RPOF Leaders Galvanize for 2020 at Quarterly Meeting in Sarasota

Left to Right; Nanette Rivera, Terry Capsay, Mary Waller, Russell Tuff

Collier Republicans joined Republicans activists from across the state at the Republican Party of Florida Spring Quarterly Meeting this weekend excited for 2020.

“We were just talking about how to continue to win here in Florida,” said RPOF state chair Joe Gruters. “We had a lot of wins this legislative cycle.”

Heading into this presidential election, state party leaders feel good about the state of the party.

When asked what Collier representatives had to say, Collier County Campaign 2020 Co-Chair Nanette Rivera said, “The sessions were open, transparent and many discussions were helpful and informative, and Chairman Gruters is trying to make the RPOF staff responsive to County needs and partners for Counties to leverage tools, databases, and experts. I was delighted that chairman Gruters highlighted that Collier is working on learning Best Practices across 5 counties and offered our help to Panama City committeeman. The whole event was collegiate and helpful for networking.”

Fellow campaign committee member Terry Capsay said, “The RPOF Quarterly Meeting provided a very productive and inspiring forum for conservative leaders to exchange their ideas, practices and tools to keep Florida “red” and to re-elect President Trump. It was quite encouraging to see that the GOP team at county state and national levels are truly in sync about the 2020 mission.”

State Committeewoman Jan Face-Glassman and State Attorney Ashley Moody

Collier Chairman Russell Tuff said, “I was proud to see so many Collier Republicans with passion to win, showing up to learn more on how to bring Collier voters to new heights in voter turnout and voting Republican. It is critical for us to raise the bar to ensure a Florida win because without the margin Collier provided, neither Senator Rick Scott or Governor Ron DeSantis would have won in 2018.

State Committee Woman Jan Face-Glassman said, “RPOF quarterly meetings always provide an excellent opportunity to meet other State Committeewoman along with County Chairs and State Committeemen and to share experiences. We all can learn from new ideas no matter how long we have been involved politically. Florida Counties are all very different; learning the demographics of each, listening to their issues and solutions, and talking through problems always helps us improve. My goal at each RPOF meeting is to develop strong relationships with other counties, especially with the women in those counties, and to maintain contact with them between meetings. While I am a member of several Federated Women’s Clubs, i recognize that these clubs represent a very small percentage of Republican women. As State Committeewomen, we must also reach beyond those clubs to engage the other women while at the same time working with the clubs to help them recruit greater membership. The meeting in Sarasota was a new experience in a location other than Orlando. It was well-executed and focused on engaging families in the process, which is critical for County Leaders who dedicate so much time to the party. ”

“The Party and Presidential Campaign are completely and seamlessly integrated this cycle,”said Christian Ziegler, RPOF vice chair.

The party also enjoyed success in statewide races despite a national Democratic wave, with Republicans holding the Governor’s mansion and flipping a Senate seat red.

“I have never seen the grassroots activists of the Republican Party as unified as they are right now, in 2019,” Ziegler said.

The party through this election cycle plans to hold meetings throughout the state, and not just in population centers like Orlando and Tampa.

“I decided to bring our meeting on the road to allow more people to highlight their areas,” Gruters said.

Ziegler said it’s a good move to take the quarterly meetings into various corners of Florida.

Party members proposed venues for coming meetings, and Gruters selected from that list. Meetings won’t always be in mid-sized markets, but there’s more variety in cities than in past years.

On August 16 and 17, the party will hold its Summer Quarterly at Sandestin Beach & Resort in Miramar Beach.

The Fall Quarterly and Statesman’s Dinner takes place Nov. 7 through 9 at Coronado Springs at Walt Disney World.

Then next January, RPOF leaders convene at the Wyndham Grand Jupiter.

The Spring Quarterly in May next year takes place at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills.

The Summer Quarterly in 2020 will happen at the Republican National Convention in North Carolina.