by Javier Manjarres

The ineffectual leadership of Broward Republican Executive Committee (BREC) and Chairman Richard DeNapoli seems to be a never ending saga.  At last weekend’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, DeNapoli and Executive Director Rico Petrocelli & Co. embarrassed Attorney General Pam Bondi when they directed hotel security to stop her and the reporter she was with  upon entering the hotel.

Why was she stopped at the entrance of the hotel? Prior to the dinner, AG Bondi had pre-arranged an interview with the Shark Tank on that very day. The interview was slated to take place prior to the start of the dinner. It’s no secret that DeNapoli and his minions have a very unhealthy obssession with yours truly- the mere mention of the Shark Tank sends them into conniptions.  

Needless to say, AG Bondi was not pleased by the security stop and was taken aback by the incident. Upon discussing the matter with RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry, Chairman Curry expressed his concerns about the ongoing issues that have continued to plague the Broward GOP.

And the evening soon got worse for the Broward GOP.  As the festivities began, event organizers were anything but organized, as there was a big snafu with the seating arrangements, and as general confusion ensued, the program began before the invocation was ever given, or the colors presented.  The invocation and the colors were presented only after AG Bondi spoke.  Nice job guys!

In addition,  all of the past BREC Chairs boycotted or unexplainably could not make the event. The only past Chairs in attendance were George LeMieux, who is campaigning and was given an award, and Chip LaMarca, who was not going to attend, but was asked to attend as ‘a guest.’  So much for DeNapoli’s much hyped “GOP Unity.”

But where is this “GOP Unity”?

In addition to all this, there’s also evidence that the BREC is intimidating its own GOP candidates in the contested primary race to defeat Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. As many of you will recall, in 2010, the SWBRO and Davie Cooper City GOP clubs banned together to hold (2) candidate debates. These debates were solely put together by those two clubs without any involvement or obstacles laid before them by then BREC Chairman and current Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca.

 This election cycle, with DeNapoli steering the ‘Titanic’ BREC, the niceties between the BREC and its clubs and club presidents do not exist.  The BREC has tried to derail a recent debate put together by the same two clubs that successfully orchestrated the 2010 CD 20 debates.

 The BREC was not asked to get involved, just as it was not asked back in 2010. Why does DeNapoli feel that he must be in control all of the time?  Insecurity issues? We think so.

Dear Friends,

We have heard through the grapevine that a debate between the CD20 candidates has been set up to occur in Hallandale that will be sponsored by the Southwest Broward Republican Club, Davie-Cooper City Republican Club, and Miami-Dade Republican Executive Committee.

Just to be clear, the BREC has not been consulted  concerning this new Hallandale debate.

It is surprising that a debate will take place in Broward County where the local party has not been invited nor consulted yet has the involvement of representatives from Miami-Dade.  It is also surprising that any organizers of the debate plan to hold it in Hallandale without also involving the South Broward Republican Club, which covers the Hallandale area.

While there is nothing wrong with holding a debate, the BREC expects a certain level of courtesy and involvement with a debate taking place in Broward county, especially when we know that the candidates were expecting that BREC would be involved. Read the email here

DCCC President Jeff Rubinoff responded to Petrocelli’s email:

Our two clubs successfully organized and implemented an extremely successful debate 2 Years ago… I made overtures to Brec and asked if they could support. The reply was we will see what we can do.

I was happy to have support, and still happy to see BREC  help to promote this event. Read the email  here

DeNapoli and his BREC buddies always yammer on and on about “GOP Unity,” but their own juvenile behavior and undermining of Republican clubs seems counter-productive and hypocritical to say the least.  There is simply no reason whatsoever for him to undermine positive Republican club efforts like this debate for selfish reasons.

 Shortly after this email was sent out, Petrocelli told another BREC member via email that four of the candidates would be backing out of the debate. This is interesting because Petrocelli disclosed this prior to the debate organizational meeting that took place after Petrocelli’s email went out.

 A supporter of one of the candidates (who has recently left that candidates’ campaign) who wanted to remain anonymous in this story out of fear that he/she would be retaliated against told the Shark Tank that there in fact was a concerted effort executed by DeNapoli to pressure the candidates not to attend the debate simply because it was not BREC sanctioned.

 This is the typical M.O. that DeNapoli and his minions have employed in the past. In the 2010 BREC Chairman election, DeNapoli directly intimidated members into supporting him, and chided them if they did not.  DeNapoli’s foot soldiers such as Chad Lincoln and others attacked other Chairman candidates, and BREC Treasurer Mark McCarthy, whom the Broward State Prosecutor’s Office has looked into for filing a false Police Incident Report, actually called BREC members and told them not to attend the meeting where DeNapoli was eventually voted into office because he informed those BREC Members that,”your vote probably won’t count, so why go.”

Remember that DeNapoli won the BREC Chairmanship on a second ballot by only four votes.