Phil Ammann
Newly elected Republican Party of Florida Chair Blaise Ingoglia wasted little time laying down the law.
After defeating Leslie Dougher at the annual RPOF meeting in Orlando Saturday morning, Ingoglia quickly issued a letter that served notice to all officers, staff members and consultants.
“From this moment forward,” he wrote, “the Republican Party of Florida shall not process payment, incur costs, issue checks, transfer money or make any financial commitments without strict written approval of myself or a designated member of my transition staff.”
That was only the beginning.
The new chair also summarily revoked responsibilities of all “previously delegated” staff and consultants, as well as access to the George Bush Republican Center in Tallahassee. Ingoglia will grant new access on a “case-by-case basis.”
Failure to follow the new directive will result in “immediate termination and possible litigation.”
“Please govern yourselves accordingly,” Ingoglia concludes.
The tenor of the letter, as well as its no-nonsense fiscal austerity, comes as little surprise for followers of the former RPOF vice-chair. After all, much of his notoriety and support – as well as his political career — sprang from a conservative platform of addressing wasteful spending in Tallahassee, a persistent theme throughout his campaign, and both the popular “Government Gone Wild” videos and governmentgonewild.org website.
So the letter and its fiscal sensibilities, as it was with Ingoglia’s election, did not come as a complete surprise.
Ingoglia currently represents Hernando County’s Florida House District 35, after receiving 51% of the vote in November.
Photo via Matt Dixon of the Naples Daily News.
The text of the letter:
Republican Party of Florida Officers, Staff, and Consultants,
To help ensure a smooth and orderly transition of power between the administrations of outgoing Chairman Leslie Dougher and myself, and pursuant with Republican Party of Florid a Rules and Florida Statutes, I’m instituting the following guidelines as we work through this process.
From this moment forward, the Republican Party of Florida shall not process payment, incur costs, issue checks, transfer money or make any financial commitments without strict written approval of myself or a designated member of my transition staff.
All previously delegated responsibilities of staff or consultants are hereby revoked for the purposes of conducting the business of the Republican Party of Florida. Also, please preserve and do not transmit or distribute any and all documents and records pertaining to RPOF business. This includes, but is not limited to electronic correspondence and both electronic and physical documentation and records.
As the new Chairman and President of the Florida Republican Party Building Fund, Incorporated, all access to the George Bush Republican Center, 420 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, FL, is hereby revoked pending a review of all entrance access privileges. Access to the building will be granted on a case-by-case basis in a timely manner by myself or a designated member of my transition team.
Finally, all current RPOF Staff will be retained at current salary levels until January 31, 2015 or until otherwise notified by myself or a designated member of my transition team.
Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in immediate termination and possible litigation. Please govern yourselves accordingly.
Respectfully,
Blaise Ingoglia
Chairman
Republican Party of Florida
