Posted on 02 February 2010 by admin
Armando Gutierrez
Armando Gutierrez Jr., son of local power player Armando Gutierrez Sr., has dropped his bid to challenge insane Orlanda-area Congressman Alan Grayson.
Gutierrez, who was born and raised in Miami, took up residence in Grayson’s congressional district this year with the intent of running as a Republican against the divisive Democrat, but apparently ruffled the feathers of the local GOP.
Instead he’ll focus on bringing a professional baseball team to Orlando.
“When I first mentioned baseball, I knew it would become an important economic driver and tax base for Central Florida. What I didn’t realize was the underlying hunger and fan fever for a team. Today, I announce that I am withdrawing my bid for Congress and putting on my baseball cap,” Gutierrez said in his drop-out statement.
Ugh, another MLB team in Florida? But it’s kind of easy to see this as Gutierrez reading the tea leaves (or tea baggers) and figuring out his carpetbagger status might not be an asset. We wouldn’t be surprised if this is his way of ingratiating himself into his new community, hedging his bets that Grayson wins re-election, and challenging him again sometime soon.
No word yet what Brian Graham his campaign manager will move on doing.
Posted on 08 January 2010 by admin
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.
Posted on 05 January 2010 by admin
Florida state Rep. Kurt Kelly (R) filed the paperwork Tuesday for a campaign to take on Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), joining a wide, though not particularly prominent, field of Republicans vying for the chance to knock off the liberal firebrand.
Kelly, whose district covers part of Grayson’s 8th district, has been eyeing the race since the fall, but was waiting to see how the field shaped up.
“I am grateful and excited about the encouragement and support that I have received district wide,” Kelly said in a statement, noting early endorsements from local state Reps. Stephen Precourt and Eric Eisnaugle, Lake County Commissioner Jimmy Conner, and former House Speaker Pro-Temp Dennis Baxley.
The self-described “conservative businessman” is serving his second term in the state House, and is also the CEO of a company that conducts background searches for employers.
Kelly joins seven other Republicans who have formed campaign committees for the race, including attorney and conservative activist Todd Long, retired pilot Dan Fanelli, physician Ken Miller and Armando Gutierrez Jr., a wealthy restaurateur and developer.
Republican officials have been working to recruit Orlando businessman Bruce O’Donoghue, who has indicated he is likely to get into the race.
Posted on 03 November 2009 by admin
ORLANDO, FL — State Senator Steve Wise announced his endorsement of Armando Gutierrez for Congress today. Wise has served in both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate as Chairman of Education Appropriations.
“I’ve worked for years in the legislature with leaders like Governor Jeb Bush and Speaker Daniel Webster to bring conservative government to the citizens of Florida,” stated Senator Steve Wise. “Armando Gutierrez will fight for our values. He has what it takes to be a great Congressman.”
Steve Wise, a retired Vice President of Florida Community College,was elected to the Florida Senate in 2001. He previously served as a State Representative from 1988-2000.
Gutierrez is endorsed by a growing number of Republican leaders, such as former RPOF Chairman Al Cardenas, George P. Bush, Congressman Tom Rooney, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, State House Majority Whip Carlos Lopez-Cantera, State Representative Chris Dorworth, State Representative Bryan Nelson, State Representative Charles Van Zant, State Representative Erik Fresen, State Representative Mike Weinstein, former State Representative Randy Johnson, former Orange County Commissioner Tom Dorman, and the Florida Federation of Young Republicans.
For more information, please visit: www.GoGutierrez.com
Posted on 21 October 2009 by admin
Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, has his eye on being Speaker of the Florida House in 2014. One way he’s chosen to raise his profile is endorsing local candidates for Congress. Last week, Dorworth went on record backing South Florida transplant Armando Gutierrez, who wants to take on U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, R-Orlando, next year. Today, he backed a challenger to Grayson’s fellow Democratic freshman, Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach.
That would be Winter Park City Commissioner Karen Diebel, who’s battling state Rep. (and one of Dorworth’s legislative colleagues) Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, for the Republican nomination. “Karen Diebel is a breath of fresh air – a true conservative who understands the challenges businesses and families face every day,” Dorworth is quoted as saying in a release sent out by the Diebel campaign.
