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Hillsborough County GOP Chief Is Under Fire

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By WILLIAM MARCH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2008

TAMPA - A move may be under way among Hillsborough County Republicans to replace county party Chairman David Storck, who forwarded an e-mail shortly before Tuesday's election containing language some considered racist.

"There's quite a movement to find somebody else," said April Schiff, a former acting party chairman.

Local consultant Mark Proctor said he's interested in running for chairman in the December party elections.

"I'm hoping David decides not to run," he said, "so as to not tear the party apart further."

The e-mail, which a party volunteer sent to Storck and he then forwarded to a group of political contacts, referred to "carloads of black Obama supporters coming from the inner city to cast their votes" during early voting at a Temple Terrace polling place. "This is their chance to get a black president and they seem to care little that he is at minimum, socialist, and probably Marxist."

Storck couldn't be reached Thursday afternoon.

Proctor and other party insiders said some in the party are angry about what they called the firing of party executive director Jim Browne, apparently for reasons pertaining to the e-mail. Proctor said Browne was fired because Storck felt he fanned the flames on the e-mail. "He had been working hard ... and gets thrown under the bus," Proctor said.

Carol Carter, a member of the party executive committee, said Browne's departure had nothing to do with the e-mail. She said party leaders told Browne several months ago that they wouldn't have the money to keep him on after the election.

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