Armando Gutierrez
It took a few days, but Armando Gutierrez, the South Florida transplant running for the Republican nomination to face U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, announced today he’s siding with much of Florida’s GOP Establishment and endorsing Sen. John Thrasher as state party chairman.
Thrasher was named Tuesday as the favored candidate of everyone from former Gov. Jeb Bush to incoming legislative presiding officers Rep. Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos to a host of GOP moneymen including Charlie Crist confidante Al Sembler. Oh yeah, and Crist also endorsed Thrasher as a replacement for Jim Greer, the former Oviedo city councilman who managed to alienate huge chunks of the party’s membership by his arrogance and his penchant for taking sides in primaries.
Said Gutierrez in a statement: “John Thrasher is a true public servant. His experience serving on a School Board, a County Commission, in the Legislature, and running a business will serve Florida Republicans well. “John Thrasher is a solid conservative and proven leader we can count on.”
I had the pleasure of speaking with Armando some time ago and asked if he would be supporting Marco Rubio since he was from South Florida as well. He told me that he would be supporting Charlie Crist for Senator. So this really comes as no surprise since Charlie is supporting Thrasher as well.
This shows us that Gutierrez is not a grassroots candidate but more of an establishment pawn.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:25 am
John Thrasher is a true public servant. = Career politician.
January 9th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Armando Gutierrez sounds just like a politician and that’s something the people of the 8th District don’t need, we need someone who speaks for us not to us like your typical politician does. By his backing of Charlie Crist Mr. Gutierrez shows himself to be a RHINO and not a true conservative. The last thing we need in Congress is another RHINO who will ignore his constituents and go along to get along with the other party, all at the expense of this district. We need a true representative of the people and that person is Republican conservative Patricia Sullivan, who unlike other candidates, has lived in the district for many years and understands its’ needs. We want and deserve a true representative of the people and will find in in Patricia Sullivan.
January 9th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Heath, I know gutierrez and he NEVER has said he had sided . You shouldn’t be quoting people your don’t know.
January 9th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
August 7th 2009 about 8:30 at night in Orlando is when the conversation took place. I have 4 witnesses that were with me that heard the exact same thing. So Try again.
His exact words why he was supporting Crist over Rubio…. “He had been very good to my family, this is why I am supporting him over Rubio”
January 10th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Mrs. Sullivan is a good patriot but let’s be honest she has no idea how to get anything done in Washington.
State Rep. Kurt Kelly is a solid conservative who has a proven record of working hard for the people. He currently represnts a large section of the 8th and is a well respected conservative who has been able to pass legislation while holding true to those values.
We need some one who on day one will be able to push for the changes Mrs. Sullivan supports but can not deliver and Mr. Gutierrez only gives lip service to.
Kurt Kelly can deliver the changes we need in Washington.
January 11th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Well, here we go again. Another candidate that comes from another area just so he can run for office. Mr Gutierrez doesn’t even know this area, he is from south fla.. He also reminds me of Grayson in another way. Of the 200,000 raised 100,000 is of his own money. And his has already shown that he will side with the good old guys in Washington, you watch my back and I’ll watch yours. Did you see that he said he was going to support Crist, because he’s been good to my family. Wow, I’m telling you guys out there, we need new grassroots candidates going to Washington, not the same old same old. This is why I’m supporting Patricia Sullivan. She know the area, has lived in the area, loves the area and it’s people and she listens to the people. Patricia may not have the big money or the big names behind her but that is what shows use that she is one of us. Patricia will fight for us and she is gathering supporters daily as she is out with them at rallies, luncheons, protest, cottage meetings and so on. Patricia is a true coservative republican that wants to see the party get back too their roots. She does know leadership, the North Lake Tea Party was started by her, she has homeschooled 4 kids, lead Precept Bible Studies and has been voted 4H’s volunteer of the year and much more. Patricia is a force to be reckoned with and she will stick to her beliefs and values. Come stand behind me with her. Check her out http://www.patriciasullivanforcongress.com she is also on twitter and facebook.
January 11th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
We need a true leader with experience and the tenacity to take on & handle a knock-down with Grayson, his money and the DNCC machine behind him. The ONLY person in this race with those characteristics is DAN FANELLI. He is the only candidate with a distinguished military career, starting as a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, through being a Northwest airlines pilot on 9/11 flying into Regan national Airport, His ability to maintain “Grace under Pressure” is equal to none.
He is not a lawyer, politician, ambitious young man or well-meaning housewife & mother. He is a simply patriotic American whose values & convictions have forced him to choose to serve his country yet again-for the good people of the 8th congressional district.
February 6th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
I agree the DAN FANELLI is the best choice to best represent the 8th District in Congress. I know him personally and I know his background of service with the US Navy. He has held leadership positions, been responsible for flying the public as a pilot, and is a small business owner. He is conservative and he is true. He WILL beat Grayson in November
March 7th, 2010 at 11:54 am
There are no such things as conservative principles except transfer your money to my pocket. This and the success of Marco Rubio is proof. I love the folks who yell Rhino, Rhino and then vote for whoever yell conservative principles the loudest. I wish I had their addresses so I could sell them beachfront property just east of miami beach. A paradise built on conservative principles. We need to have enforceable terms limits that also throws out the staff and other legacy folks