Willie Guardiola on October 25th

With the November Midterms looming, crunch time is coming. We need to be out there helping Republicans get elected. For some perspectives on what is at stake in this election and how we all can help, Willy is ready to rattle some cages.

A Florida Pro-Life leader and Catholic activist, Willy works tirelessly on advancing the Right to Life position as well as supporting our Republican Candidates. As an organizer of the “Trump Corner” rallies in Palm Beach Gardens and now the “DeSantis Depot” events, he’s actively involved in bringing our enthusiasm for our great Governor to the fore. Willy was recently honored at “Lobster Feast” by the Republican Party of Palm Beach County for his pro-life leadership.

Come to our October meeting and receive your dose of enthusiasm and Conservative vigor.

NOTE – With the construction completed, we will be back in the usual meeting place, The Paddock Restaurant.

---

Obituary – Club Leadership Member Carol Hurst

Carol Hurst
April 26, 1935 – August 23, 2022

Born Carol Jane Cross on April 26, 1935 in Bronx, NY and moved to Boonton Township, NJ. Graduated from Boonton High School and attended St Joe’s Nursing School. Became a nurse and worked at Barnett Memorial Hospital as a surgical scrub nurse, also worked for Dr. Ferrero Paterson, Police Doctor. Then headed the medical department at Ingersoll Rand Corporate office in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Worked as a visiting nurse for the American Cancer Society.

She moved to Florida in 1978 and resided there until passing, on Singer Island and in North Palm Beach. She was active in the Women’s Republican Party in Palm Beach County.

She is survived by Son, Marc Tiscia, two sisters (Jackie and Janet), has two granddaughters, six nieces and three nephews.

She met Jim Vizzi in 1995 whom she lived 27 joyful years together, until passing. She enjoyed the extended family from Jim’s five children and 14 grandchildren. Carol will be missed by all.

Service is on September 25, 2022 3pm – 5pm, All County Funeral Home, 131 South Lakeside Drive, Lake Worth, FL 33460.

Posted online on September 19, 2022
Published in The Palm Beach Post

Service Information
All County Funeral Home
131 South Lakeside Drive, Lake Worth, FL 33460
September 25, 2022 at 3:00 PM

Meet the Candidates – September 27

With the primary over and the November Midterms looming, come and meet some of the Republican candidates for office – from Congress to County Commission and in between.

NOTE – Because of construction at our usual meeting place (The Paddock Restaurant) we will be meeting at the Terrace instead. The entrance is just south of the Paddock entrance.

Participants as of today: (Click on the picture for their website)

Senate District 24 Erik Ankner	Senate District 26 Steve Byers	House District 87 Mike Caruso	House District 88 Ros Stevens
House District 89 Daniel Zapata	House District 92 Dorcas Hernandez	House District 93 Saulis Banionis	School District 6 Jen Showalter
Port District 5 Roderick Clarke

---

Pat Rooney at the May 24th Lunch

The May 24th meeting of the Republican Club of the Palm Beaches featured Pat Rooney, Jr. as our guest speaker. Pat is the President of the Palm Beach Kennel Club (PBKC) and has served our community in many ways including a six year stint as a State Representative in the Florida House from 2010 to 2016.

Pat’s topic was “Business and Government: Not Always on the Same Page.” Mr. Rooney began his presentation with an overview of the history of PBKC. The Club opened in 1932 and Pat’s grandfather Art Rooney bought the track in 1970. Dog Racing was one of the most popular sports in Florida from 1970 until the late 1980’s. Dog racing ceased in 2020.

Mr. Rooney discussed the factors contributing to the demise of dog racing including the states introduction of the lottery in 1986 and Indian Reservation gaming being legalized in 1987. Most recently the state convened its once in every 20 years Constitutional Revision Commission, a unique to Florida entity comprised of 37 selected individuals who propose amendments to the Florida Constitution. One amendment (Amendment 13) was placed on the ballot specifically eliminating dog racing at the end of 2020. It passed with over 70% of the statewide vote. Mr. Rooney questioned the legality of putting a specific taxed and regulated business on the ballot.

The Florida Legislature, at the direction of Governor DeSantis, recently negotiated a new compact with the Seminole Indians. This compact primarily would allow sports betting to take place throughout the state. However a district court judge found the compact in violation of another amendment which passed in 2018 (Amendment 3) which stated that only the states citizens through a referendum could expand gambling in the state. Mr. Rooney argued that since the bets would be taken on a Hard Rock App (property of the Seminoles) and since the servers for the app were on tribal lands, no citizen vote would be needed to ratify sports betting. However the district court disagreed and now the compact is on appeal and sports betting is in legal limbo.

Mr. Rooney further discussed the current viable parts of PBKC’s business: simulcast betting (authorized in 1991) where bets could be placed at PBKC on tracks across the country and poker (authorized in 1996). PBKC has the largest poker room in Florida at 64 tables. These two revenue streams have kept PBKC operational since the end of Dog Racing in 2020.

Business continually struggle with local, state, and federal regulations. Many regulations need to be reviewed to be business-friendly. For example, The Palm Beach Kennel Club can only have 3 outside events a year, and there doesn’t appear to be any Rhyme or Reason for this limitation.

For more than three decades, Pat Rooney, Jr. has been a successful businessman and respected community leader in Palm Beach County. Pat Rooney’s presentation was very informative and we appreciate his continued support. Pat has been a gracious host of the Paddock Restaurant for the Republican Club of the Palm Beaches.

---

Note: We won’t be having a June lunch in favor of the President’s Council BBQ at the South County Civic Center on June 25th.

Republican Barbeque on June 25th

The Republican Club of the Palm Beaches is happy to support the President’s Council’s

We will be having no separate club meeting in June – come out and visit our booth at the BBQ!

Kennel Club President Pat Rooney at May Meeting

Pat Rooney’s perspective as the President of the Palm Beach Kennel Club and also a 6 year Representative in the Florida House is unique. The PBKC in particular is (and was as a dog track) more regulated than many industries and he has some stories to tell. With the current business climate in the county (inflation, supply chain issues, workforce housing, etc.) and the impact to his business of the expected drawn out court fight over the Seminole Compact, how a business can navigate these challenges will be discussed.

---

In his more than three decades here, Pat Rooney has become a successful businessman and respected community leader in Palm Beach County. He is currently the President of the Palm Beach Kennel Club. Pat was a Representative in the Florida House (District 85) from 2010 to 2016, which included Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Juno Beach, the Acreage, and a part of West Palm Beach. He has also served as Governing Board Member for South Florida Water Management District from 2007-2010. Pat was also a sports co-host on local ESPN 760 AM from 2003-2010.

Mr. Rooney also serves as a Director for the Autism Project of Palm Beach County and is a Founding Board Member for Potentia Academy in Greenacres. Pat also serves as a Director and Co-Chair for the not-for-profit Rooney’s Golf Foundation, Inc., which raises money for local charities through various events held every year. He is a Board Member of The Children’s Healthcare Charity, Inc. (The Honda Classic). He has served as the Vice President for Renaissance Learning Academy, Former Director and Board President of Home Safe of Palm Beach County, Director and Board President of the FAU Honors College, Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches and Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. Pat served as a Board Member of Forum Club of the Palm Beaches and Biz PAC.

Mr. Rooney graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1986, went on to Villanova University School of Law for his Juris Doctor in 1989 and then earned his MBA from Lehigh University in 1992. Pat and his wife Patti have four children – Mary, Frannie,Patrick III and Anthony – and live in West Palm Beach. They are active members of St. Ignatius Loyola Cathedral in Palm Beach Gardens.

2022 Election Environment Discussed at April Lunch

The 2022 election was the topic discussed at our April lunch.

Fred Scheibl, RPPBC Political Director, went through the actions the GOP took in 2020 to recruit and train candidates for almost all of the state and local offices on the ballot, and build a permanent database for contacting most of the Republicans in the county. Over 1.3 million voter contacts were made on behalf of candidates, our slate, and overall GOTV efforts.

This year has some unique challenges and opportunities given the redistricting, proliferation of Vote by Mail (VBM) ballots, and election integrity risks. Fred walked through the new districts for Congress, Florida House and Senate, and the County Commission and School Board, pointing out areas where the changes give us opportunities for Republican pickups. The VBM ballots, which made up 2/3 of the votes cast in the March elections, are here to stay. In Florida, these ballots have better chance of being more safe and secure than other states given the provisions of the election law changes passed last year (SB90) and this year (HB524). These laws are only tools though, and we as a party need to be vigilant to make sure the provisions of the law are being followed. To this end, we are planning an election integrity action team (EIAT) to scrutinize election operations and make sure that it is “easy to vote but hard to cheat”.

Pam Wohlschlegel, Director of REC region 1 in the north county, explained the actions they took to win 3 out of 3 Jupiter municipal elections this year, in spite of massive spending on behalf of Democrat candidates. Jupiter is now one of the very few county municipalities with a 100% Republican Council. Pam also spoke about the organizing activities of the REC regions and how the party will be reaching voters and promoting our candidates.

Members are urged to get involved with these activities – support a candidate with time and money, join the REC, become a poll worker for the SOE to observe the system from the inside, or a poll watcher for the party, monitoring activities at the polling locations and counting center in Riviera Beach. For help getting into these activities, you can contact us at info@gopclubpb.org

Click HERE to view the maps and charts used in this meeting.

Candidates at the event were Jennifer Showalter for school board district 6, and Jane Justice spoke for Conner Frontera for district 3.

Are We Ready for Elections 2022? – Redistricting, Election Integrity and Candidate Support

Is there going to be a “red wave” this year? Nancy Pelosi doesn’t seem too worried. Her minions are busy gerrymandering districts and weakening voting laws. There can only be a “red wave” if there are fair districts, VBM ballots are not abused, and cheating is prevented.

Please join us on April 26th for a session on the outlook in Palm Beach County and what the GOP is doing to prepare.

Fred will will explain how the new PBC districts are affecting our candidates, and how we plan to address election integrity and support our slate. Pam will describe the new REC Regional organization and how her northern region is gearing up to work the coming elections. They will also talk about what YOU can do to help.

The primary election is only 4-1/2 months away. Let’s make this a winning year!

---

Fred Scheibl provides data, analysis and digital messaging for the candidates and leaders of the county GOP as Political Director. He is also a co-founder of the Palm Beach County Tea Party, Vice President of this club, and a 30 year IBM veteran.

Pam Wohlschlegel is one of seven Regional Directors of the Republican Executive Committee, responsible for the northern part of the county. A retired product manager and engineer at Hewlett Packard and Agilent who was the original President of the Palm Beach County Tea Party, Pam has been active in PBC politics for many years, most recently in supporting the winning candidates in the Jupiter Municipal races.

Representative Rick Roth on the Accomplishments of the 2022 Session

We codified many conservative aspects of the culture war in the recently ended session, but the bad news is why we had to do it. That was how Representative Rick Roth started his session review at our March meeting. “We are no longer at the edge of the abyss, we are in it!” There are those of us who are making things happen (door #1), watching what is happening (door #2), or wondering “what just happened??” (door $3). We all need to move to door #1 as quickly as we can.

With that he listed for us his “top 10” accomplishments of the session, most passed along party lines:

1. HB7 – Individual Freedom. This bill bans the teaching of Critical Race Theory, along with any other classroom discussion that could make students feel guilt or anguish because of their race. For critics who say it limits the teaching about race in American history, Rick says “bring it on”. Let’s talk about the Democrat instituted Jim Crow laws, and Woodrow Wilson’s showing of Klan movies at the White House.
2. HB1557 – Parental Rights in Education. This bill is about “age appropriateness” when discussing sex and gender topics. The critics who call it “Don’t Say Gay” are in fact agitating for the sexualization of children in grades K-3.
3. HB7051 – Post Secondary Education. This bill aims to make colleges and universities transparent, accountable and affordable. It also requires “post tenure review” for faculty every five years.
4. HB1467 – School Board Accountability. This bill makes it easier for parents and others to have input on teaching materials. It also institutes a 12 year term limit on School Board members.
5. HB5 – Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality. This is the post 15 week abortion ban that also provides money for adoptions.
6. HB539 – Nursing Home Financial Reporting. This requires nursing homes to report similar data as hospitals.
7. HB7065 – Child Welfare. The bill encourages responsible fatherhood and increases services to children that age out of foster care.
8. HB3 – Law Enforcement Officer, Benefits, Recruitment and Training. Provides compensation for LE officers as well as relocation assistance for out-of-state applicants.
9. HB524 – Election Administration. The bill takes proactive measures to strengthen election security, and ensure vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot integrity. It also creates the Office of Election Crimes and Security and requires annual voter roll cleansing.
10. HB1355 – Immigration Enforcement. This bill provides for enhanced cooperation between FL law enforcement and ICE, and prohibits a state or local governmental entity from entering into a contract with a common carrier who is transporting a person in Florida knowing that the person is an ‘unauthorized alien’.

Rick also spoke about the $112B budget that includes $33B from the federal government and provides $9M in reserves. Some of his highlights were: a $1B “inflation fund”, $2B for Medicaid programs, $2B for water resources, $125M for nursing education, $664M for state employee raises and to support a $15/hr minimum wage, money for rural broadband, a gas tax holiday in October and other goodies.

On redistricting, he pointed out that the Senate and House maps are done and approved, but the Governor is expected to veto the Congressional Map passed by the Legislature over gerrymandered districts in the north. In his guess, the veto will likely be overridden and the Congressional Districts will remain as proposed. (The club will be doing a session on redistricting and what it means in Palm Beach County in May).

For and in depth look at these bills and others, plus a budget analysis, see Rick’s written report at: Roth_Legislative_Report

Candidates at the meeting included Rob Astorino who is running for Governor of New York, and Bill Wheelen, candidate for CD21.

Representative Rick Roth’s Legislative Report

« Previous Page — Next Page »