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GOP fight wounds Crist ally Greer

Associated Press file photo

None of the officials calling for the meeting say they're seeking to oust Jim Greer as chairman, but some Republicans are said to be looking into how it could be done.

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By WILLIAM MARCH

wmarch@tampatrib.com

Published: November 12, 2009

Updated: 11/13/2009 12:09 am

TAMPA - In another political blow to Gov. Charlie Crist, dissension in the state Republican Party broke open Thursday as a group of party officials demanded an "emergency" meeting to discuss party problems, apparently including grievances against Chairman Jim Greer.

The demand for the meeting is the strongest sign so far of internal fractiousness in the party, which has been linked mainly to the U.S. Senate primary between Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

None of those making the demand said he or she is seeking to oust Greer, but one said the procedure for doing so is being researched by some Republicans.

Rubio, appealing to conservatives, has mounted an unexpectedly strong challenge to Crist, a moderate, for the Senate nomination. Among Rubio's supporters are party activists and officials who are often more conservative and ideological than rank-and-file Republicans.

Crist supporters denied that the demand for a meeting, contained in a letter sent to Greer by members of a party governing committee, was caused by dissatisfaction with Greer.

"The vast majority are not unhappy with Jim Greer; they just feel we need to have a sit-down about what's being said and what's out there," said Jim Stelling of Seminole County, chairman of the state party rules committee.

One signer of the letter, Gerald Braley of Orlando, said Greer "has done nothing wrong" and that the party's recent problems are caused by a small number of people who back Rubio - "a faction, a very minority part, that is trying to cause problems."

Greer said he didn't consider the letter a complaint, but rather "a valid discussion of certain issues that have occurred - some of the board wanting more information about certain things the media has reported. I welcome that opportunity," he said.

But the move was fueled at least partly by Rubio supporters, and the letter referred to recent controversy over anti-Rubio activities linked to the party.

Greer has acknowledged that he personally backs Crist in the primary, but says he has kept the party neutral.

The party administration was embarrassed recently, however, when a political consultant linked to the party was found to have set up an anonymous Web site attacking Rubio, and a party staff member admitted setting up a fake Twitter account aimed at belittling the Brevard County party chairman, a Rubio backer.

The staffer was fired, and Greer said the party administration had nothing to do with either situation. But some Rubio backers aren't convinced.

"After the primary is established, the party should stay out of it," said Tony DiMatteo, former Pinellas County party chairman. "Let the people pick the candidates. ... Backroom politics doesn't work."

The letter followed another one two weeks ago, signed by several of the same Rubio supporters and complaining specifically about alleged favoritism toward Crist.

That letter, signed by several Tampa Bay area party officials including Hillsborough County Chairman Debbie Cox-Roush, cited Greer's "early and vigorous endorsement of Charlie Crist," which it said violated party neutrality rules.

The meeting demand came from 20 members of the state party's executive board, a majority of the 38 members of the high-level governing committee.

It said Greer should "convene a special emergency closed meeting of the Executive Board as expeditiously as possible" to discuss "an unprecedented series of reports and events in the media which cast negative perceptions of the Republican Party."

The discussion can't wait until the regular board meeting Dec. 10 in Tallahassee, the letter said, and should be in a more central location, Orlando.

In a long conference call with members of the executive board Thursday, Greer agreed to a meeting, which he called "a retreat, not in the format of an emergency meeting." The date had not been set.

He said the conference call was "a very productive, positive discussion, and I was humbled by the support that the board demonstrated."

DiMatteo, who signed both letters and who backs Rubio, said he is not certain how likely it is that the dissidents would seek to remove Greer as chairman, but that some are researching how to go about it under party rules.

"There's some sentiment in the board that he has to go, but I don't know if that's the majority," DiMatteo said. "I couldn't handicap his chances."

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

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