The resolution comes on the heels of the announcement that the NRSC has already taken sides in the primary election to nominate a candidate to replace outgoing Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez. The NRSC, National Republican Senatorial Committee, and arm of the Republican National Committee, has announced it will support Gov. Charlie Crist as Martinez’s replacement. There are at least two other Republicans announced in the primary election, including conservative former Speaker of the Florida House, Marco Rubio.

“This is another example of trying to govern from the top down, and if we want our party to succeed, and grow, we need to trust the grassroots, we need to trust our Republican voters,” said Brevard Republican Chairman, Jason Steele. “We cannot revitalize our party, and demonstrate that we are truly the party of the people, of individual liberties and responsibility, if we are dictated to from above. It is Florida, and Floridians need to be allowed to hear from all the candidates.”

In a move designed less to condemn any one candidate than to condemn the national organization for its interference, the Brevard Republican Executive Committee, which is elected to govern the party locally, voted to step away from the larger umbrella organization during this race, and formally renounce the decision support Gov. Crist.

“We have an obligation to Brevard voters to assure the most fair and impartial election process,” said Steele. “We have a duty to our party and to our citizens to stand up for the voters who we represent, and that means even against our own party leaders. We are still Republicans, but we have a duty to lead, and that is what we will do.”

This move by the BREC and local party could have statewide implications for the candidates also. Typically, party leaders say, Brevard has been an excellent gage for the state in primary election. For the past decade, Brevard voters have been consistently on the side of winning statewide candidates, and while Gov. Crist shows a narrow lead in most polls at this early date, a shift from Brevard voters and leaders could tighten an already tight primary race, and even cost the popular governor the race. Party officials say this is not the goal, but that the NRSC should have considered the consequences of their interference.

“We are not taking sides at this point, but we are taking a stand against being told who to support, and how to vote from on high,” said Steele. “We trust the voters, and we are demanding that party leaders trust them as well.”

Here is the text of the resolution that was passed:

BREVARD REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 20090514
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ENDORSEMENTS PRIOR TO PRIMARY ELECTIONS

WHEREAS there will be an open Seat in the United States Senate for the state of Florida for which duly qualified electors will vote in the 2010 primary elections to nominate candidates who will represent major and minor political parties in the 2010 General Election for said Seat now occupied by The Honorable Mel Martinez;

WHEREAS the Members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee believe duly qualified electors in the state of Florida have the right to be free from undue influence of political party leadership prior to completion of primary elections to nominate candidates who will represent major and minor political parties in general elections;

WHEREAS the Members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee believe any endorsement and/or orchestration of an endorsement of a candidate by any political party leader prior to completion of primary elections constitutes a form of undue influence upon a duly qualified elector;

WHEREAS no primary elections have occurred for the United States Senate Seat for the state of Florida and the qualifying period for said elections will not occur for almost another year;

WHEREAS, in recent days, endorsements of a specific Republican candidate for United States Senate for the state of Florida have been announced and/or orchestrated by members of State and/or National Republican Party Leadership prior to the completion of the Republican Party Primary Election to select the Republican Nominee for the General Election for said Seat;

WHEREAS the Members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee believe it is improper for said endorsements to have been made by and/or orchestrated by State and/or National Republican Party Leaders prior to the completion of the Republican Party Primary Election to select the Republican Nominee for the General Election for said Seat;

WHEREAS the Members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee desire to formally condemn the endorsements and/or orchestrations of endorsements of a specific candidate for the open Seat in the United States Senate for the state of Florida by members of State and/or National Republican Party Leadership prior to the Republican Party Primary Election to select the Republican Nominee for the General Election for said Seat; and

WHEREAS the Members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee desire to formally condemn any endorsement and/or orchestration of an endorsement of any candidate by any political party leader in any partisan race prior to the completion of the primary election to select a nominee for a general election: Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Brevard Republican Executive Committee:

1) Condemns the actions of members of State and/or National Republican Party Leadership who have endorsed and/or orchestrated the endorsement of a specific candidate for the United States Senate Seat for the state of Florida prior to the Republican Party Primary Election of 2010 to determine the Republican Nominee for said Seat;

2) Respectfully requests that and vehemently implores members of State and/or National Republican Party Leadership, who have endorsed and/or orchestrated the endorsement of a specific candidate for the United States Senate Seat for the state of Florida, to immediately retract said endorsements and/or to cease orchestrating said endorsements until such time as the Republican Party Primary Election to select the Republican Nominee for said Seat has been completed; and

3) Respectfully requests and vehemently implores members of any state and/or national political party leadership to refrain from endorsing and/or orchestrating the endorsement of any candidate in any partisan race prior to the completion of the primary election to select a nominee for a general election.

With a quorum of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee being present and members’ votes having been duly recorded by the Secretary of the Committee at Viera, Brevard County, Florida, on this 14th day of May, 2009.

Attestation by: _____________________________________

Jason Steele, Chairman

Brevard Republican Executive Committee