Today's topic: The Role of Political Parties in Modern Campaigns and Elections
Who better to speak to the role of the political parties in Florida campaigns and elections than the Chair of the Florida Democratic Party - Terrie Rizzo -- and the Chair of the Republican Party of Florida - Senator Joe Gruters.
Our students were able to ask questions about the parties' candidate recruitment, voter registration efforts, vote by mail, GOTV, staff, fundraising, platform and messaging, and more.
What a privilege to learn from the state party chairs in our seminar today! THANK YOU for taking time out of your busy schedules to educate our students about the process.
And thanks also to Senator Gruters for your service on the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus Community Leadership Council.
For more about the FDP: https://www.floridadems.org/
For more about the RPOF: https://florida.gop/
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| Senator Gruters, Chair Rizzo, and Professor McLauchlan |
Senator Joe Gruters, Chair of the Republican Party of Florida
Chair Terrie Rizzo, Florida Democratic Party
TERRIE RIZZO, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party
Terrie Rizzo is proud to be chair of the Florida Democratic Party and represents Florida on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC). Prior to her election as FDP chair, Rizzo served as the three-term chair of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, as “chair of chairs” for the Florida Democratic County Chairs Association (DCCA), and as an elected DNC Member.
Since assuming office in December 2017, Rizzo has worked with Democrats throughout the state to build and transform the Florida Democratic Party. Following record off-year 2018 Democratic turnout and gains which included the first Democratic Cabinet officer elected since 2006 and the largest state legislative delegation since 1998, she launched an unprecedented undertaking to build the party to win in 2020 and beyond. Rizzo believes that focusing on year-round organizing, training and precinct development is key, and building strong county parties and caucuses and relationships with partners is crucial to building a party to fight for all Floridians.
Always an “engaged citizen and passionate Democrat”, Rizzo first became politically active with Democrats Abroad while living in Europe during the 2000 Presidential Election, and vowed to “get involved and make a difference”. After moving back to the United States, she started her path to activism as a volunteer with the 2004 John Kerry Campaign, then as Committeewoman for her precinct in Boca Raton, and ultimately as Palm Beach County Chairwoman in 2012. Under her leadership, Palm Beach County Democrats developed an organization that is widely regarded as one of the best county organizations in the state of Florida and nationally, focusing on year-round organizing, training and precinct development, and with an emphasis on voting by mail,
Rizzo has over 40 years of experience in the fields of health & fitness education and communications. She is a specialist in adult exercise and ergonomics. Rizzo and her husband, Mike, an Information Technology executive and consultant, have been married for 50 years and
have one son, Matthew, a daughter-in-law, Kate, and two grandchildren, Annika and Bo, who live in San Francisco -- Democrats (and future Democrats) all!
State Senator Joe Gruters (R-23), Chair of the Republican Party of Florida
Legislative Service:
Elected to the Senate in 2018
House of Representatives, 2016-2018
Other Public Service:
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), President, appointed and awaiting U.S. Senate confirmation
Electoral College, Florida member, 2016
Florida State University Board of Trustees, member
Florida Sports Foundation Board of Directors, member
Sarasota County Planning Commission, Chairman
Honors and Awards:
Florida Homebuilder Association, Senator of the Year, 2019
Fraternal Order of Police, Senator of the Year, 2019
Florida Chamber of Commerce, Distinguished Advocate, 2018, 2019
Small County Coalition Appreciation Award, 2019
Associated Industries of Florida, Champion of Business, 2018
Affiliations:
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus, Community Leadership Council
Occupation:
Certified Public Accountant
Education:
University of South Florida, M.B.A., 2003
Florida State University, B.S., 1999
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