Republican Roundtable Update March 2010

Sheriff McKeithen to speak at March 9 meeting

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen will be the guest speaker at the March 9 meeting of the Roundtable. Sheriff McKeithen is one of Bay County's most popular elected officials, primarily because he does his job so well. Sheriff McKeithen plans to discuss the following topics: Illegal Immigration, Meth Checks and Pill Mills. He will explain what his office is doing and how Bay County is affected by these activities. The Roundtable meets at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, 218 Bunkers Cove Rd., in Panama City. A dinner buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15.00 per person, including tax, tip and non-alcoholic beverage. Reservations are necessary so that the Yacht Club staff can plan for adequate food and seating. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at Melissa@efileamerica.com or 527-7384.

A short business meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Bring a guest and your opinion!

Gubernatorial candidate Dockery speaks at Feb. 9 meeting

Florida Senator Paula Dockery was the guest speaker at the Feb. 9 meeting of the Roundtable. Dockery was elected to the Florida Senate in 2002 and has served as Majority Whip. She was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000, where she also served as Majority Whip.

Sen. Dockery is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor. Her primary opponent is Attorney General Bill McCollum. Her speech to the Roundtable emphasized her areas of expertise--water management and the rail system in Florida. She was well received and fielded the usual tough questions from the Roundtable audience.

Candidate soapbox at every meeting

All Republican candidates are invited to take to the candidate soapbox for three minutes at every Roundtable meeting. This is a great opportunity for candidates to get out their message and interface with voters. At the February meeting, Derrell Day and Dan Estes, candidates for County Commission, and John Reichard, candidate for Panama City Beach City Council, took advantage of the soapbox.

Membership drive underway

Each year the Roundtable conducts its membership drive from January 1 to March 31. Annual dues are $30.00 per person. If you would like to renew your membership or become a new member, please make your check payable to BCRR and mail it to the Roundtable's treasurer: Melissa Thompson, P.O. Box 15044, Panama City, FL 32406. Or you may simply give your check to Melissa at the March 9 meeting.

Thanks for your support!

Trivia Questions

Anyone wishing to provide the Trivia Questions for any of our meetings should Contact:

Richard Plantec 236-1830 or Rgplant1@aol.com

Subscribe to Roundtable newsletter

To subscribe to the online Roundtable newsletter, simply click this link:

http://republicanroundtable.com/subscribe.html

(You may also copy and paste the link into your Internet browser.) When you click the link, you will see the Roundtable logo and a very brief subscription form. Just type in your name and email address and then click "Submit."

When you return to your email account, you'll find a confirmation email in your Inbox. Simply accept the confirmation, and that's it--you are subscribed to the newsletter!

Bay County Republican Executive Committee

The Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC) is comprised of Republican precinct leaders. If you're interested in being active in your precinct this election year, or if you just want to learn more about the activities of the local Republican Party, please plan to attend the next BCREC meeting on Monday, March 22, at 6 p.m. in the School Board meeting room at 1311 Balboa Ave.

For more information, contact BCREC Chairman John Salak at 276-2872 or

john.salak@L-3Com.com.

Lincoln-Reagan 2010 set for April 24

The annual fundraiser of the Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC), Lincoln-Reagan 2010, is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, at the Edgewater Convention Center in Panama City Beach.

State Representative Will Weatherford, originally scheduled to be the event's keynote speaker, was forced to decline due to Florida House rules that prohibit legislators from speaking at political fundraisers during session. That's the bad news.

The good news is that U.S. Representative Adam Putnam, Republican candidate for Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture, has accepted the invitation to be the keynote speaker. Rep. Putnam held the Republican Party's third highest leadership post during the 110^th Congress in 2007 and 2008. During his five terms in Congress, he has become an influential leader on cyber security and federal technology policy.

For more information, contact LR2010 Chairs Vicki Doolittle at g.v.doolittle@live.com or 319-0105 or Teresa Eaton at ardentheart@bellsouth.net or 832-5689.

CD2 forum maxed out!

All 450 free tickets to the May 18 forum for Republican candidates in the Congressional District 2 race are spoken for! The forum will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the historic Martin Theater in downtown Panama City.

Candidates who have confirmed their participation are Dianne Berryhill, Eddie Hendry, Barbara Olschner, Charlies Ranson, David Scholl and Steve Southerland. The CD2 seat is now held by Democrat incumbent Allen Boyd.

For more information, contact Forum Chair Jonathan Hayes at 785-2857 or hayesjh@gmail.com.

Panhandle Federated Republican Women

The Panhandle Federated Republican Women (PFRW) will meet on Wednesday, March 10, 11:00 a.m. at the Golden Corral Restaurant on 23^rd Street in Panama City. The cost of lunch is $10.00, payable in the room reserved for the club. (Do not pay at the cash register.)

The guest speaker for the March 10 meeting is Bob Wells of Soldiers' Angels.

For more information, contact PFRW President Lorraine Odom at 624-2544 or lorraineodom@marykay.com.

Coffee, donuts and great conversation!

Coffee and donuts are a bonus, but the real reason to come to the Bay County Republican Headquarters on Saturday morning is the great conversation and camaraderie. Recent topics of conversation included the CD2 race, the foreseeable problems with nationalized health care, the messed up state of Florida's homeowners' insurance market and how the two might be related, plus other topics of interest to a bunch of grassroots Republicans.

BCRR member Ken Ford opens the Headquarters, located at 1607 Lisenby Avenue in Panama City, every Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Bring your coffee cup and your point of view for any part of the three hours you can spend there. You'll be glad you did! The number at HQ is 763-8656.

For more information about the Bay County Republican Roundtable,

contact Vicki Doolittle, President, at 319-0105 or doolittlg@comcast.net.

Other Roundtable officers are:

Richard Plantec, 1^st Vice President, Programs Chair

Sue Bynum, 2^nd Vice President, Events Chair

James Waterstradt, Secretary

Melissa Thompson, Treasurer

If you would like to donate items for the monthly raffle, please contact

Mike Speaks, Raffle Chair, at 271-4092 or mikespeaks@knology.net.

"It only stands to reason that where there is sacrifice, there is someone collecting the sacrificial offerings. Where there is service, there is someone being served. The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and masters, and intends to be the master." ~ Ayn Rand

The Mount Vernon Statement

The Mount Vernon Statement

Constitutional Conservatism: A Statement for the 21st Century

We recommit ourselves to the ideas of the American Founding.Through the Constitution, the Founders created an enduring framework of limited government based on the rule of law. They sought to secure national independence, provide for economic opportunity, establish true religious liberty and maintain a flourishing society of republican self-government.

These principles define us as a country and inspire us as a people. They are responsible for a prosperous, just nation unlike any other in the world. They are our highest achievements, serving not only as powerful beacons to all who strive for freedom and seek self-government, but as warnings to tyrants and despots everywhere.

Each one of these founding ideas is presently under sustained attack. In recent decades, America’s principles have been undermined and redefined in our culture, our universities and our politics. The selfevident truths of 1776 have been supplanted by the notion that no such truths exist. The federal government today ignores the limits of the Constitution, which is increasingly dismissed as obsolete and irrelevant.

Some insist that America must change, cast off the old and put on the new. But where would this lead — forward or backward, up or down? Isn’t this idea of change an empty promise or even a dangerous deception?

The change we urgently need, a change consistent with the American ideal, is not movement away from but toward our founding principles. At this important time, we need a restatement of Constitutional conservatism grounded in the priceless principle of ordered liberty articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

The conservatism of the Declaration asserts self-evident truths based on the laws of nature and nature’s God. It defends life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It traces authority to the consent of the governed. It recognizes man’s self-interest but also his capacity for virtue.

The conservatism of the Constitution limits government’s powers but ensures that government performs its proper job effectively. It refines popular will through the filter of representation. It provides checks and balances through the several branches of government and a federal republic.

A Constitutional conservatism unites all conservatives through the natural fusion provided by American principles. It reminds economic conservatives that morality is essential to limited government, social conservatives that unlimited government is a threat to moral self-government, and national security conservatives that energetic but responsible government is the key to America’s safety and leadership role in the world.

A Constitutional conservatism based on first principles provides the framework for a consistent and meaningful policy agenda.

• It applies the principle of limited government based on the rule of law to every proposal.
• It honors the central place of individual liberty in American politics and life.
• It encourages free enterprise, the individual entrepreneur, and economic reforms grounded in market solutions.
• It supports America’s national interest in advancing freedom and opposing tyranny in the world and prudently considers what we can and should do to that end.
• It informs conservatism’s firm defense of family, neighborhood, community, and faith.

If we are to succeed in the critical political and policy battles ahead, we must be certain of our purpose.

We must begin by retaking and resolutely defending the high ground of America’s founding principles.

February 17, 2010

*Thanks to the heritage Foundation for this

Republican Roundtable news for January 2010

Roundtable begins new year on January 12
The Bay County Republican Roundtable’s first meeting of 2010 will be held on Tuesday, January 12, at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club in Panama City.
A dinner buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15 per person (non-alcoholic beverage, tax and tip included). Dinner reservations are necessary so that the Yacht Club can prepare for adequate food and staff. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at 527-7384 or Melissa@efileamerica.com
Schools Super to be Roundtable’s First Speaker of New Year
Bay District Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt will be the special guest speaker at the Roundtable’s January 12 meeting. Bill is a longtime supporter of the Roundtable and will welcome questions following his presentation. Bill will begin speaking at about 7:10 p.m., following a brief business session.
Changing of the Roundtable Guard
The Roundtable’s bylaws call for the election of new officers at the January meeting. Officer elections will be the first order of business on January 12, and all nominations will come from the floor. All contested races will be decided by secret ballot.
2010 Roundtable Dues are Due !
The Roundtable’s annual dues of $30 per person became due as of January 1. If you joined the Roundtable after September 1, 2009, your $30 dues payment has been applied to 2010, and you owe no further payment for this year. If you are a renewing member, please plan to pay your annual dues at the January 12 meeting.
To pay your dues by mail, please make your check payable to BCRR and mail it to Melissa Thompson, the Roundtable’s treasurer, at this address: 136 Queens Circle, Panama City, FL 32405. Thanks, everyone, for your support!
Subscribe to the Roundtable’s e-newsletter
During recent weeks, Roundtable member Sven Thompson has worked diligently to set up a Web site for the Bay County Republican Roundtable that will be an awesome communication tool for BCRR members and for outreach.
As part of this new Web site set-up, you will receive an invitation to subscribe to the Roundtable’s e-newsletter. That invitation will come from ardentheart@bellsouth.net, which is Teresa Eaton’s email address.
Please follow the simple instructions in Teresa’s email to subscribe to the Roundtable newsletter. Eventually, after the new Web site is completely set up and operational, you will not receive the newsletter unless you have subscribed.
Republican Christmas Party Brings 2009 to Joyful Close
Over 100 Republicans attended the Bay County Republican Christmas Party at the Edgewater Beach Resort on December 11. Special guests were Bill and Dorothy Randall, who were honored for their many years of volunteer work for the Republican Party. Entertainment was provided free of charge by Roundtable member Jim Lawson, who is well-known in Bay Co. the area’s premiere DJ. Thank you, Jim!
The party’s guests included elected officials Frank McKeithen (Bay Co. Sheriff), Mark Andersen (Bay Co. Supervisor of Elections), Pat Sabiston (School Board), Walter Kelley (Lynn Haven Mayor), and Roger Schad (Lynn Haven Commissioner).
Candidates in attendance were Derrell Day and Dan Estes, who are running for the County Commission seat being vacated by Jerry Girvin, and John Reichard, candidate for the Panama City Beach City Council.
BCRR Presents Funding to Bay County JROTC We had the great pleasure of presenting $100 checks to each of the four Jr. ROTC units in Bay county at the packed December Bay County School Board meeting. The public and School Board were very impressed and there was an audible gasp in the room when we
told them the amount of the checks. We also thanked the Superintendent and the School Board for keeping this wonderful program in our schools. The Jr. ROTC units teach Citizenship, leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, and values such as Patriotism, Service, and Honor. We thanked each unit for the work that they do. We want to give a special thanks to BCRR and School Board Member Jerry Register who arranged for us to be at the meeting. Coffee, Donuts and Great Conversation! Coffee and donuts are a bonus, but the real reason to come to the Bay County Republican headquarters on Saturday morning is the great conversation and camaraderie. BCRR member Ken Ford opens the doors every Saturday morning from 8 to 11, and others of us show up to greet visitors, keep Ken company and talk about the latest political news. Recent topics of conversation included the CD2 race, the foreseeable problems with nationalized health care, the messed up state of Florida's homeowner's insurance market and how the two might be related, plus other topics of interest to a bunch of grassroots Republicans.
Bring your coffee cup and your point of view with you on Saturday mornings to the Republican headquarters for any part of the three hours you can spend. You’ll be glad you did! The number at HQ is 763-8656. Republican Party of Florida - Annual Meeting January 8-9 The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) will hold its annual meeting in Orlando on January 8-9, 2010. Attending the meeting from Bay County will be John Salak, Chairman of the Bay Co. Republican Executive Committee; Jonathan Hayes, Bay Co.’s Republican State Committeeman; and Melissa Hagan, Bay Co.’s Republican State Committeewoman. RPOF’s executive committee is comprised of the Party chairman, state committeeman and state committeewoman from every county in Florida. RPOF steers the state Party ship, with the guidance of the RNC. If you’d like to attend the annual meeting and see how this all works, contact John Salak at john.salak@L-3Com.com or 276-2872.
BCRR Board’s Message At the final 2009 Board meeting great honors were paid to our President, Teresa Eaton, for her year of dynamic leadership. The Club has been greatly improved and strengthened by Teresa’s forward-thinking ideas and unflagging energy. Her devotion to making the Club a relevant part of local and state politics has created a legacy for us all to be proud of, and is a challenge to be met by future Boards. We all wish to express our respect, admiration, and thanks for Teresa’s honorable service to the BCRR.

Republican Roundtable News for December 2009

Doc Washburn Draws Crowd to November Meeting

Over seventy people turned out in November to enjoy Doc Washburn’s turn at the BCRR microphone. Doc recently returned to Bay County to host a weekday radio talk show on 94.5 WFLA. His strong Conservative credentials and adept articulation of the issues were a hit with his Roundtable audience.

Taking to the Candidate Soapbox at the November meeting were Carl Meece (R-Suwanee Co.), candidate for the U.S. House (FL Cong. Dist. 2), Derrell Day (R), candidate for the open Bay Co. Commission, Dist. 4, seat; and Chuck Tucker (R), also a candidate in the Bay Co. Commission, Dist. 4, race.

Our thanks to Doc for sharing his talents with us, and a special thanks to him for introducing us to his lovely mother, Sara. Be sure and listen to Doc from 6 to 9 a.m., Monday through Friday on 94.5.

January 2010 Speaker

Bill Husfelt, Bay Schools Chief, will be the guest speaker at the January 12, 2010 dinner meeting.

Republican Party to Have Float in Dec. 5 Christmas Parade

The Bay Co. Republican Party will have a float in the Panama City Christmas parade this Saturday, Dec. 5, and volunteers are needed to walk with the float. This is a great opportunity to let Bay Co.’s Republican voters know that their party’s local leadership is still in the fight, representing their Conservative values.

The float’s parade position is #19, in lot A in front of the Civic Center. Walkers need to be in place by 5:15 p.m., and the parade begins rolling at 5:45 p.m. Please bring a quart or gallon bucket to hold the candy you will be distributing to children along the parade route. It could be cold, so dress warmly.

At the pre-parade position in lot A, long-sleeved Bay Co. Republican Party t-shirts will be available for a $15 donation. The shirts also will be available for a $15 donation at the Republican Headquarters on Saturday morning from 8 to 11 a.m.

Decorating of the float will take place on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1715 Maple Ave. in Panama City. This location is next to a flea market and an old bowling alley that’s now a bingo hall. It’s just east of the Police Department and the National Guard Armory in Panama City.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Bay County Republican Christmas Party - December 11

Friday, December 11, is the date of this year’s Bay County Republican Christmas Party, and the Edgewater Convention Center is the site. The social hour begins at 6 pm, and the buffet dinner ($25.00 per person + cash bar) will begin at 7:00 At 8 o’clock, popular local DJ Jim Lawson will spin the discs as we dance the night away.

Our special guests will be Bill and Dorothy Randall, who recently announced their retirement after decades of political activism. Also present will be some 2010 candidates who would like to meet you and make their case for your vote.

Please scroll down to the end of this newsletter to find out how to make your reservations for this special event. Important note: reservations are due by December 7.

No Roundtable Meeting in December

The Roundtable will not have a regular dinner meeting in December. We hope to see you at the Bay County Republican Christmas Party on December 11.

Officer Elections at January 12 Meeting

Per the Roundtable’s bylaws, the first order of business at the January 12 meeting of the Roundtable will be the election of the 2010 officers. All nominations will come from the floor, and if more than one person is nominated for any given position, the vote will be by secret ballot. All offices are one-year terms.

If you’ve ever been tempted to become politically active, now is the time to pull the trigger. In 2010, the Roundtable’s officers will be critical players in the local Republican Party’s efforts to get Republicans elected locally and statewide.

The Roundtable meets at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club on Bunker’s Cove Road in Panama City. The buffet dinner ($15.00 per person, including tax and tip) begins at 6 p.m., and the program begins at 7 p.m. Dinner reservations are necessary. To make your reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at Melissa@efileamerica.com or 527-7384.

Panhandle Republican Women to Meet December 9

The next meeting of the Panhandle Federated Republican Women will take place on Wed., December 9, at 11 a.m. at the Golden Corral restaurant on 23^rd St. in Panama City. The cost of lunch, including tax and tip, is $10.00, and reservations are not necessary.

Following lunch, a musical program will be performed by students from Patronis Elementary. Instead of a gift exchange, attendees are asked to donate a $10.00 international calling card for our overseas troops and contractors. For more information, contact PFRW 1^st Vice President Betty Malin at 235-3286.

BCRR Presentation to Bay County JROTC

The presentation of $100 donations to support the JROTC has been rescheduled for December 9 at 1p.m. Bay County School Board meeting, at the school administration building. Be there or be square!

Coffee, Donuts and Great Conversation!

Coffee and donuts are a bonus, but the real reason to come to the Bay County Republican headquarters on Saturday morning is the great conversation and camaraderie. BCRR member Ken Ford opens the doors every Saturday morning from 8 to 11, and others of us show up to greet visitors, keep Ken company and talk about the latest political news. Recent topics of conversation included the CD2 race, the foreseeable problems with nationalized health care, the messed up state of Florida's homeowner's insurance market and how the two might be related, plus other topics of interest to a bunch of grassroots Republicans.

Bring your coffee cup and your point of view with you on Saturday mornings to the Republican headquarters for any part of the three hours you can spend. You’ll be glad you did! The number at HQ is 763-8656.

Republican Party of Florida - Annual Meeting January 8-9

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) will hold its annual meeting in Orlando on January 8-9, 2010. Attending the meeting from Bay County will be John Salak, Chairman of the Bay Co. Republican Executive Committee; Jonathan Hayes, Bay Co.’s Republican State Committeeman; and Melissa Hagan, Bay Co.’s Republican State Committeewoman.

Looking ahead to 2010 and getting back to basics

By FL House Majority Leader Adam Hasner

How’s that for Change?

For all the analysis of individual candidate strengths and weaknesses, local issues and campaign
tactics, what really changed from November 2008 to November 2009? The economy is still
struggling, high unemployment remains in the headlines and there is still real concern for the
economic future of our country. What’s changed? Voters have now seen the policies that
President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Congress are planning to enact.
For those who will say that these elections had nothing to do with President Obama’s policies,
it is worth pointing out that just four years ago Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds opposed each
other in the Virginia Attorney General race in which McDonnell won by just over 300 votes‐ the
closest statewide race in Virginia history. Yesterday, Bob McDonnell became Governor‐elect by
a 58 to 41 percent margin.

Again, what changed?

President Obama’s policies and a reformed Republican approach.
Voters in Virginia and New Jersey rebuked the Democratic policies of unfettered and
unsustainable government spending, Big Labor’s card check, cap and trade on energy, and a
government takeover of the nation’s health care system that Americans believe will cost too
much, cover too little and lead to their quality of care being diminished.

It was also a reaffirmation of the core common sense Republican message of lower taxes, less government and personal responsibility. Both of the successful gubernatorial candidates ran as
fiscal conservatives who sought to assure voters that their top priority was to create jobs, rein
in spending and get their states’ economies recharged. Bob McDonnell was unwavering in his
focus on that positive message, while his allies at the RNC and RGA made sure that voters knew
of Deeds’ support for Obama’s policies like higher taxes, cap and trade and card check. Chris
Christie focused on New Jersey’s property taxes‐ the highest in the nation‐ and had a message
of real reform in Trenton.

This focus on the economic issues that most concerned voters successfully appealed to
independents who came back to the GOP candidates in overwhelming numbers. Just how
important was issue discipline and message focus in the shift of independent voters yesterday?
Connecting with independents was worth a 19 point swing to the GOP in New Jersey from
2008 and a stunning 23 point swing in Virginia.

But change in yesterday’s election went beyond independent voters. For all the talk of a new
Obama Democratic majority‐ the new voters, young voters, new suburban Democrats, the so-called surge voters and high percentage minority voters‐ it did not carry over into this year.
Voter intensity was solely on the side of the GOP. While it is too early to make the declaration
that the make‐up of the 2008 electorate was a one‐time phenomena, it is increasingly unlikely
that this fragile coalition will turn out for anyone other than Barack Obama.

Finally, for those who will still insist that these elections were unrelated to the President’s
policies, consider this. For weeks, the White House spin has been that Creigh Deeds was losing
Virginia because he did not embrace President Obama enough and that he did not follow the
White House’s political advice. Two weeks before the election, White House political officials
told the Washington Post that Deeds had no chance to win because he did not follow the
course laid out by the President and Virginia Governor/DNC Chair Tim Kaine.

Yet they can’t have it both ways. No one this year embraced President Obama more closely
than Jon Corzine‐ he ran as a “partner” of President Obama, the White House bragged how
they had instituted a turnaround in the Corzine campaign this summer, Obama’s lead pollster
was brought in to reshape the campaign‐ and Corzine lost as well.

So the options this year for Democratic gubernatorial candidates were: don't follow the advice
of the White House and lose, or follow the White House's advice and lose. Sometimes spinning
works, but sometimes it just makes you dizzy.

We have long said the GOP resurgence starts in state capitols. The results in Virginia and New
Jersey are a promising beginning. Each of you is on the front lines of our parties’ efforts. The
voters sent a clear message last night: get back to basics, offer common sense solutions and
deliver on jobs and the economy.

This election should be a wake‐up call to those who are ready to rush headfirst into hasty, unchecked and unsustainable spending programs and bigger government.

The bottom line is voters favor candidates who offer common sense solutions and alternatives on the issues that are important to them now over those who simply say no. They want something to vote for,not simply someone to vote against. They want real results and are willing and ready to reject ineffectiveness. Substance is once again more important than style.

Republican Roundtable News, October 2009

IMPORTANT! November meeting moves to Tues., Nov. 17
Congressman Allen Boyd has scheduled his Bay County town hall for Tuesday, November 10, which is the Roundtable’s regular meeting date. Because of the intense interest among our members in attending Rep. Boyd’s town hall, the Roundtable has rescheduled its meeting to Tuesday, November 17.
Roundtable meetings are held at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club on Bunkers Cove Road in Panama City. A buffet dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15 per person, including tax and tip. A brief business meeting begins at 6:45 p.m., and the program begins at 7:00 p.m. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Roundtable Treasurer Melissa Thompson at 527-7384 or
Melissa@efileamerica.com.

CD2 candidates attend October meeting
Three candidates for the Congressional District 2 U.S House seat, now held by Allen Boyd (D-Monticello), introduced themselves and their platforms at the October 13 meeting of the Roundtable. Bill Fisher (R-Bay County), Carl Meece (R-Suwannee County) and Steve Southerland (R-Bay County) took to the candidate soapbox and fielded a wide variety of challenging questions from the audience.
Congressman Boyd’s vote for the cap and trade bill, coupled with voter outrage over the proposed health care bill, has made a Republican challenge for the CD2 U.S. House seat more promising than ever before. We are very fortunate to have a strong field of candidates!

Roundtable to present checks to ROTCs in November
The Roundtable has been placed on the agenda of the November 10, 2:00 p.m., meeting of the Bay County School Board. This is the meeting closest to Veterans Day. We’ll be there to present each of the four high school ROTC units with a check for $100. All Roundtable members are invited to attend this short ceremony.
Our thanks to School Board member (and Roundtable member) Jerry Register for his assistance in making this event possible!

Republican Christmas party December 11
The Roundtable is helping the Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC) host its annual Christmas party, scheduled this year for Friday, December 11, at the Edgewater in Panama City Beach.
The Christmas party buffet will feature traditional holiday fare, including turkey and ham entrees. BCREC member Jim Lawson will DJ as we dance the night away following dinner.
Mark your calendars! Invitations will be emailed soon, as well as posted on the BCREC web site and blogspot. If you’d like to make your reservations now, please contact Melissa Thompson at 527-7384 or Melissa@efileamerica.com. The cost is $25 per person.

Stuff for soldiers needed
If you have any interesting items to donate to our military heroes serving overseas, please bring them to the Roundtable meetings. We’re hoping for candy, soaps, women’s items or any thoughtful gift a young lady or gentleman in uniform would like to get from home. For more info, please contact Sue Bynum or Mike Speaks at 271-4092.

Republican Roundtable now on Facebook!
Thanks to the efforts of Treasurer Melissa Thompson, the Roundtable is now on Facebook! If you have a Facebook account, be sure to check out the latest news on the Roundtable’s Facebook page. If you don’t have an account, this is a great reason to open one!

#RPOF Launches Florida Victory 2010

Tallahassee–The Republican Party of Florida today marked the kick-off of the Florida Victory 2010 campaign. RPOF Chairman Jim Greer and Attorney General Bill McCollum announced that former Florida House Speaker Allan Bense will serve as the Florida Victory 2010 Finance Chairman.

“Our state party is strong and unified heading into this critical election cycle,” said RPOF Chairman Jim Greer. “I am grateful to General McCollum and Speaker Bense for their dedication to building our party. Their leadership enabled the RPOF to kick-off this important program early, and I am proud to partner in this important endeavor with these two great Republican leaders.”

Each election cycle, the Chairman authorizes the creation of a Florida Victory campaign within the Republican Party of Florida to create a unified financial and political strategy solely focused on benefiting Republican candidates. This year, Chairman Greer was pleased to approve the creation of the Florida Victory 2010 campaign months earlier than in previous cycles.

“With the election just over a year away, it is important to lay the groundwork for the massive expansion of staff, offices and other resources Florida Victory 2010 will utilize to ensure that Republicans across our state carry the day next November,” said Attorney General Bill McCollum. “I am grateful to Chairman Greer, Speaker Bense, and all of our Republican elected officials, county leaders, and volunteers who will contribute their resources, time and talents to this historic cause.”

Chairman Greer and General McCollum also announced that Florida House Majority Leader, Representative Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach), Former RPOF Chairman Al Cardenas, and RPOF Finance Chairman, Ambassador John Rood will serve as Florida Victory 2010 Co-Finance Chairmen. Today’s kick-off is the result of weeks of planning between the RPOF and the Bill McCollum for Governor Campaign. The effort will be expanded to include additional statewide campaigns in the coming weeks.

“Today is a proud day for the Republican Party of Florida as we put in place the organizational structure that will enable our success in a number of important races next fall. I commend General McCollum and Chairman Greer for their leadership in establishing this organization within the Republican Party of Florida,” said Governor Crist. “By beginning this process now, our party will be better-prepared for victory in 2010.”

Putnam campaign approaches $1 Million dollars in fundraising

Image via Wikipedia

BARTOW, Fla. – With widespread support from across Florida, Congressman Adam Putnam’s campaign announced it is continuing its momentum in fundraising for Commissioner of Agriculture.

In eight months the Putnam Campaign raised over $974,000 in contributions, with over $229,000 coming in the third quarter of 2009. The campaign also announced it has over $860,000 cash on hand.

"Despite difficult economic times and a busy summer for Floridians, we continue to build broad support for our campaign. I am extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed," Putnam said. "I’m proud to have the agriculture community unified behind our campaign and we are committed to running a balanced campaign that builds a grassroots network that is second to none."

Adam has been endorsed by every major agriculture organization that endorses in campaigns including the Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association, Southeast Milk Producers, Indian River Citrus League, Florida Citrus Mutual and 16 County Farm Bureaus. In addition, Adam is endorsed by 27 members of the Agriculture Hall of Fame and Women of the Year in Agriculture award recipients.

Adam Putnam is a fifth generation Floridian born and raised in Bartow and has represented the Twelfth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives since January 2001. The twelfth district includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola Counties; he was first elected in 2000 and re-elected subsequently.

Putnam served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000, where he chaired the Committee on Agriculture from 1998 to 2000. He is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in food and resource economics. Adam resides in his hometown of Bartow with his wife Melissa and their four children

Tim Nungesser named Director of #RPOF Field Operations

RPOF Press Release - September 22, 2009

Tallahassee–Republican Party of Florida Executive Director Delmar Johnson today named Tim Nungesser as the Director of the RPOF’s Field Operations Department.

“As the former Director of Youth Outreach and as a former Regional Field Coordinator, Tim brings a wealth of campaign and grassroots knowledge and experience that will surely lead the RPOF to greater successes in 2010,” said Delmar Johnson. “I am grateful for the leadership that Tim has demonstrated during his time with the Party and I am looking forward to continuing to work with him to better spread the Republican message as we head into this critical election cycle.”

Tim Nungesser, 28, of Palm Bay, most recently served as the Director of the Republican Party of Florida’s Youth Outreach Department where he spearheaded the highly successful DtD Exhange ’09 youth outreach initiative. Nungesser previously worked as the East Coast Regional Victory Director for the RPOF during the 2006-2008 Election Cycle. He has also worked for the Central Florida Regional Office of United States Senator Mel Martinez and served as a volunteer for the Charlie Crist for Governor Campaign in 2006. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Central Florida.

As Director of Field Operations, Nungesser will work alongside of Deputy Executive Director of Operations John Davis and Deputy Director of Field Operations Brad Herold to coordinate the 67 Republican Executive Committees as well as Republican clubs and organizations throughout Florida. The department manages the RPOF Field Coordinators and works with members of the State Executive Committee to ensure that the Chairman’s initiatives are carried out across the state.

Republican Roundtable news for September 2009

CD2 candidates to attend October 13 meeting
Two candidates for the Congressional District 2 U.S House seat, now held by Allen Boyd (D-Monticello), will introduce themselves and their platforms at the next meeting of the Roundtable. Carl Meece (R-Suwannee County) and Bill Fisher (R-Bay County) will take to the candidate soapbox during October’s discussion “free-for-all” program.
Congressman Boyd’s vote for the cap and trade bill, coupled with voter outrage over the proposed health care bill, has made a Republican challenge for the CD2 U.S. House seat more promising than ever before. Now is the time to visit a Roundtable meeting and get to know your great Republican candidates.
Roundtable meetings are held at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club on Bunkers Cove Road in Panama City. A buffet dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15 per person, including tax and tip. A brief business meeting begins at 6:45 p.m., and the program begins at 7:00 p.m. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Roundtable Treasurer Melissa Thompson at 527-7384 or
Melissa@efileamerica.com.

Don Arias speaks at September meeting
Lt. Col. Don Arias (USAF Ret.) was the guest speaker at the September 8 meeting of the Roundtable. Don works in the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Florida. His brother was murdered in the 9/11/01 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, and since then Don has taken a special interest in counter-terrorism. Speaking to one of the largest gatherings in the Roundtable’s history, Don shared his family’s frustrations with the Obama administration’s handling of terrorist detainees at Guantanamo.

Republican Roundtable now on Facebook!
Thanks to the efforts of Treasurer Melissa Thompson, the Roundtable is now on Facebook! If you have a Facebook account, be sure to check out the latest news on the Roundtable’s Facebook page. If you don’t have an account, this is a great reason to open one!

Roundtable members attend #912dc march on D.C.
Roundtable members Glen and Alice Leirer and Sven and Melissa Thompson joined over one million grassroots protestors at the march on Washington, D.C., on Saturday, September 12. Prior to the Saturday rally, the Bay County contingent visited the offices of Congressman Allen Boyd and Senators Bill Nelson and George Lemieux to deliver almost 2,000 signatures collected on the Bay County Republican Party’s petition against socialized health care.
Photos of the march on Washington are posted on the Roundtable’s Facebook page.

Petition signing continues at HQ
There’s still time to sign the petition against socialized health care! Petition signing will continue through the fall at the Republican Headquarters, 1607 Lisenby Ave. in Panama City, on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The petitions will be faxed to our Congressman and Senators. Many thanks to Roundtable member Ken Ford, who opens HQ every Saturday morning to welcome visitors with hot coffee, delicious pastries and spirited conversations.

Republican Christmas party December 11
The Roundtable is helping the Bay County Republican Executive Committee host its annual Christmas party, scheduled this year for Friday, December 11, at the Edgewater in Panama City Beach. BCREC member Jim Lawson will DJ as we dance the night away following dinner. Mark your calendars!

Marco Rubio US Senate campaign confirms September 26 visit to Panama City

Marco Rubio US Senate campaign confirms September 26 visit to Panama City

The Marco Rubio campaign for the US Senate 2010 has confirmed the visit time on Saturday September 26 at 3:00 to 3:30 pm at the Bay County Republican HQ on 1607 Lisenby Ave, Panama City, Florida.

Highly regarded for his principled, energetic and idea-driven leadership, Marco Rubio is a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010.


In 1971, Marco was born in Miami to Cuban-born parents who came to America following Fidel Castro’s takeover. When he was eight years old, Rubio and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where his father worked as a bartender at the Sams Town Hotel and his mother as a housekeeper at the Imperial Palace Hotel. In 1985, the family returned to Miami where his father continued working as a bartender at the Mayfair House Hotel until 1997. Thereafter he worked as a school crossing guard until his retirement in 2005. His mother worked as a Kmart stock clerk until she retired in 1995.


Rubio attended South Miami Senior High School, graduating in 1989. He attended Tarkio College in Missouri for one year on a football scholarship before transferring to Santa Fe Community College and then graduating in 1993 with a bachelor of science from the University of Florida. He continued his studies at the University of Miami where he earned his juris doctor, cum laude, in 1996.


From 2000-2008, Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives. During this period, he served as Majority Whip, Majority Leader and Speaker of the House, effectively promoting an agenda of lower taxes, better schools, a leaner and more efficient government and free market empowerment. Rubio also helped spearhead Florida’s congressional and legislative redistricting effort. He chaired the House Select Committee on Property Rights, which crafted national model legislation to protect private property rights following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Kelo v. City of New London decision that opened the door for eminent domain abuse.


During the two years prior to assuming the speakership, Rubio traveled around the state hosting “Idearaisers” to solicit Floridians’ input on ways to strengthen Florida. The 100 best ideas were compiled into a book entitled “100 Innovative Ideas for Florida’s Future” which served as the basis for his term. All 100 ideas were passed by the Florida House.


Fifty-seven of these ideas ultimately became law, including measures to crack down on gangs and sexual predators, promote energy efficient buildings, appliances and vehicles, and help small businesses obtain affordable health coverage. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich hailed the effort as “a work of genius.”


In addition to these ideas, Rubio championed a major overhaul of the Florida tax system that would have eliminated all property taxes on primary residences in favor of a flat consumption tax. The effort garnered national attention, with Grover Norquist, president of the fiscally conservative Americans for Tax Reform, praising Rubio as “the most pro-taxpayer legislative leader in the country.”


During his legislative career, Rubio also promoted efforts to develop a world-class public school curriculum, increase performance-based accountability, enhance school choice and target the socio-economic factors affecting chronic academic under-performance. He is also widely credited for blocking the expansion of gambling in Florida and shepherding the passage of historic energy legislation based on market incentives rather than government-imposed mandates.

Since the end of his tenure as Speaker, Rubio has resumed his law practice as a sole practitioner. He has also served as a visiting professor at Florida International University’s Metropolitan Center, worked as Florida Chairman of GOPAC and as a political analyst for Univision during the 2008 election cycle.


He has also continued his community and civic involvement, serving on the boards of the Latin Builders Association and Alafit International, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting global literacy. He also remains engaged in the West Miami community where he served as a city commissioner prior to being elected to the state house.

Rubio and his wife, Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio, have been married since 1998. They are the parents of four children: Amanda, Daniella, Anthony, and Dominic. They currently live in the working class city of West Miami, just four blocks from the home his parents moved the family to in 1985.

Speaker Rubio was recently featured in an issue of National Review magazine dated September 7, 2009.

Contact information for the Rubio campaign:

Alex Burgos
Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate
O: (786) 431-5627
C: (305) 389-3594
alex@marcorubio.com

We hope that you are able to attend the rally Saturday 9/26 at 3 pm being held at the Bay Co. Republican HQ.