What are the lessons you have learned from the 2008 campaign?
JS: There were a great number of lessons learned, however the number one
lesson is we found out that conservative values are still what the majority
of the American people want, and an overwhelming majority of voters in Bay
County proved that. On a national level we saw that a conservative candidate
like Gov. Sarah Palin can energize the Republican base in a way not seen since
Ronald Reagan.
Is there anything about the Bay Co. REC you would change?
JS: I think the Bay County REC did a tremendous job in this past election.
We implemented changes to get the REC in a pro-active mode to help our
candidates get elected with events like the Presidential Primary Rally on
the Park and a similar event for our local candidates. We started the idea
of having a public debate on the 1/2 cent school sales tax extension to make
sure the voters were informed with the facts before they made their
decision. Our biggest, and most successful effort was the McCain-Palin
campaign where the REC had the experienced leadership to willing to
essentially take on the entire campaign effort for Bay County with little or
no outside support. We delivered for Bay County and set the example for the
future. I would like to use our hard earned experience and leadership to
grow the REC precinct leader ranks and I think we have a good opportunity to
do that by drawing on the ranks of the great volunteers we had. I also want
to see the BCREC take a leadership role in the Congressional District (CD)
level organization and to push up our conservative ideas and positions to
the state party level.
Why did the GOP lose Florida? How much blame would you assign to RPOF
Chairman Greer?
JS: Having lost a couple of elections myself, I can tell you it always comes
back to the candidate and how effectively you articulated your vision of
what government is and why the voters should vote for you. We lost because
we had a candidate that could not credibly articulate a vision of government
that the voters wanted. We lost because we let the Democratic candidate get
away taking our message of making a better, stronger America. We let them
take the tax cut issue, even when we know its nothing more than a welfare
program. Add to that a poorly organized campaign effort, and the cause of
the loss needs to be placed where it belongs, on the candidate. That seems
to be the only rational explanation for how we could win overwhelming (60%+)
on so many conservative ballot issues and in so many races with a
conservative candidate. As to Chairman Greer, he did not lose Florida for
McCain/Palin, Sen. McCain did that.
How do you feel about Governor Crist? Would you encourage him to campaign
more in NW Florida?
JS: Governor Crist is not especially popular in Bay County, as was evidenced
by the welcome he got at the John Rich rally for Sen McCain when he was
introduced. A lot of that goes to Martin Lee Anderson case and the actions
taken by then Attorney General Crist, and later by his actions as governor.
I am not a fan of his populist approach to policy and what I like to call
trying to be 'Democrat Lite'. I am a conservative and I want a governor that
will implement policy based on those principles. I think Governor Crist's
brand of Republicanism is what Sen McCain was selling, as well as other
Governors, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and that is a losing set of values,
especially in NW Florida.
RPOF allocated NO money to the 2nd Congressional District for an opponent to
Allen Boyd in 2008. This implies he cannot be beaten. Do you share this
view? Would you fight for this funding as Chairman?
JS: First, let me say I have a lot of heartburn with uncontested races where
the people are not given a choice to retain or reject an incumbent office
holder. At the state party level, especially for offices that cover multiple
counties like CD2, it is imperative that the state party provide the
leadership in helping candidates for those offices. Its not only a matter of
money, but starts with candidate recruiting and extends to organization,
advice, and broad spectrum support. If we run the right conservative
candidate that can articulate a vision and a platform the voters want, we
can beat Rep Boyd. This is a race where we need the all of the CD2 RECs to
coordinate efforts, hopefully with RPOF leadership, to make sure our
candidates talk to the voters and organizations that will get them elected.
As Chairman, I will lead the effort to get the CD2 RECs behind our
Republican candidate in a coordinated manner and push RPOF help fund those
efforts. If RPOF fails to follow through, I would push for the CD2 RECs to
set up a pooled fund to help CD level candidates.
What are your ideas about technology and how it can be used by the GOP?
JS: I love technology, its what I do everyday in trying to find ways to
solve problems in the endless quest to make things better, faster, cheaper.
I think the Obama campaign was a good example of using technology to raise
mass awareness and make individual connections with voters. Using Facebook,
Twitter, text messaging, BLOGs, podcasts, push emails, RoboCalls, and such
are just the way a new generation of voters wants to communicate. While us
'old' folks are comfortable with TV, radio, newspaper, and billboard ads as
derigueur, how do we connect with those that only listen to podcasts on
their iPODs or get their news and TV only from the internet? This is one
area RPOF could really be a help to the RECs and that is developing standard
templates of on-line services for local RECs to tailor and implement. The
state and national party has the resources (money) to do this effort and
help push it down to the local REC level. I will also push for campaign
tools that help the local RECs manage campaigns and advise local candidates
on how to run effective campaigns. We have the tools, we just are not
allowed to access them on our own (RPOF only).
Do we need a State GOP Convention here in Florida?
JS: We pretty much already have one in the bi-annual RPOF meeting for the
election of the party Chairman and officers. The next one takes place in Jan
09 and I hope it is a pitched battle between the conservatives who know what
we must become to win again and the populist who think the key to winning is
acting like a 'Lite' version of the Democrat party. I see my role as BCREC
Chairman to be a leader that carries the conservative fight to this
election.
Who did you support in the GOP primary and why?
JS: I was a Fred Thompson supporter and it had a lot to do with his
conservative views. I thought he had the whole package to win, however it
appears something was missing in the 'desire to be president' category. As I
said earlier, you can usually trace the cause of the loss right back to the
candidate himself.
If you wish, I encourage you to make a closing statement here as to why REC
members should support your candidacy.
JS: It has been an honor to serve as the BCREC Vice-Chairman for the last 2
years. In that time we have accomplished a great many things that resulted
in one of the best campaign efforts in the state for the 2008 elections. The
board leadership has worked well in the interest of the REC as a whole and I
want to continue that leadership as the next Chairman. Chairman Haney had
provided a great example to live up to, and I have learned a lot in not only
balancing interests, but providing the opportunity for members to take an
idea, run with it, and excel in the outcome. I know our best days are ahead
of us and I am really excited about getting the Republican party back to its
Reagan roots for the 2010 and 2012 elections. I would appreciate your vote of
confidence on 1 December.
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