Statements and Information Regarding RPOF Chairman Jim Greer

Tallahassee–Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer today announced that he will step down as Chairman effective February 20, 2010. Documents pertaining to Chairman Greer’s announcement are below. Additional information regarding an election for his replacement will be released when available. The RPOF Annual Meeting scheduled for this Saturday, January, 9, 2010 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando will proceed as scheduled. Information on attaining press credentials for this event will be sent in a subsequent media advisory.

Statement by Governor Charlie Crist Regarding Chairman Jim Greer

“I would like to commend my friend Chairman Jim Greer for his selfless dedication to the Republican Party of Florida over the last three years. Under Chairman Greer’s leadership we maintained a strong majority in Florida’s Congressional Delegation and overwhelming majorities in the State House and Senate.

“Jim has long been a loyal servant to the Republican cause, and I appreciate the many sacrifices the Chairman, his wife Lisa, and their four children have made to ensure our Party’s continued success in the Sunshine State. Chairman Greer has and always will have my unwavering support.

“I call on Florida Republicans to unite behind our common values of less government and more personal freedom and sincerely hope that we can move forward together to ensure statewide Republican victories in 2010.”

Joint Statement by Senator Haridopolos and Representative Cannon Regarding Chairman Jim Greer

“We commend Chairman Greer for his years of service to the Republican Party of Florida and thank him for the tremendous leadership and notable contributions, particularly in the areas of minority and youth outreach, voter registration and technology.

“From day one, Chairman Greer worked diligently to ensure the Republican campaigns and candidates, counties parties, and other local and statewide Republican organizations had not only the resources, but also the skills necessary to ensure victory. The victories Republicans saw at the local and state levels in 2008 and 2009 are truly a testament to his leadership.

As Chairman, Jim understands not only the importance of this critical election this year, but also the need to adequately prepare the State Party and diverse grassroots communities for the fight ahead, and we believe his legacy will be reflected in many victories yet to come.

It has never been more important that Republicans focus on the task at hand by uniting in support of our common goals. For the first time since Reconstruction, we are facing open races in a United States Senate seat, the Governor’s Mansion, all of our Cabinet seats, half of the Florida Senate, and the entire House of Representatives.

As the 2010 Election Cycle rapidly approaches, we encourage all Florida Republicans to unite together to ensure that Republicans carry the day in 2010.”

Chairman Greer’s Letter of Resignation

January 5, 2010

The Honorable Charlie Crist
Governor of Florida
The Capitol PL-05
400 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Dear Governor Crist, Members of the RPOF State Executive Committee and Fellow Republicans,

This month marks the conclusion of my third year as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, and less than one year since my re-election in January 2009, with over 77 percent of the vote. Since becoming Chairman, I have been honored to work with you to make our Party stronger, and I sincerely appreciate the tremendous effort you have put forth in serving the Republican Party of Florida.

During my Chairmanship, I have worked tirelessly to develop new and innovative fundraising programs, enhanced grassroots resources, increased minority voter outreach and worked to enhance the Republican Party of Florida’s status as an influential partner in state and national politics, this while sacrificing time with my family, including four young children. I made this sacrifice in my personal life because I believe in our Party, and in the principles we as Republicans hold dear.

As Chairman, I came from outside of the RPOF structure, but worked hard to hit the ground running by putting into practice some of the principles that I found successful in the private sector. We worked to make the organization more professional by putting into place a set of standards, which hold every staff member and all organizations chartered through the RPOF accountable for conduct, productivity and results.

During my Chairmanship, the RPOF worked to build a diverse party that includes Republicans from across the state without consideration of ethnic or cultural barriers. We took steps to restructure the Party and built a vast organization based on county leadership and a strong base of grassroots volunteers, and provided local leadership with needed resources. Understanding the long-time voter registration deficit facing Florida Republicans, during my Chairmanship the RPOF allocated an unprecedented number of resources and staff to voter registration and worked with county leadership to explore new avenues to successfully change the tide in voter registration. This effort included developing a comprehensive program aimed at encouraging young Floridians, African Americans and Hispanics to consider joining the Republican Party. The results have caused a growing number of young people to join our party.

Early in my Chairmanship, I advocated for a January Presidential Preference Primary election, which brought the Republican Presidential candidates to Florida for three nationally-televised, primetime debates, hosted by RPOF, and successfully lobbied for the seating of Florida’s full delegation at the Republican National Convention. We worked with Republican clubs and organizations across Florida to get out the vote in 2008, and as a result, not a single Republican member of the Florida House or Senate was defeated and Republicans maintained a majority in Florida’s Congressional Delegation. For this fact, I will always be proud of our efforts.

After the 2008 Election, I was privileged to be one of the first leaders to endorse our new Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. I had the honor of serving as a member of the Steele Transition Team, along with recently being elected to serve as Chairman of the RNC Rules Committee, all in order to ensure Florida Republicans maintain a prominent role in the Republican National Committee.

However, despite the great progress our Party has seen over the last three years, a small but vocal group within our Party has made it a point to destroy this progress and negatively impact our opportunity for victory in 2010. There has been, as you may be aware, an effort by this group to seek my removal for reasons that hold no justification. The facts and accuracy relating to this issue have become lost and irrelevant to these disruptive efforts and despite my own efforts, in addition to the efforts of others, to correct the record with the facts and truthfulness, these divisive individuals and their efforts continue without any concern for our Party’s future.

While I am honored by your unwavering support and the support of Republican members of the Florida Legislature, many members of the State Executive Committee, and many RPOF donors, I have determined that this internal discord has many origins and political agendas, but the one common result is a detrimental effect on the Republican Party. Since 2007, I have made a point to put the best interest of the Party before my own, even when criticisms were misdirected and invalid, and I will do so again now. While some are more interested in tearing and shredding the fabric of the Republican Party to pieces, I will not be a participant in this destructive behavior. Therefore, I am putting the future of our Party first and shall step down as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida effective February, 20, 2010.

Serving as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida has been the privilege of a lifetime. My wife Lisa and I have had the opportunity to develop many long-lasting friendships. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lisa and my family for their love and unwavering support, during my Chairmanship.

I would also like to thank the talented and dedicated RPOF staff for their hard work, dedication and loyalty to our Party.

As I prepare to leave this post with Republicans maintaining a United State Senate seat, the Governor’s Mansion, three of four Cabinet posts, and strong majorities in the Florida House, Senate and Congressional Delegation, I look forward to continuing to work to elect Republicans to office, and now call upon all Republicans throughout Florida to put our differences aside, end our Party’s internal conflict and disagreements, and focus on electing Republicans in 2010.

Warmest Regards,

James A. Greer
Chairman