Archive for December, 2007
Our campaign has an important fundraising goal and we need your help to raise $5000 online before the close of the fundraising quarter on December 31st. Can we count on your immediate contribution to help us close the year strong?
Our campaign is already experiencing much momentum:
* In March, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich helped launch our campaign with an endorsement and fund raiser.
* Senate President Ken Pruitt serves as honorary Chairman of our campaign.
* We earned early endorsements from community leaders such as St. Lucie County School Board Member Judi Miller.
Help us build on this momentum by reaching our critical goal. Whether you contribute on our campaign website, on slatecard, or on rightroots, contributing is fast, secure, simple, and critical to the success of our campaign.
Contributing now will help us sustain our new campaign headquarters, spread our conservative message throughout the district, and demonstrate to the press and other potential contributors that the people have confidence in our ability to win.
Your contribution of $1000, $100, or even $10 will bring us closer to victory. The amount is less important than your immediate participation. Please contribute today.
Have a Happy New Year!
December 29th, 2007
Read the entire article here.
In 2007, the crystal balls started saying Mahoney couldn’t possibly win re-election in 2008.
So are Mahoney’s opponents. In an interview with CQ Politics, state Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, said Mahoney’s win was a fluke, and he was simply “the luckiest guy around.” But she also cautioned Republicans against assuming the seat will be easy to recapture.
“It’s a different day,” Harrell said. “We have a Democrat-controlled Congress and the Democrat Party is putting huge resources into this. So we can’t underestimate how difficult it will be to take it back.”
In the 16th district, Republicans outnumber Democrats 202,000 to 170,000. But there are also 103,000 who claim to be independents, or have no party affiliation. Those swing voters are the key to any congressional election.
The Rothenberg Political Report, an independent newsletter that follows U.S. House and Senate contests, rates Florida’s District 16 as “a pure toss-up.”
The Cook Political Report, a non-partisan, online analysis of electoral politics, on Dec. 16 rated Florida’s 16th District as leaning Democratic.
A third political analyst, University of Virginia political science Prof. Larry Sabato, calls Mahoney “potentially vulnerable” because he drew 50.97 percent of the two-party vote in 2006.
“The political pendulum most likely won’t be as far to the left in 2008 as it was (in 2006), and as a result, the first-term Democrats … start the cycle with much bigger targets on their back,” Sabato wrote.
December 27th, 2007
Full article here.
Excerpt:
Meanwhile, Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Port St. Lucie, is pushing for requiring background checks of shelter occupants within 72 hours of their admittance. Hooks had an extensive criminal background.
Harrell met with Department of Children and Families Secretary Bob Butterworth in Tallahassee last week and Coalition leaders and SafeSpace officials in Stuart to discuss implementing background checks. The DCF contracts with the Coalition to oversee the state’s 42 domestic violence shelters.
Harrell said she had no sense from Butterworth as to whether the department would support conducting background checks.
“Secretary Butterworth is looking at what DCF requires of the Coalition and what the Coalition requires of the shelters,” Harrell said. “He is getting back to me with that information. We’ll be looking specifically at safety requirements before women enter the shelter, because DCF has not really looked at safety requirements for inside of the shelter.”
Officials with DCF could not be reached for comment Friday.
Harrell said officials also will be reevaluating the types of training employees at the shelters receive. For example, the advocates who are responsible for assessing victims entering the shelter receive only 30 hours of training, said Tiffany Carr, president and chief executive officer of the Coalition. The advocates then get 24 hours of continuing education each year.
“Anyone coming out of high school can do that,” Harrell said. “We need to make sure these advocates can recognize the signs and symptoms of what is going on with these women entering the shelter and the potential violence that could come out of it?”
The Coalition will meet with its members in January to discuss strengthening statewide protocol and assessing potential violent domestic violence victims in light of what occurred at the Stuart shelter, Carr said.
However, “we will not support any obstacle like background checks that prevent victims from getting safety,” she said.
December 23rd, 2007
FROM TCPALM:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — State Rep. Gayle B. Harrell, R-Stuart, received the American Lung Association of Florida Inc.’s 2007 Political Courage Award in recognition of her fight against tobacco use by Florida’s youth.
“This award is in appreciation of her advocacy at press conferences, committee meetings and debates on the House floor to ensure proper implementation of youth tobacco education and prevention programs,” said Dr. Paul Wilkens, the American Lung Association of Florida president.
Rep. Harrell was the sponsor of the bill during the 2007 Legislative Session to implement Amendment 4, which required the Florida Legislature to annually fund a comprehensive, statewide tobacco education and prevention program.
December 21st, 2007
Senate President Ken Pruitt to Serve as Honorary Campaign Chairman.
Today Rep. Gayle Harrell announced several key additions to her congressional campaign team. These additions include Senate President Ken Pruitt serving as Honorary Campaign Chairman. Public Opinion Strategies Gene Ulm will serve as the pollster. The media team will be led by Adam Goodman of the Victory Group. The General Consulting duties will be handled by Randy Nielsen and Richard Johnston of Public Concepts. The National Fundraising efforts will be handled by Trey Richardson and Jody Thomas of Sagac Public Affairs. Brian Brooks will serve as Campaign Manager.
“The political talent coming to the campaign is incredibly strong and part of an aggressive buildup that continues on all levels of the campaign,” said Rep. Gayle Harrell. “We have a great team in place; I am especially excited and honored to have Senate President Ken Pruitt serve as my honorary campaign chairman.
Representative Harrell will be a strong leader for our district, said Pruitt. She has the experience and leadership to go to Washington and make a difference, and her commitments to fiscal responsibility, keeping our country safe and providing families with more healthcare options will benefit Florida and the United States. Gayle is the only candidate with the message and experience needed to beat Tim Mahoney next fall.
Below is the complete list of Gayle Harrells Campaign team:
Senate President Ken Pruitt: Ken brings over 20 years of political experience to the table, having represented the voters of the Treasure Coast since 1990. Ken now serves as the President of the Florida Senate, a post he has held since 2006.
Gene Ulm of Public Opinion Strategies: Gene Ulm is one of the Republican Party’s leading political strategists and pollsters. Gene has extensive experience polling on behalf of successful U.S. Senate, gubernatorial, congressional and state legislative campaigns since 1990. His political clients include Members of Congress, mayors, legislative caucuses, business and trade-oriented independent expenditure committees.
Adam Goodman of The Victory Group: Adams credits include major statewide candidate and initiative triumphs, public campaigns for new airports, new schools, tax relief, corporate imaging, crisis communications, and Congressional wins from Florida to Oregon. Adam has also worked for The Honorable Rudy Giuliani and more than four dozen winning media campaigns for Floridas Senate and House.
Randy C. Nielsen of Public Concepts: Randy Nielsen is the founder of Public Concepts, LLC. For over twenty years, he has advised and represented numerous individuals, corporations, and trade associations in communication, politics, and public affairs. Public Concepts is recognized as one of the premier consulting firms in Florida.
Richard M. Johnston of Public Concepts: Richard M. Johnston joined Public Concepts, LLC in 1993. Johnston brings to the firm expanded technical and creative expertise, which has led to the development of over 30 million pieces of direct mail throughout Florida since 1996.
Trey Richardson of Sagac Public Affairs: Trey began his career as assistant political director of the Oklahoma Republican Committee in 1986 under Congressman and NRCC Chairman Tom Cole. He continued that career path all the way to the 2000 Bush/Cheney Presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee where his firm raised and managed online fundraising activities for the efforts. In addition to his national work, he has led Oklahoma-based finance teams for congressional, gubernatorial and legislative candidates such as, J.C. Watts, Tom Cole, Frank Lucas and Ernest Istook.
Jody Thomas of Sagac Public Affairs: Jody Thomas has 26 years experience in all aspects of fundraising, public relations, special event management, media relations, political and grassroots campaigns, government relations and television production. For 8 years, Jody managed all finance and political activity for Congressman J. C. Watts, Jr. (R-OK). These activities included supervision of direct mail, special events, personal solicitations, major donor groups, website, political travel and PAC fundraising. During that time, she raised over $12 million while leading a 10-member senior management team for Watts’ national political activities.
Representative Gayle Harrell was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000 and has been re-elected every term since then. Gayle has lived on the Treasure Coast since 1971 and in Florida since 1956. Gayle is a former teacher, business owner, and active volunteer in her community for over thirty-six years. She has been a founding member or president of many community organizations on the Treasure Coast. She has been happily married to James E. Harrell, M.D., a local retired gynecologist, for 42 years. They have been blessed with four children and six grandchildren.
December 4th, 2007
Team Harrell is excited to announce that we will be operating our official blog through Blogs for Victory, a project run by conservative GOP Activist Matt Margolis. Gayle and the entire campaign believes that it is critical for candidates to support the efforts of grassroots activists on the internet and we are striving to do our part. On our new blog, readers will be able to stay informed of the latest endorsements, campaign events, news, and analysis.
“Netroots will be a critical part of our campaign and we are grateful for all of the online support that we have already received,” said Anthony Bonna, Deputy Campaign Manager. “Blogs for Victory played a key role in the 2004 and 2006 elections and we believe is a great place to extend our online outreach,” he added.
Blogs for Victory was one of the first blogs to receive media credentials to cover the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City, as well as media credentials for the 55th Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2005.
Florida’s 16th District is one of the best opportunities for GOP Victory in 2008 and this is very much a National race. Even if you do not live in the district, our campaign will be relying on conservatives all across the country to ultimately be successful.
If you would like to connect with other Gayle Harrell supporters or help our campaign, you can take the following actions:
Add us to your blogroll or write a Blog about Gayle Harrell
Sign up for Our Email List
Visit Our Official Website
Add us as a Friend on Facebook
Join Our Official Facebook Group
Add us as a Friend on Myspace
Contribute to our Campaign on Slatecard
Thanks for your support and we look forward to keeping in touch on the trail!
December 4th, 2007
