The chairwoman of the Republican Party of Florida, Leslie Dougher, visited The Villages on Thursday. She spoke to members of the Republican Club of Sumter Landing at Lake Miona Regional Recreation Center about her party’s plans and strategies — leading up to the presidential election in November, 2016.
Republican State Committeeman, John Calandro, introduced Dougher to the packed room with a bit of humor. “Despite being from California — we will have to forgive her for that — Leslie Dougher espouses our Republican values and goals of lower taxes, less government and pride in individual responsibility and achievement. She took after her two conservative parents and graduated high school during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. She was inspired in large part to become involved in politics by Reagan’s message “let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
“Dougher’s background,” Calandro continued, “includes banking, human resources, economic development and real estate. In 1995, she moved to Clay County, Florida — and has been involved in grass roots efforts ever since — moving up within the Republican organization there.”
Dougher began her talk by thanking everyone for coming out and being involved, and for all their work to get Gov. Rick Scott re-elected. “If all of you just sat home and didn’t get involved, we would not have our victory,” she said. “Thank you for manning the phones, going door-to-door and discussing issues of vital importance to our state and our country with your friends and neighbors. We want to keep painting Florida red right through until 2016.
“You all want to know what our plans for 2015 and 2016 are — and that’s simple,” Dougher quipped. “I can tell you in one word: W-I-N. We want to win, and we will win.”
It;s early — we must firm up our platform and iron out some issues — and we have the debates and the primary process to get through. I have to hope that we don’t let our differences eviscerate our party — we need to make sure that doesn’t happen. We need to unite.”
“We are a diverse group,” Dougher said. “Republicans will never agree on every issue, or on everything a candidate stands for. But if we agree with mostly everything, we must set our differences aside and unite. I would rather get a Republican with conservative values in office,” Dougher continued, than not vote because I didn’t like his or her religion or stance on one issue. The survival of America, and the American way is at stake — make no mistake,” she continued.
“We did many things right,” Dougher continued, “and we must do more of them. We must target the right people with the right message. Good communication is key. When Hispanics and other immigrants come here, they often think ‘This is a Democracy, so I guess I should vote Democratic.’ But, when they discuss what they want and where they stand on issues, they realize they really are Republicans. So, we have to get out there and talk with Hispanics, with African-Americans, with women — with our teachers, union members — our high school and college students — everybody. We have to make sure people understand what Republicans stand for — and that their vote is private. Nobody knows how they vote with their secret ballot — so they shouldn’t let their professors, employers or union leaders threaten or intimidate them.”
In answer to a question, Dougher said she’s not worried about Hillary Clinton as a possible candidate. “She has done so many things wrong, there is so much we can counter about Hillary. I’d just love to debate the issues with her. She wouldn’t win.”
Aileen Milton, president of The Villages Tea Party, expressed her appreciation to all the Republican and Tea Party members for the high call volume achieved to help re-elect Gov. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Congressman Rich Nugent, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, and all other conservative candidates. “I also want to thank all the volunteers who covered the polling places on Election Day. This is about our survival,” Milton emphasized. “It is important for people who want to ensure the future of our country — for America to survive — to unite under one conservative banner and win.
“Our Tea Party brings in key speakers, and does live broadcasts of our meetings,” Milton added. “We use our website and UTube videos to not only reach Republicans, like the group in this room, but to go beyond, and tell a much wider audience what our conservative message is. Our videos reach hundreds of thousands of people.”
Joanne Cooper of Republican Federated Women of The Villages also thanked the people who made thousands of phone calls. She announced the group’s Dec. 10 annual Jingle Mingle cocktail party to be held at Lake Miona Rec Center from 4 to 7 p.m., and invited all Republicans and their guests to join her.
Gary Davis, in charge of nominations for The Republican Club of Sumter Landing, presented the slate of new officers for 2015, which was approved by the membership. John Black will take over the reins as president at the Jan. 8, 2015 meeting from Joe Elliott, and retired Navy Captain David Lausman will be the new vice president. Eileen Doherty will assume the duties of club secretary. There will be no December club meeting — instead, there will be a social evening at Garvino’s on Canal Street at Lake Sumter Landing at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9.