TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

GOP Official Who Resigned Over E-mail Wants Job Back

Tribune file photo

County party Chairman Debbie Cox-Roush accepted Carter's resignation last week.

ADVERTISEMENT

By WILLIAM MARCH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 11, 2009

Updated: 02/11/2009 07:06 pm

Hillsborough County Republican Party official Carol Carter, who resigned last week over an email some considered racially offensive, is getting support from a high-level party official in an attempt to keep her post.

State party Vice-Chairman Allen Cox is seeking to drum up support statewide for Carter. She sought Wednesday to rescind her resignation as the county's state committeewoman.

But state party Chairman Jim Greer said today he considers Carter's resignation final, raising the possibility that the issue could generate a high-level battle within the party.

In an email Monday to party activists across the state, Cox said, "We know Carol to be a person of integrity without any prejudice, and to characterize her otherwise is slander." He asked them to email or call Carter and urge her not to resign.

As the county's state committeewoman, a volunteer position, Carter is one of three representatives from Hillsborough County on the governing body of the state Republican Party.

She resigned last week after it became known she had forwarded to friends in the party an email that questioned why black people were able to travel to Washington for Barack Obama's inauguration, but unable to evacuate New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.

Amazing," said the subject line. "I'm confused. How can 2,000,000 blacks get into Washington, DC in 1 day in sub zero temps when 200,000 couldn't get out of New Orleans in 85 degree temps with four days notice?"

Today, Carter sent Greer an email seeking to rescind her resignation.

In that email, Carter said today, she acknowledged that, "I was wrong to have shared that material, I was insensitive to potential perceptions I was perpetuating by my actions, and I've asked all whom I've offended for their forgiveness."

She also said that if she remains in the post, she would advocate cultural sensitivity training for all party officials, and would participate herself.

But Carter contended her resignation isn't official until she sends a letter to the county supervisor of elections, which she hasn't done. The state committeewoman post is an elected position, voted on by Republicans in party primaries.

Late today, Greer said in a statement that he believes that's wrong.

"The resignation stands, and the office is hereby declared vacant," he said.

Cox, in his email, sought support for Carter from party leaders including former party Chairman Carole Jean Jordan, a long-time friend of Carter's; Sharon Day, a delegate from Florida to the Republican National Committee; state Rep. Jennifer Carroll, the only black Republican in the state Legislature; and Deon Long, head of a black Republican organization.

Long said he supports Carter -- "The email wasn't offensive – she's beating herself over something I think is a non-factor."

Carter said other black GOP leaders, plus Day and Jordan, have called her to express support, and that Carroll has contacted Greer on her behalf.

Day, Jordan, Carroll and Cox couldn't be reached for comment today.

County party Chairman Debbie Cox-Roush accepted Carter's resignation last week, but said today she has no authority over the issue and that the state party will make the decision.

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT