James A Greer | |
---|---|
Chairman of the Florida Republican Party | |
In office 2006–2010 | |
Preceded by | Carole Jean Jordan |
Succeeded by | John Thrasher |
Personal details | |
Born | James Austin Greer [1] June 8,1962 |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Lisa M Greer [2] |
Children | 5 [2] |
Residence(s) | Oviedo,Florida,U.S. |
Signature | |
James A Greer (born June 8,1962) is an American former politician and businessman,serving from 2006 to 2010 as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida,a member of the Republican National Committee and senior political and campaign adviser to the Governor.
Greer served as a Councilmember,Deputy Mayor and acting Mayor of the city council of Palm Bay in the early 1990s. He was also elected Deputy Mayor of Oviedo in 2004 and re-elected in 2006. [3] Greer also served as a member of the East Coast Regional Planning Commission appointed by Governor Jeb Bush. Greer also was appointed to the Tourist Development Council. [4] In 2009,upon the election of Michael Steele,the former lieutenant Governor of Maryland as Republican National Committee Chairman,Greer served as co-chairman of Steele's transition team in Washington,D.C. As a member of the Republican National Committee,Greer also served as the Chairman of the RNC standing committee on rules. [5] Greer was elected as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida in 2006. Greer was re-elected as Chairman of the Republican Party with over 77% of the vote in 2008. [6] Greer was considered for election as RNC National Chairman due to his outreach efforts to African Americans and Hispanics. Greer's Chairmanship was considered successful until a political fundraising scandal involving a Governor Charlie Christ and other Republican leaders occurred. In March 2013 after pleading guilty to money laundering and fraud Greer was sentenced to 18 months in prison. [7] [8] [9]
After leaving public service and completing his sentence,Greer founded several successful companies and currently serves as the President and CEO of Accredited Drug Testing Inc.,Coastal Drug Testing Inc,Labtesting USA and Secure Screenings. [10] These companies provide drug,alcohol and DNA testing services Nationwide. Greer became a millionaire as a result of his business activities. In 2018,Greer was elected Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA),in addition to serving as a member of the council of industry advisers. Greer is also a former member of the National Board of Directors of the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association. [11] In March 2019,Greer was elected Chairman of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association at its annual convention in San Antonio,Texas,Greer was subsequently re-elected Chairman in 2022. In 2023 Greer led the successful merger of the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) into the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) which became the largest trade association representing the U.S. drug-use testing industry.
Closely associated with Florida governor Charlie Crist,Greer resigned from his office as chairman and other positions within the state and national parties following a number of controversies involving party finances and spending behavior by state elected officials. As part of Greer's agreement to resign,the state party entered into a severance agreement whereby Greer would be paid the remaining amount of his salary,which was approximately $120,000. The party later refused to fulfill the terms of the agreement due to the fundraising controversy. [12] Greer was arrested on June 2,2010,after being indicted on six felony charges:organized scheme to defraud,money laundering,and four counts of grand theft. [13] Prosecutors alleged that Greer,while chair of the Florida GOP,schemed to take money,over $100,000 from the party through a fundraising company he created,Victory Strategies LLC. [13] The Orlando Sentinel further noted that,"The contract for Victory Strategies to take over major donor fundraising was withheld from top GOP finance officials." [13]
However,during the investigation,evidence including several affidavits from the state party finance chairman and major donors supported Greer's claim that the Governor and other top party officials knew about the arrangement and approved it,however,Greer choose to end his trial and surprised many by pleading guilty which avoided a potentially embarrassing trial for the Republican Party and certain elected officials. Much speculation of why Greer ended the trial on the day it was to begin has occurred,a witness list of prominent elected officials that may have been called by Greer's attorney to testify was also made public during the week the trial was scheduled to take place. [14]
Greer's attorney said "The Governor knew about Victory Strategies from the very beginning," Chase said. "They all worked on it together... They saw it as a way to save money and the charges should be dismissed,Greer is a scapegoat for others". Some of Greer's attorneys publicly stated they opposed Greer's guilty plea and believe he would have been acquitted at trial. [15]
Three years after his arrest,Greer unexpectedly pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering charges on February 11,2013,and was sentenced on March 27,2013,to 18 months in prison,of which he served 15 months at a low security work release facility. Ultimately,with his unexpected plea,Greer also agreed to pay only $65,000 in restitution to the Republican Party relating to the fundraising agreement. [16] [17] [18]
In 2013,a book was published detailing the circumstances relating to the charges filed against Greer called,The Chairman:The Rise and Betrayal of Jim Greer,written by New York Times best-selling author Peter Golenbock.
During Greer's political and business career he has received numerous awards and recognition's including the "Annual Leadership Award" from the Republican Woman's Network,the "State Leadership Award" from the Federation of Black Republicans,"Public Servant Of The Year Award" from the conference of Young Republicans. Greer's expertise in marketing and business management practices along with his entrepreneurial successes have been frequently recognized. His community service and recognitions include serving as President of the Rotary Club,a board member of the Chamber of Commerce,a Paul Harris Fellow and Business Person of the Year. He is a supporter of various charities including Helpful Hands. He has been a regular guest on CNN,Fox News,CBS News with Katie Couric and has appeared on the "Morning Joe" show on MSNBC. [19]
Greer is a graduate of Cornell University's executive leadership program,the University of Central Florida's Institute of elected officials,and holds an honorary degree from Seminole State College.
Greer resides in Seminole County,Florida and is married to Lisa Michelle Greer and they have five children.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) is the primary committee of the Republican Party of the United States. Its members are chosen by the state delegations at the national convention every four years. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican brand and political platform,as well as assisting in fundraising and election strategy. It does not have direct authority over elected officials. It is also responsible for organizing and running the Republican National Convention. When a Republican is president,the White House controls the committee. According to Boris Heersink,"political scientists have traditionally described the parties' national committees as inconsequential but impartial service providers."
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the state affiliate of the Republican Party in Minnesota and the oldest active political party in the state. Founded in 1855,the party is headquartered in Edina,and the current chairman is David Hann.
Michael Stephen Steele is an American politician,attorney,and political commentator who served as the seventh lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007 and as chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2009 until 2011;he was the first African-American to hold either office.
John Alfred Sullivan is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district from 2002 to 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Enid Greene Mickelsen,formerly Enid Greene Waldholtz,is an American politician from the state of Utah who served one term in the United States House of Representatives. She was the third woman and first Republican woman elected to Congress from Utah. No woman was elected to Congress from Utah from her retirement in 1997 until Mia Love's election in 2014.
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan,United States,sometimes referred to as MIGOP.
Michael Haridopolos is an American politician. He served in the Florida Senate (2003–2012) and was elected President of the Florida Senate from 2010 to 2012. He presided over the largest Republican Senate majority (28-12) since Reconstruction. He also served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2003. He now operates MJH Consulting,a leading business and political consulting firm in Florida. He is also a regular news contributor for Fox 35 Orlando on political for both national and state political matters. He is currently running as a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Florida's 8th congressional district.
The 2006 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 7,2006. Incumbent Republican Governor Jeb Bush was term-limited,and could not run for reelection to a third consecutive term. The election was won by then-Republican Charlie Crist,the state's Attorney General. The election was notable in that for the first time,the state elected a Republican governor in three consecutive elections.
Melvin Floyd Sembler was an American diplomat who was the United States Ambassador to Italy (2001–2005),and Ambassador to Australia and Nauru (1989–1993). He has also served as chairman of the board of the Sembler Company,which develops and manages shopping centers,and co-founder of Straight,Inc.,a controversial drug-treatment center. Sembler was the chairman of the Scooter Libby Legal Defense Trust,and was a co-chair of the Florida Finance Committee for Mitt Romney.
The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) is a Washington,D.C.-based 527 organization founded in 1983,consisting of U.S. state and territorial governors affiliated with the Democratic Party. The mission of the organization is to provide party support to the election and re-election of Democratic gubernatorial candidates. The DGA's Republican counterpart is the Republican Governors Association. The DGA is not directly affiliated with the non-partisan National Governors Association.
Jeffrey D. Kottkamp is an American politician,lawyer,and arbitrator from the State of Florida. He served as the state's 17th Lieutenant Governor from 2007 until 2011. A member of the Republican Party,Kottkamp previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006
The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) is the affiliate of the Republican Party in the U.S. state of Florida. Florida was dominated by the Democratic Party for most of its history. The Republican Party has rapidly gained ground in recent decades. It is currently the state's dominant party,controlling 20 out of 28 of Florida's U.S. House seats,both U.S. Senate seats,the governorship and all other statewide offices,and has supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature.
Allen Bernard West is an American politician and retired military officer. A member of the Republican Party,West represented Florida's 22nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013 and served as the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas from 2020 to 2021.
Thomas Howell Slade Jr. was an American politician,legislator,lobbyist,and businessman. He was a member of the Florida House of Representatives representing Duval County between 1962 and 1964,before being elected to the Florida State Senate as the representative for the 9th district between 1966 and 1970. Slade was state party chair of the Republican Party of Florida between 1993 and 1999,being described as "one of the architects of the modern Republican party in Florida."
Ronald N. Weiser is an American businessman and Republican Party donor and financier. Weiser founded a real estate company. He held fundraising roles for the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and John McCain. He was chairman of the Michigan Republican Party from 2009–2011,2017–2019,and 2021–2023. He was U.S. ambassador to Slovakia during Bush's first term (2001–2004),and was elected to the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan in 2016.
John E. Thrasher is a former state legislator,businessman,lawyer and lobbyist who served as the 15th president of Florida State University. He was approved by the Florida Board of Governors on November 6,2014 and took office on November 10,2014. On September 11,2020,Thrasher and the university board of trustees announced his retirement in a joint statement. In May 2021,Richard McCullough was chosen by Florida State University’s board of trustees to succeed Thrasher.
Alec L. Poitevint II is a Georgia businessman and longtime official of the U.S. Republican Party (GOP). In February 2011,he was named by GOP Chairman Reince Priebus to manage the 2012 Republican National Convention,to be held in Tampa beginning on August 27,2012. Poitevint replaces the team appointed by former RNC Chair Michael Steele,who Priebus fired immediately after his election as chairman in January 2011. Poitevint's official title of chairman of the Committee on Arrangements.
James J. Lyons Jr. is an American politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 18th Essex district from 2011 to 2019,and as chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party from 2019 to 2023.
Joe Gruters was the Chairman of the Florida Republican Party from 2018 to 2022,and is a member of the Florida Senate representing the 22nd District,which consists of Sarasota County and part of Charlotte County. He was previously a member of the Florida House of Representatives. Earlier in his career,Gruters worked on the campaign of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan as campaign manager and was vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota.
Evan Power is an American lobbyist serving as the chair of the Republican Party of Florida since 2024. Power is a lobbyist with the Ramba Consulting Group. He was chair of the Republican Party of Leon County,Florida. Power was the vice chair of the Republican Party of Florida. In January 2024,he was elected in a 135 to 65 vote to succeed Christian Ziegler as the chair. He was endorsed by governor Ron DeSantis.