago I ran on a message of “Let’s Get the GOP Back On Track!” I meant by that simple message reforming the Leon GOP, the State Party, and the National Party…all of whom had lost their way by straying from core principles of Conservatism. Locally, the GOP was more social than political. A lot has changed over the last four years.

Today, I announce I am running for Re-Election as Leon County Republican State Committeeman. In the coming weeks we will explain what has changed and what continues to need to be changed to “Keep the GOP on the Right Track!”

Visit the newly launched Facebook website and “Like” it! on the link to RIGHT of this article.

Let’s work hard this campaign, unite, and focus on November!

With Personal Regards,

Jeff

Many fellow Tallahassee/Leon County Republicans have asked me about what they can do to get on the list and be a volunteer in Tampa at the Republican National Convention this August.

The 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee will recruit, train, and manage thousands of volunteers to work the 2012 Republican National Convention. Volunteers will welcome guests at the airports and hotels throughout the area, as well as support Host Committee programs and a variety of events leading up to the convention.

Individuals interested in becoming volunteers can register online now at www.2012tampa.com/get-involved. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer has to sign up through their website.

Today, I had the distinct honor of introducing Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry to 150 members of the Capital City Republican Club’s monthly luncheon meeting.  The CCRC is the oldest local GOP club in Leon County.  Chairman Curry gave our club an update on the State Party’s efforts to raise funds, register voters, and win the White House.  We heard that through the Florida GOP’s efforts and resources Republicans are out registering Democrats!  Chairman Curry also recognized the importance of every Republican in Florida getting involved in this year’s campaign through volunteering and/or contributing to their favorite candidate.  Chairman Curry also emphasized the need for Republicans to win the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Bill Nelson.

The Capital City Republican Club meets on the 1^st Wednesday of the month at 11:45am at Capital City Republican Club.  Club President Glenn Boggs can be reached at 893-3900 or via email at boggssg@embarqmail.com.  New members are always welcome !  Get involved!

If you are from Leon County and want to know what you have to do to become a delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa go to https://rpof.org/our-blog/delegate/.

Read and follow the instructions located on the website.   A copy of the Oath can be downloaded from  https://rpof.org/wp-content/uploads/2012DelegateOath.pdf

Even though the number of delegate slots is small and a lot of people are trying to become delegates, those interested in being considered should submit an oath to the Republican Party of Florida headquarters via certified mail no later than February 1, 2012.

Good Luck!

Florida Republicans have a unique opportunity to impact the national race for President of the United States.  Currently, early voting begins two Saturdays before Election Day giving the public a period of 8 days to vote early at 5 locations in Leon County. The current dates and hours of operation are listed below.

Times of Operation:

SATURDAY JANUARY 21, 2012

through SATURDAY JANUARY 28, 2012 LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING!

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Leon County Courthouse Rotunda

9:00 am – 6:00 pm  Northeast Library,

Woodville Community Library, Eastside Library and Ft. Braden Library

2012 Early Voting Sites:

1) Woodville Community Library
8000 Old Woodville Road
Tallahassee FL

2) Ft. Braden Library
16327 Blountstown Highway
Tallahassee FL

3) Northeast Library
5513 Thomasville Road
Tallahassee FL

4) Leon County Eastside Library
1583 Pedrick Road
Tallahassee FL

5) Courthouse Rotunda
301 S Monroe Street
Tallahassee FL

Please note that the Leon County Supervisors Office is indicating they may open up a 6^th Early Voting site to be announced soon.  For more information on early voting locations, to request an absentee ballot, or for more specifics contact the Leon County Supervisor of Elections at (850) 606-8683.

The Capital City lost a great Conservative Republican activist last week.  She leaves behind a loving family and full record of accomplishments as an activist in our community.  She was an organizer, leader, and one of the preeminent voices in the Florida Right to Life Movement.  She was also a major mover and shaker in an organization called Eagle Forum.  She also served for a while as a precinct committeewoman on the Leon County Republican Executive Committee always making sure that the GOP never abandoned its support for the unborn.

I first met Carole 20 years ago when I was a young attorney working in the Florida Senate.  Our paths would meet when she came to lobby for Pro-Life legislation.  Back in the late 1980’s, the political debate over the issue of the rights of the unborn was hot and emotional.  Those who opposed Carole’s positions were often cruel and hateful.  But Carole Griffin never lost her cool.  She always smiled while others were losing their heads and shouting at her in debates.  I attribute her coolness and warm spirit during such political dust ups to her strong faith in God.  Carole rest in peace!  You made a difference in so many lives.

When was the last time you saw the Leon GOP get such good press?  Lately, we have had a lot of positive coverage in of all places….The Tallahassee Democrat!  See the front page headline for January 17, 2012 :

Leon GOP is working hard to get out the vote

12:07 AM, Jan. 17, 2012  |
By Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital Bureau

State and local Republicans are working to generate a big voter turnout in the Florida presidential primary on Jan. 31.

Leon County Elections Supervisor Ion Sancho said Monday 5,366 absentee ballots have been mailed to Republican voters —about 15 percent of the county’s GOP registration. He said 1,805 have been received by his office, and predicted the total of mailed-ballot requests will rise after the South Carolina primary on Saturday, when surviving candidates turn their attention from South Carolina to Florida.

Leon GOP state committeeman Jeff Howell said the local party is distributing leaflets with postcards attached, for voters to fill out and send to the county party. The Leon GOP will round them up and get them to Sancho in time for ballots to be mailed.

A political-action committee supporting Mitt Romney, the only major contender to visit Tallahassee recently, has been contacting Republican voters with mass mailings claiming that Newt Gingrich can’t beat President Obama because of his political “baggage.” Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Ron Paul have mainly concentrated on South Carolina, where the primary is set for Saturday. Early voting in five Florida counties began Monday. It starts Saturday in Leon County.

It’s likely that Romney and one conservative alternative will emerge from the South Carolina primary, for a 10-day race in Florida.

“I think we’re going to have motivated voters in Florida, no matter what happens,” county GOP Chairman Bradley Maxwell said Monday. “If Romney wins South Carolina, he doesn’t want his people to decide, ‘We’ve got it in the bag,’ and stay home. And if he loses South Carolina, it’s a different ballgame.”

Maxwell said voter interest seems higher this year than in 2008, when Sen. John McCain won Florida and emerged as the prohibitive frontrunner. Whether Romney is 4-0 after Florida, or it’s a two-man race, Maxwell said, “Florida is going to be the crown jewel” of the early season.

Sancho’s office has been busily preparing for Jan. 31. He said his staff mailed more than 49,000 sample ballots to Leon Republicans. Last week, he ran the accuracy tests on voting machines, “which were flawless, so we’re ready to go on that front.” While the courthouse was closed for the holiday, Sancho even made sure the electricity is working at five library locations and the Leon County Courthouse rotunda, where early voting starts this weekend.

“Presidential preference primaries are generally not high-turnout elections. They come right after the holidays and, unless you’re a political junkie, you’re probably not paying much attention,” Sancho said, “There probably will be about the same turnout as last time.”

Unlike 2008, there is no Democratic primary this year, nor are there any referendum issues on the Leon County ballot. Four years ago, there was a statewide property-tax amendment that shared the presidential primary ballot, “but that was an anomaly,” Sancho said.

Leon County had 57 percent Republican turnout then.

“Generally, in our experience, the big influx of mailed ballots comes in the last six days before the election,” said Sancho.

He cautioned that, if voters have requested a mailed ballot and then decide to vote in person, they should bring the absentee ballot to the polls with them. Otherwise, they will have to vote by provisional ballot, which takes time for voters and Sancho’s poll workers.

He said absentee ballots can be requested by mail through Jan. 25 but must be in his office when the polls close on Jan. 31. Sancho said “we’ll have a runner who goes to the Post Office at 6 p.m.” to check the Elections Supervisor’s Office mailbox for every ballot.

Howell, who is treasurer of the state GOP, said the county party is sending its absentee-ballot request leaflets to new Republican residents and “super voters” who never miss an election. People who recently registered, and those with a long record of voting, are the most likely to be interested, he said.

Maxwell said early voting and mailed ballots are important to building the local party.

“I became chairman a year ago and that was my big push, going in, that we had to increase voter turnout,” he said. “Absentee balloting is a big part of that.”