Peter Schorsch
Rep. Joe Gruters is backing Rep. Paul Renner to be House Speaker in 2022-24.
The Sarasota Republican said while he thinks everyone in the running for the position would do a great job, he felt Renner is the best person at this time. Gruters said he’s decided to make his position known because he didn’t want to give anyone false expectations or lead any candidates on.
“Like all my votes in the Legislature, I am committing to the person who I think is the best to lead our class,” he said in a message.
Freshmen House Republicans are scheduled to meet on June 30 to select their class leader and, assuming the GOP maintains its control of the Florida House in the next decade, the likely House Speaker for the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions.
Last weekend, a majority of GOP freshmen met at the Vose Law Firm in Winter Park. The meeting gave members a chance to hear from four likely candidates — Renner, Byron Donalds, Randy Fine, and Jamie Grant — ahead of the vote.
Gruters’ backing could be a sign of good things to come for Renner, a Palm Coast Republican first elected to the Florida House in a 2015 special election.
Gruters, the longtime chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota County, was an early supporter of Gov. Rick Scott, a little known Republican candidate for Governor back in 2010. He organized one of Scott’s first rallies in Sarasota, offering up free pie to attendees. Held near a retirement community, the rally attracted about 300 people.
His loyalty to the Governor has continued over the years. In March, Gruters was one of 28 House members who voted against a bill (HB 7005) that would have totally eliminated Enterprise Florida. He also voted against a measure (HB 9) to, among other things, slash funding for Visit Florida. Both bills were sponsored by Renner, and neither cleared the Senate.
Gruters was also an early supporter of President Donald Trump. He was the co-chair of Trump’s presidential campaign in Florida, convinced Trump to put his Florida primary headquarters in Sarasota, and helped build a network of loyalists in all 67 counties. He was one of his staunchest supporters throughout the campaign, often acting as a surrogate.
Gruters, a certified public accountant by trade, has been mentioned as possible contender to replace CFO Jeff Atwater, who is leaving his post to take a job at Florida Atlantic University. He has also been mentioned as one of several Floridians who could be tapped for an ambassadorship or a position within the Trump administration.
