RPOM History
"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done."
President Ronald Reagan - Oct. 27, 1964
The ideals of the Republican National Committee,
Republican Party of Florida and
Manatee County Republican Party:
core principles of:
lower taxes,
less government,
and more freedom,
with,
personal responsibility and accountability.
The Manatee County Republican Party is proud of its long and successful influence in Florida's legislative history.
Because of the contributions of the officials below, and, many other individuals, for over two decades, the Republican-led Legislature in the State of Florida, has focused on innovative ideas to make revolutionary gains in our education system while keeping our communities safe and protecting our most vulnerable citizens.
1982 - Peggy Simone is the first woman elected to the state legislature and the second Republican elected to the Florida House of Representatives from Manatee County.
1984 - Manatee County Republican voter registration surpasses Democrat voter registration for the first time and has maintained its Republican dominance ever since.
1990 - Manatee County resident John McKay is elected to the Florida Senate. It is his first, and, last, public office.
1992 - For the first time all Manatee County Constitutional Officers are Republicans.
1994 - Repulican candidate Mark Flanagan un-seats an incumbent Democrat and wins Florida House District 68.
1996 - Mark Flanagan is re-elected to a second term.
1996 - Manatee County participated in the first Republican majority gain in the Florida House of Representatives since 1874 by electing Florida Representative Mark Flanagan, and, re-electing Florida State Representative, Mark Ogles.
1996 - Because of this majority gain, Representative Daniel Webster became the first Republican Florida Speaker of the House since Reconstruction. In this same cycle, Toni Jennings became the first Republican woman Senate President.
1998 - Manatee County and many Floridians continued this trend and elected Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
1998 - For the first time ever, Florida enjoyed a Republican Legislature, Cabinet, and Executive Branch.
2000 - Mike Bennett is elected to the Florida House of Representatives.
2000 - Manatee County played a prominent role in the continuing Republican Revolution when Manatee County resident and State Senator, John McKay was elected President of the Florida Senate.
2002 - Representative Mike Bennett is elected to the Florida Senate.
2002 - Bill Galvano is elected to the Florida House of Representatives.
2002 - Ron Reagan is elected to the Florida House of Representatives.
2002 - Republicans maintain dominance of the Florida Legislature.
2002 - Manatee County and Floridians re-elect Governor Jeb Bush making him the first Republican in the state's history to be re-elected as Governor. Bush is also the first Governor to hold office while having a brother simultaneously serve as President.
2003 - Former Senate President Toni Jennings, who served a historic two-term Senate presidency, becomes Florida's 16th Lieutenant Governor, the first woman to hold the office in state history.
2004 - Floridians and Manatee County residents elect Mel Martinez to the United States Senate, where he becomes the only Cuban-American immigrant to serve in the Senate.
2006 - The people of Manatee County and Florida elect Charlie Crist as the state's 44th Governor.
2007 - Marco Rubio becomes the first Cuban-American to serve as Speaker of the Florida House.
2008 - Manatee Counties influence in the state legislature continues. Speaker-designate names Manatee County State Representative Bill Galvano (R- District 68) Chairman of the Rules and Calendar Council and Manatee County State Representative Ron Reagan (R-District 67) Majority Whip and Floor Leader.
2009 - Speaker of the House steps aside, Florida House Republicans elect Representative Larry Cretul Speaker of the House and Manatee County State Representative Ron Reagan (R- District 67) Speaker Pro Tempore for the remainder of the 2009 - 2010 legislative biennium.
2009 - Syndicated television and radio host, author, and former Florida Congressman, the Honorable Joe Scarborough renders the Keynote address at the 2009 Lincoln Day Dinner. The Manatee County Republican Party's roots run deep with donor, activist and leadership support.
The Republican Party of Manatee County is grateful to these individuals who have had a significant and direct impact on the growth, influence and sustainability of the Manatee County Republican Party.
Platinum Sponsors:
Congressman Vern & Sandy Buchanan
Neal Communities
Schroeder Manatee Ranch
Manatee County Victory Award Recipients:
Pat & Charlene Neal
Neal Communities
Sheriff Charlie B. Wells
Women of Manatee County Republican Club
Manatee County Volunteer of the Year Recipients:
2000 - Linda Clements
2001 - Shirley Marshall
2002 - Mary Tupper
2003 - Vaughan Scott
2004 - Kulani Rozelle
2005 - Mae McLeod
2006 - Mae McLeod
2007 - Freda Tussey
2008 - Janine Hoffman
Manatee County Republican Party Chairman:
Joe Fink
Marge Farnham
Bob Belino
Jessie Carr
1984 - 1992 Karen van Ness
1992 - 1994 Joyce Williams
1994 - 2002 Donna Hayes
2002 - 2003 Paul Sharff
2003 - 2004 Donna Hayes
2004 - 2006 Mark Flanagan
2006 - current Kathleen King
Manatee County Republican State Committeewomen:
Mary Catheryn Haller
1992 - 1994 Donna Hayes
1994 - 1996 Nancy Carolan
1996 - current Peggy Simone
Manatee County Republican State Committeemen:
1982 - 1990 Ken McLeod
1990 - 1996 Jim McGrath
1996 - current Ed Reid
