by Javier Manjarres

Even though only one week has passed since the Richard Lee DeNapoli-Colleen Stolberg so-called “ticket” announced their candidacy for the upcoming Broward GOP elections, the ‘Great Divide’ within the local Republican party is on the verge of becoming a permanent impasse.  The DeNapoli/Stolberg ticket has released a platform of sorts as to what they plan on doing to resurrect the local GOP from the hole it finds itself in today.  The first bullet point outlined in the hand out calls for  ‘GOP Unity”. Here is what it reads:

If elected as your Chair and Vice-Chair, we are committed to following principles and goals:

GOP Unity. By focusing on our shared conservative values and what unites us rather than on what divides us, we can build a better organization. Together, we can accomplish anything. This past Election Day, we won nationwide through unity.

This bold statement was immediately called into question last night at the monthly Davie-Cooper City GOP Club when Vice-Chair candidate Colleen Stolberg was questioned as to why she was running for the position and supporting R. Lee DeNapoli for the Chairman’s position.  Stolberg first stated that we needed a Chairman that did not have an ulterior motive of running for a higher office when seeking he party’s Chairmanship position-  Chip LaMarca, call your office.  But Stolberg let the cat out of the bag as to why she was actually running, uneasily stating that, ” I am only doing this for Richard.”

” I am only doing this for Richard.” – Colleen Stolberg

Stolberg went on to say that she knew DeNapoli well, but didn’t know the other candidate in the race, Mayor Tom Truex-who happened to be at the meeting, sitting 4 feet in front of her.  Her answer as to why she was running prompted another question asking her that if she were to win, and DeNapoli were to lose, would she support Mayor Truex, or any other candidate, if he were to win?

” No, I won’t support him if he wins, I can’t support him”- Colleen Stolberg

So the “GOP Unity” nonsense is out the window before it ever gets a chance to take a seat!  These statements, taken together really call into question just why is she is declaring her candidacy in the first place.  Several members of the BREC believe that DeNapoli- well known for his condescending manner of speaking to others and his ‘Wizard of Smart” attitude, have openly said that they would leave the BREC if DeNapoli were to become the new Chairman of the BREC.

This meeting was well attended by such notable Broward GOPers such as congressional candidate Karen Harrington, Jeff Rubinoff, President of the Davie-Cooper City Republican Club; Jay Narang, President SWBRO Republican Club, Former of Mayor Davie and candidate for BREC chair Tom Truex, and Felisha Anderson, treasurer of the Davie-Cooper City Republican Club.

So much for GOP Unity…