Florida for Davidson?
Written by Mark Harris on April 26th, 2005Well can this get weirder… Obviously this is a blow to the Gourley folks, but I must say even as a Davidson supporter I am curious as to what exactly went down here. Were promises made? Were arms twisted? I don’t know but I think more questions need to be asked. An official with the Davidson campaign stated that the state Chair of Florida has not been offered a spot in exchange for Florida’s votes and there was no quid-pro-quo. I mean overriding the vote of the Fed seems a bit shady to me and I would like a better explanation than this.
Fellow College Republicans,
A good friend once told me, “Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.”
Michael Davidson has done that. Michael is the right choice for Florida. He is the best choice for the CRNC.
The College Republicans of Florida had previously issued an endorsement. The move proved premature. Careful revision of both candidates and their platforms reveals that Michael Davidson is the clear choice. Michael has impressive experience and a more exciting vision for YourCRNC.
Michael’s work at the University of California – Berkeley and with the California College Republicans distinguishes him as a leader of unique talent and ability. Using the lessons he acquired while at Berkeley, Michael transformed the California federation. He increased funding by 10,000%, carried the Republican message to over 70 campuses, all the while empowering each individual chapter and cutting down on bureaucratic, wasteful spending at the state level. It is a feat I can only hope to replicate here in Florida.
Michael will bring the same initiative and energy when elected Chairman of the CRNC. Both candidates promise increased regional coordination and boast an impressive technology plan. Michael was the first in this race to focus on regional integration. The CCR website is ample proof of promises made being promises kept. Both candidates pledge increased funding for the states. Again, let the record speak for itself. Florida received $0 from the CRNC in 2004 under Gourley’s watch as CRNC Treasurer. I’d expect no more just because of a change in title. YourCRNC keeps money at the state level where it is most needed and best spent. Only Michael has done it, only Michael can do it. The decision was deliberated, our final choice clear: Michael Davidson for CRNC Chairman.
The change in Florida’s endorsement should not be seen as ambivalence but as open, honest engagement of both candidates. Now that we have reached an agreement and the majority is unified, we are prepared to focus on the business of running a state federation. We look forward to working with Michael next year.
Besides, who better than Florida to say, “We actually voted for Paul Gourley…before we voted against him.”
Thomas Jardon
Chairman, College Republicans of Florida
crflorida@gmail.com
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Mark, I have no interest in caring about the CRNC race, but when someone says there has been no quid pro quo, they’re lying. Your guy is looking pretty good now though.
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Wow, Gourley is in trouble…..
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haha… Hard times for Gourley recently. Mississippi switches, Alabama endorses Davidson, the pro-Gourley NC delegates are on the verge of getting axed, and now this…
Watch the federations who supported Gourley out of the fact that his victory was “a sure thing” fold one by one.
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If you’re Gourley you have to be worrying…..You have to ask yourlself how long it will be before Hoplin endorses Gourley to attempt to stop people from jumping.
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To the contrary there has been no quid pro quo or anything else prompting Tom Jardon’s decision to switch the endorsement.
Sometimes people come to realize that maybe they didn’t make the best decision. Sometimes the decision that one makes can seem like the right one at the time but when one has actually had a chance to reflect on that decision, a person realizes they should have gone a different route.
In politics a change in direction such as this often has consequences. Tom’s aware of that and as he told me when we discussed this for over an hour last night, he’s prepared to take responsibility for that because he deeply feels this is the right decision for Florida.
As the Vice Chairman of the College Republicans of Florida I think that how ever this decision may be characterized by others, admiting you may not have previously made the best choice and then accepting responsibility for that by doing what is best, is one of the true marks of leadership. As such, I’m proud to stand beside my chairman Tom Jardon.
I would also say in response to the comment about Tom encountering a problem if Gourley wins, I would say perhaps you should consider that although our last state chair Sheri Valera was as close to the current CRNC power structure as it’s possible to be, Florida received nothing of appreciable value due to that relationship - except that Sheri’s mom got a free trip to New York last August. To borrow a line from President Bush, if reprisals against us are being contemplated then I say “bring it on.” You’ll find us a very formidable opponent.
Scott Wacholtz, Vice Chairman
College Republicans of Florida
Sergeant, US Marine Corps 1987 - 1994
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Andrew, if you have proof of a quid pro quo, please offer it up, I’m sure we’d like to hear it. If not, let’s not go throwing baseless accusations around against anyone, Gourley or Davidson.
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I think Andrew was more commenting on the fact that 9/10 when people deny quid-pro-quo, one really does exist. No need to get feisty Anon#7.
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There’s no real reason to assume something before it happens. And it’s not like all quid pro quo’s are bad.
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I respect that you ask the questions that need asking, even when the story benifits your candidate. Much better than some of the other blogs.
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Scott,
I may be wrong but don’t you support Gourley? I thought you were identified as such.
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Ed,
No. I am very careful with what I say (or at least I try to be). I said I supported our endorsement of Gourley because I support Tom.
In my view unless the head of the organization commits to a path that is immoral (the CRNC race does not enter into that realm), it is the duty of the Vice Chair or Vice President to support him in public. Whatever my actual opinion was, I gave public support to my Chairman. My personal feelings on policy are left to private discussions with him.
Scott Wacholtz, Vice Chairman, College Republican of Florida
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Gourley is the biggest head-wagger there is in CR politics. He can’t do anything to Flordia. He is probably out suspender shopping with Hoplin thinking he is still going to win while his campaign in emploding. If Flordia didn’t get anything last year how can Gourley “hurt” them or do anyone else for that matter. The only federation that stands to lose anything is Minisota and even they would make more money with Davidson’s 50-50 split plan than Hoplin and Gourley kicked back this past year. This new Chair Tina seems fair minded I’m sure she will end up doing what is best for her state just like Mississippi, Alabama, and Flordia have done before it is over too.
Gourley’s done- no one looking at this race from an outside look would think that he is the right man for the job.
He has virtually copied Davidson’s platform bit by bit, has a crapy website that is never updated (running on a tech. platform???) and declared victory about 2 months premature- I’ll while plagued by a fundraising scandal (”what fundraising scandal” doesnt cut it anymore Paul).
From the day Davidson supporters hit the ground running at CPAC till now- it is clear who wants it more, who really cares about reform, who can make it happen next year and who will win. My moneys on Davidson and YourCRNC.
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You’re welcome to email me about this Alex, but I heard some interesting rumors about what the vote was there and I’m checking into it.
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Thanks Mark. A clarification to Anonymous: I don’t have evidence of a quid pro quo because I literally don’t care.
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It’s really great to see Tommy standing up for what’s right. To see a chairman admit the fact that he made a bad decision and then publicly correct it gives you faith in the CR’s.
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