Body heat and spirited energy from the wall-to-wall crowd Friday morning turned the freezing office space at 972 Old Camp Road on Lake Sumter Landing into an oven as Florida Governor Rick Scott, wearing a blue NAVY baseball cap, helped to kick off the Republican Party’s Campaign Headquarters Fourth of July grand opening. Campaign staffers kept turning the thermostat down as the crowd pressed ever closer to hear Florida Rep. Marlene O’Toole and Governor Scott’s messages.
Rep. Marlene O’Toole spoke with conviction about the effectiveness of local politics.
“Political success needs to begin with the grass roots,” O’Toole emphasized. “The people. We all need to get out there and tell people what we stand for — that we are for America, American jobs, American education, preserving our environment and making this country the best it can be.”
O’Toole then introduced a smiling Rick Scott .
“There isn’t a place I would rather be campaigning than in The Villages,” Scott said to much applause. “Today is the Fourth of July — and it’s another beautiful day in The Villages. This is an amazing place.” When introducing his local campaign coordinator, Ashley Gardner, he revealed how eager she was to start working for Republican candidates on the November ballot — and she only wanted to work in The Villages.
Gov. Scott asserted his belief in the power of the people.
“We can be successful in this campaign if we work hard to get out the vote,” Scott said. “We have learned the importance of talking to people — to tell them what we’re about. We need to change misconceptions and half-truths. Since I’ve been in office, we’ve helped create 250,000 more jobs and we’ve cut taxes forty times. Those are well documented facts. My opponent, Charlie Crist, raised taxes $2.2 billion when he was Florida governor. If we can effect a positive change in public opinion so it reaches critical mass, we can win this election.”
“Modern-day elections are not won with a landslide,” Scott reminded the crowd. “They are often won by a margin of a few votes, so everything we say matters — to our families, our friends and our neighbors. Tell them what we value: people need jobs, better schools, a thriving economy and a pristine environments. Let them know that we are going to continue putting Florida to work.”
The state’s 45th governor was born in Bloomington, Ill., and was raised in Kansas City, Mo. His father was a city bus and truck driver after having served in the 82nd Airborne during World War II. His mother was a clerk at J.C. Penney. Rick Scott graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and received his law degree from Southern Methodist University.
“My family struggled financially when I was growing up,” Scott said. “We lived in public housing when I started school. When my father lost his job, they repossessed our car. My mother took in ironing so we could buy groceries. That’s why I’m committed to helping Florida families find jobs that can turn into careers. I know very well that one job can, and often does, change a life.:
Scott served as a radar man with the U.S. Navy on active duty aboard the USS Glover, and attended college and law school on the G.I. bill before beginning his successful business career.
Also on hand to welcome the governor were Sumter County Commissioners Al Butler, Garry Breeden, Don Burgess, Doug Gilpin and Don Hahnfeldt. Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer plus officers of the Tri-County Republican Clubs and The Villages Tea Party all came out to celebrate the start of Gov. Scott’s re-election campaign.
The Republican Campaign Headquarters in The Villages will be staffed by volunteers from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays until the Victory Party on Election Day, Nov. 4.
