February Meeting Featured School Board Member Gloria Branch

The state of the Palm Beach County School District is healthy according to district 5 Board Member Gloria Branch. As one of the conservative members, Gloria looks at the district as a business, with costs and results.

Currently the 10th largest school district in the US, it is “A” rated by the Florida Department of Education with a 96.7% graduation rate. 91% of its high schools are rated “A” or “B”. It is also the largest public food provider in the county, serving 32.8 million meals in a year to its 160,000 students.

Good results are not free of course as the district operates with a budget of $5.9B. Declining enrollments will put pressure on this budget as state payments are per-pupil, but Gloria does not expect to see any school closures as a result. This is unlike Broward county which expects to close 6 or more schools this year. Competition from charters (which are publicly funded) and the voucher program which supports private education are part of the reason for the decline, and we expect changing demographics and the departure of illegal immigrant students contribute as well. The district budget is aided by a 1 mill property tax adder passed by the voters in 2022, and a 1/2 cent sales tax surcharge for capital projects passed in 2024

A great slogan, Gloria sees the mission of the district to be teaching students to “Read, Write, Count and Love America”.

In a short Q&A session, she addressed the recent student ICE protests (“those kids are in trouble”), and the district’s support for the 250 year anniversary celebration with an essay contest to be announced.

In the candidate part of the meeting, we heard from former Representative Rick Roth who is running for Senate District 26 this year, and gubernatorial candidate Caneste Succe. The D+6 Senate district is currently held by Lori Berman who is term limited, and Rick expects to face Democrat and former Representative David Silvers. The Republican primary for these races will be held in August.

Sara Baxter and Jon Maples Highlight January Meeting

Our first meeting of the new year started with County Mayor Sara Baxter. Elected in 2022 in what was a D+7 district 6, her re-election chances look good with the district having improved to now R+1. She has drawn a primary challenger in Elizabeth Accomando though, as there is some angst among REC types that she does not always toe the party line. That comes with being independent – she supports things that are right for her constituents and the county, which are sometimes at odds with Republican orthodoxy (like supporting Democrat Ric Bradshaw for Sheriff).

Her priorities for the commission include achieving “roll-back rate” on the millage, and building and maintaining our infrastructure. She seeks solutions to our traffic problems but does not see Palm Tran as the answer, as the buses are never full and it costs a large amount of money. Giving every current bus user a ride-share voucher would be cheaper than what we have now.

Sara favors affordable housing, but not through high density construction that makes the traffic worse. Our roads need better timing of traffic lights and smart technology to manage growth. She praised our new County Administrator Joe Abruzzo for bringing accountability through performance reviews and merit raises instead of across the board COLA policies, and simplifying vender applications for county contracts.

Given the coming proposal for a “Transportation” sales tax surcharge, Sara urges us to vote NO!

The second speaker was Jon Maples who just won the House District 87 primary and will face a Democrat in the special election on March 24th. Jon talked about his priorities if elected and asked for support, and gave his personal view of an approach to limiting property taxes by providing insurance deductions. The current Legislative session is considering various ways to cut taxes at the local level. Regarding CFO Blaise Ingoglia’s claim of overspending in the county budget, Sara added that he is “running for election” and hasn’t provided any concrete examples of wasteful spending. If they want to “DOGE” the county, they need to get more specific.

Candidates who spoke at the end of the meeting included:

Jon Maples HD87
Boca Mayor Scott Singer running for CD23
Elizabeth Accomando (CC6)
Selena Samios (RPB Council)

CD22 candidate Deb Adeimy was also present but did not speak.

Jexit at October Meeting

Our October meeting featured President Michele Terris and Event Coordinator Karyn Basle of Jexit.

They started the meeting with a short video in which Jexit presented President Trump the “American Defender of Zion” award at Mar-a-Lago in 2022. The award recognizes President Trump for having done more than any other U.S. president for Israel and the Jewish people. During his time as president, he moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israeli sovereignty of the Golan Heights and brokered the Abraham Accords.

Michelle described her start in 2018 fighting the Broward Supervisor of Elections over the vote counting. She described the difficulty of convincing Jewish voters to abandon the Democrats, and that she is the first non-Dem in her family. Progress is being made however as in 2024, 43% Jewish voters went for Trump, up from the teens in 2016.

Part of the problem she described is that surprisingly, 70% of mainstream American Jews are not religious, lean far left, and most do not care what happens to Israel. Orthodox Jews on the other hand are conservative and vote 2:1 Republican.

Our education efforts in this regard should feature the early efforts of Jews in the American Revolution, such as Haym Salomon who was a member of the Sons of Liberty and helped finance the Continental Congress.

Hatred of Jews is an age old problem – currently 69% of all hate in the US is directed at Jews who make up less that 2% of the population. Michelle described the desire of many during Covid, when we were being lied to by our government, to see religious leaders (Christian and Jews) stand up and tell the truth, as we (and they) are the last line of defense against the Global Jihad and the communists in our midst.

Also at the meeting were candidates Gretchen Feng (HD87), Deb Adeimy (CD22). Angela Templeton acted as a surrogate for Jon Maples (also HD87)

Note that there will be a special primary election on January 13th and a general election on March 24th to replace Mike Caruso who has been appointed Palm Beach County Clerk. Mike’s wife Tracy is also running, in addition to Gretchen and Jon.

Professor James Todd on Lawfare and What to Do About It

Our May speaker was Professor James Todd of Palm Beach Atlantic, who gave us an interesting perspective on the lawfare being waged against the Trump Agenda by the left and their hand picked partisan judges. Laying out the actions taken by the ACLU, blue state attorney generals and others, he listed some of the areas of attack and suggested some remedies that could be taken in defense.

Counting up the unprecedented number of lawsuits filed against his actions since President Trump took office, Dr. Todd found 214 cases filed (215 with the just filed NPR case). Of these, so far 88 have gone against the administration while 49 did not, an almost 2 to 1 margin. Most of the losses have been in the area of immigration, with mass deportations a particular target.

Some of the hysterical media coverage has involved the Alien Enemies Act and what constitutes “due process” for those deported under it. Judge Boasberg of the DC circuit for example, had begun contempt proceedings against the administration until halted by SCOTUS, for not following his orders to return planes in the air and bring back gang members from El Salvador. Articles of impeachment against this judge have even been introduced in the House. One could ask if these criminal members of Tren de Aragua, (which is listed as a terrorist organization and likely influenced if not controlled by the Maduro government) cannot be deported then who can? As many of these already have existing final orders of removal, what further “due process” would be contemplated?

Other prominent cases involve the canceling of temporary protective status (TPS) (for Venezuelans, Haitians, Afghans and Cameroonians), birthright citizenship and the meaning of the 14th Amendment, Harvard’s right to taxpayer dollars, and many of the anti DEI actions at various levels. All of these are large and important issues affecting foreign policy and national security, and SCOTUS will likely vindicate the Trump actions but it will certainly delay the agenda. Also, fighting Trump is a good resume item for leftist judges and law firms – they will be amply rewarded for being effective roadblocks.

It is interesting to note that the lawsuits against Obama and Biden by the states wanting existing immigration laws to be enforced were defeated because “only the federal government can set immigration policy”, yet when a Republican tries to act under that principal it is rejected. Mass inbound migration YES, mass deportation NO.

Professor Todd identified his hero in all this – Judge James Ho of the 5th circuit Court of Appeals. Appointed by Donald Trump in the first term, Judge Ho rebuked the Supreme Court for blocking the Alien Enemies Act deportations. He expressed frustration over what he saw as excessive expectations placed on lower courts, particularly regarding emergency motions filed at odd hours. In his concurrence, he famously remarked, “We seem to have forgotten that this is a district court—not a Denny’s,” highlighting his concern that courts were being expected to operate like 24-hour diners. Judge Ho is thought to be on the short list for the next Supreme Court opening if one appears during Trump’s term.

Some of the remedies that Professor Todd considers useful:

• SCOTUS could rule against national injunctions in the birthright case or others, though he thinks only Alito and Thomas would likely be willing
• Congress could end them but it would take 60 votes – perhaps it could be attached to a must-pass bill. Democrats have opposed these when the shoe is on the other foot
• Congress could clarify the scope of judicial power
• Trump could suspend Habeas Corpus on an emergency basis
• Congress or the administration could reform the asylum system
• Congress can certify the DOGE cuts (rescission bill?)
• Congress can abolish departments – like the department of Education
• SCOTUS could clarify the 14th amendment on birthright citizenship (stop for illegals but likely allowing “birth tourism”)
• SCOTUS could clarify that a President can fire or disband any “policy making” employee or agency
• SCOTUS could recertify that a actions under the Foreign Enemies Act are not subject to judicial review to second guess a President

Also speaking at the meeting were Gretchen Feng who is running for House District 87, and Chair Rosemary O’Meara of the President’s council to discuss the barbeque on June 14th.

Thoughts on National Security with Brigadier General Mark Holler

Our speaker on April 22nd was retired Brigadier General Mark Holler. A club member, General Holler brings a wealth of insight and experience to the topic of National Security Policy.

He began his talk by listing the key national security influences – Politics, Policy and Strategy.

In the political domain, our past approaches to the world have been defined by the theories of realism (enduring competition among self interested states), liberalism (relations governed by international law and the sovereign equality of states) and institutionalism (a dependence on enduring international organizations that establish rules for states to follow).

Although some would argue that Reagan and Nixon (with Kissinger) were realists, Mark argues that Donald Trump is the first true realist we have had as President since World War II. That rings true as nothing is more realist than “America First”.

Mark describes the Trump foreign policy as two objectives: End America’s decline; and Advance US Supremacy for national security.

We as a nation are in decline in so many areas, such as open borders, excessive national debt, DEI, military readiness, trade imbalances and supply chain dependencies, and the Trump agenda is addressing them all by using all the levers of national power. These include Diplomatic (peace talks, bilateral meetings with other leaders), Information (end running the legacy media with Truth Social, X, YouTube, Rumble), Military (major improvements in recruiting, judicious but active use), and Economic (sanctions, tariffs, energy dominance, DOGE).

Overall, Mark was optimistic for the future.

In the Q&A session, he was asked about triggering China (steps to head off a ran at Taiwan), Russia (2nd best army in Ukraine, not the world), military action against Iran (yes, probably) and our vulnerability to hypersonic weapons (classified but we have them too).

Chairman Carl Cascio Looks Ahead

Our February speaker was Carl Cascio, Chairman and former general Counsel of the county GOP.

Carl laid out his goals which included unifying the party apparatus of the REC, turning the county red in that we can win county-wide elections, and taking advantage of the opportunities that all of President Trump’s activities present.

Listing the percentage of voters who are Republican (32.4%), Democrat (36.5%) and independent (31.1%), he described a voter registration drive aimed at converting the independents. The county continues to improve for Republicans every month, currently standing at D+4.1.

He sees the culture changing after the 2024 election, where it is now “cool” to wear the MAGA hat in public where it was once a dangerous practice. We must relate to people through our values.

On the Trump administration, he says “get ready” – we have only scratched the surface of what is to come. Trump is the world’s best counterpuncher in politics and he is not going to put up with the likes of Jamie Raskin and others on the left anymore. In Congress, Republicans are mostly on the same side and the few who try to gum up the works so far have not been able to stop the agenda or the confirmations.

Closer to home, Carl envisions a DOGE for Palm Beach County to focus on the County budget, which has become bloated and expensive, and he wants to “audit” the county books.

At the end of the meeting we also heard from State Committeewoman Jodi Schwartz who gave us a Tallahassee update and invited people to attend “Palm Beach County day”, party Vice-Chair Jason Kulp who spoke about Lincoln Day on April 11th, and Royal Palm Beach Vice-Mayor Selena Samios who is running for Mayor in the March 11th election.

PBCGOP Chairman with Election Preview

Our September meeting featured county GOP Chairman Kevin Neal.

Starting with a discussion of the six statewide amendments on the ballot, he focused in on the Marijuana proposal (Amendment 3) and some comments from Governor DeSantis at a recent event. If passed, this amendment will be a large economic boon to Trueleive, the company that runs most of the medical marijuana dispensaries in the state. Contrary to popular belief, this amendment (if passed) would not allow you to grow your own, nor would it open up the market to a lot of competition – instead it will provide a bunch of new customers for Trueleive, the company that is largely funding the drive to pass this amendment.

On amendment 4, what the Governor calls the “abortion until birth” amendment, it is interesting that the text does not use the term “physician” and implies that anyone could legally perform an abortion if passed.

Kevin pointed out that both of these amendments (3 and 4) are funded by George Soros.

On another topic, vote-by-mail (VBM), Kevin shared some interesting statistics. It is important to request a VBM ballot for a lot of reasons, but specifically those that receive one are 2-6 times MORE likely to vote in the election. Since Democrats typically outpace us by large numbers in VBM, the implications are clear. He also asked people to vote early, either with VBM or at early voting – the longer you wait, the more the candidates need to spend to push you to do so. Vote early and most of the political text, mail, emails and calls will stop.

Several county races are of particular interest. HD89, a D+13 open seat, is a potential pickup (although long shot) for Daniel Zapata. We also have a shot at Anne Gerwig defeating incumbent Katherine Waldron in D+6 HD93. R+3 HD91 (Peggy Gossett Seidman) and R+1 HD94 (open – Megan Weinberger) are tight and we need focus to hold on to these Republican seats. We also have a shot at SB5, also an R+1 open seat that Gloria Branch could win and end a several decade hold by the Dems.

Also at the meeting were candidates Michael Gauger (D+5 Sheriff), Page Lewis (R+17 SB1), and Ted Sarandis (D+9 Port of PB group 2).

RCPB School Board Candidate Forum

On July 23rd, the five School Board candidates from Districts one and five that are Republicans introduced themselves to our members. They are all on the ballot for the August 20th election.

We also used this meeting to award this year’s Anne Roberts Scholarship. See: Scholarship Winners.

From north county’s district one, which is mostly north of Northlake Blvd in Palm Beach Gardens we had Matt Lane and Page Lewis. From south county district five, which is mostly Boca Raton, we had Gloria Branch, Suzanne Page and Mike Letsky. (Left to right in the above photo.)

First up, Matt Lane went through his extensive list of endorsements and relevant experience as a public official (Palm Beach Gardens Council) and manager. His priorities include getting back to basics (reading, writing, math), not DEI and CRT. He would prioritize spending to hire and retain the best teachers, promote technical education, and insure the health and safety of the students.

Next was Page Lewis who listed some of her life experiences that have molded her worldview. She ran a restaurant, lived on an island, and has survived hurricanes. In order to fund her non-profit that teaches remedial reading in places like Belle Glade she started selling houses. She says she is in the race for the families and is not a politician.

Jumping down to district five, Gloria Branch listed her endorsements, the boards she has served on and her non-profits that she started. With a background in banking, she is a substitute teacher and like Matt would prioritize the basics in the curriculum.

Suzanne Page, a college professor with a doctorate in Economics, also has a background in banking. She would challenge the school district budget and asks where all that money really goes. In 2020 she ran for this seat against incumbent Frank Barbieri and achieved 40% of the vote. One aspect of the pandemic she mentioned was that as students worked from home, their parents got a look at what was going on in the classroom and didn’t always like what they saw.

Mike Letsky, an enterpreneur and engineer has kids in the district. He sees the schools system as a business and points out the problem of high teacher attrition. He would focus on school safety and the budget, and has filed a records request to examine the budget in detail. He notes that test scores are lower than pre-pandemic and thinks students should master basic math before using laptops for all their work. He would structure pay to encourage retention of experienced teachers.

After a short Q&A session in which all the candidates participated, we had our open mike session for other candidates.

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At the end of the meeting, we heard from:

Anne Roberts Scholarship Winners

At our regular lunch meeting on July 23rd, the Anne Roberts scholarships for the 2024-25 school year were awarded to two deserving students by our Scholarship chairman Bette Anne Starkey.

The Anne Roberts Memorial Scholarship is available to any resident of Palm Beach County who is a full or part time undergraduate or graduate student seeking to further their education. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or above and plan to attend an accredited college. Applicants must be registered (or pre-registered under 18 yrs. of age) Republicans. Current members of our Club may refer applicants for this scholarship.

William Hernandez (third from left) with his parents and club leaders:

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The club has been awarding these scholarships since 2009, with the following winners:

• 2024: William Hernandez, Palm Beach State, aeronautical engineering and Nate Waldstein, Univ of Central FL, Lakeland, business marketing
• 2023: Grace Templeton, Southeastern, Lakeland – sophomore
• 2022: no scholarships
• 2021: no scholarships
• 2020: Keelie Hanley, Embry Riddle Aeronautics, AZ, Soph and Rileigh Hanley got a full ride to USAF Academy, CO
• 2019: Jenna Calderaio-FSU-Senior, Jessica Blakley-Belmont University -Senior, Ben DeHaan-PBAU Junior, Rileigh Hanley-Embry Riddle Aeronautics -Freshman, and Keelie Hanley-Embry Riddle Aeronautics-Freshman
• 2018: Jenna Calderaio – FSU; Lauren Staff– UF and Jessica Blakley –Belmont University
• 2017: Jenna Calderaio – FSU, Lauren Staff – UF, Ryan Walker – Stetson Law, and Madison Andrews—PB State
• 2016: Dylan Brandenburg-FSU, Jenna Calderaio – FSU, Lauren Staff – UF and Ryan Walker-UF
• 2015: Dylan Brandenburg-FSU, Daniel Kozell-FSU, Hanna Matry-UF, Ryan Walker-UF, and Aaron Mejias-PBAU
• 2014: Dylan Brandenburg-FSU, John Clark-FSU, Jason Ferrara-Alabama, Daniel Kozell-FSU and Hanna Matry-UF
• 2013: Dylan Brandenburg-FSU, Elizabeth Cayson-Walden Univ., John Clark-FSU, Jason Ferrara-Alabama, Daniel Kozell-FSU, and Danielle Madsen-PBAU
• 2012: John Ryan Clark-FSU, Jason Ferrara-Alabama, Daniel Kozell-FSU, Shirley Schaff-Northwood Univ., and James Shackelford-FAU
• 2011: John Ryan Clark-FSU, Jason Ferrara-Alabama, Kimberly Twoey-PBAU, and Shirley Schaff-Northwood Univ.
• 2010: James Schackelford-FAU, and Cindy Morris-PBAU
• 2009: Nicole Vega-FAU

Club Participates in Red White and Blue Barbecue

On Saturday, June 15th, the club had a table at the President’s Council barbecue featuring many candidates for this year’s elections. We also met some new people and added to the club roster.

With Armand Grossman as master of ceremonies, John Fischer in colonial garb singing the anthem, and keynote speaker and Trump friend Peter Ticktin, we ate sandwiches from a food truck and heard the stump speeches from county Republicans candidates, many of whom had their teams manning information booths throughout the SCCC pavilion area.

If you weren’t able to attend, here are the candidates that spoke to us (or were represented by surrogates). CLICK HERE For a full list of candidates, with links to their websites.

Brian Mast (surr) Congress 21	Dan Franzese Congress 22	Andrew Gutmann Congress 22	Deborah Adeimy Congress 22
Gary Barve Congress 23	Bob Weinroth Congress 23	Joe Kaufman (surr) Congress 23	Forest Freedman State Attorney
Sam Stern State Attorney	Mike Caruso House district 87	Dan Zapata House district 89	Bill Reicherter House district 90
Anne Gerwig House district 93	Christian Acosta (surr) House district 94	John Fischer County Comm 5	Laurel Diaz Sheriff
Mike Gauger Sheriff	Roderick Clarke Port district 3	Tami Donnally State Committeewoman	Jodi Schwartz State Committeewoman
Jenniffer Lee State Committeewoman	Jason Kulp State Committeeman	Joe LaFauci State Committeeman

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