Thrasher hires executive director for Florida Republican Party
by Michael C. Bender | February 24th, 2010It’s Ronnie Whitaker, who’ll be paid $100,000 (rather modest when considering the $400,000+ earned by his predecessor, Delmar Johnson).
Whitaker most recently served as a regional political field director for the Republican State Leadership Committee where he was developing strategy for Republican lieutenant governors, attorneys general, secretaries of state and state House and state Senate caucuses in a 25 state region. He was also a former field representative for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Whitaker also served as communications director for the Republican Party of Virginia, where he also managed the ultimately unsuccessful U.S. House campaign for Kevin Triplett. He worked as a senior legislative assistant for Florida U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw and former U.S. Rep. Dan Miller and as a legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas.
A graduate of Crescent City High School in Crescent City, Florida, Whitaker earned a degree in Political Science from Florida State University. Whitaker and his wife Jenny Whitaker, of Delray Beach, Florida, currently reside in Tallahassee, Florida.
“Ronnie recently returned to Florida after having gained political experience over the last 12 years on Capitol Hill and assisting Republican campaigns in 27 states,” party Chairman John Thrasher said. “For the past several months, he has been working closely with Speaker Allan Bense on the Victory 2010 effort within the Republican Party of Florida, and I am confident his experience in that position will help make the current transition as seamless as possible.”
Thrasher on Tuesday announced his transition team, which includes Martin County Republican Chairman Mark Klingensmith. That press release:
Republican Party of Florida Chairman, State Senator John Thrasher today appointed several members of the Republican State Executive Committee to the RPOF Transition Team. The team will be responsible for overseeing a comprehensive transition of the RPOF as it relates to staffing, committee appointees and general structure, a financial review and forensic audit of the organization and continued planning of the Victory 2010 effort.
Appointees to the transition team include RPOF Vice Chairman Debra Cox Roush of Hillsborough County, Former House Speaker Allen Bense of Bay County, Chairman Stafford Jones of Alachua County, Committeewoman Cindy Graves of Duval County, Chairman R.B. Davis of Hamilton County and Chairman Mark Klingensmith of Martin County.
“I am grateful to each of these members for their commitment to a thorough and rapid transition and look forward to their counsel as we move forward,” said Chairman Thrasher. “I would like to re-affirm my commitment to listening to and communicating with not only the members of the transition team, but each member of the committee as we begin this important process.”
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
