The Greater Pompano Beach Republican Club has announced its kick off the year meeting on Thursday, Jan 22, 7:00 p.m., Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 N.E. 6th St., Pompano Beach. Featured speakers will be Lt. Col. Allen West, congressional candidate for FL-22 and Dr. Marion Thorpe, former CMO of the State of Florida, who is exploring candidacy for the US Senate. New board members will also be introduced including Carolyn Mann as Treasurer, Michael W. Moore as Assistant Treasurer and Yomin Postelnik, who will stay on as Political Director while joining the board. Lt. Col. Allen West is a war hero who was ignored by the mainstream media until he managed to garner a surprising 45% of the vote in a year that heavily favored the Democrats. Voters of all stripes were impressed by his sincerity, resolve and dedication. He is now the odds on favorite in his 2010 challenge of Rep. Ron Klein (D-Boca Raton) for the 22nd Congressional seat, which spans the Atlantic coast of Broward and Palm Beach Counties, from Juno Beach to Fort Lauderdale.
West, a former teacher at Deerfield Beach High School, said he is running to “change the culture of defeat and retreat in Washington.” He has vowed to work for national security and secure America’s borders by enforcing immigration laws. “I will fight to lower taxes and reduce the size of the federal government. I will be an advocate for bringing new, high paying jobs to South Florida and will protect small business by cutting senseless regulations that cost jobs and increase overhead,” he said.
West said he will champion the reduction of America’s dependence on foreign sources of oil by promoting energy independence while “preserving our coastlines and farmlands.”
An Atlanta native, who moved his family to Broward County in 2004, West holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and a master’s degree from Kansas State University. His wife, Angela, holds MBA and Ph.D. degrees. They have two daughters—Aubrey, 13, who was accepted into the Cambridge academic program at Fort Lauderdale High School, and Austen, 10, a budding pianist. “Education is the great equalizer,” West said. “With a good education, any child in America can live the dream.”
West will be followed by Dr. Marion Thorpe, another GOP leader who has brought thousands to the Republican fold. He is now considering a US Senate run and has been touted by many as the best choice to go up against Kendrick Meek, the Daily Kos’ anointed candidate, in a general election battle.
Dr. Thorpe's Issues are:
- Sound Health Care that is Affordable, Accessible and Competitive, Not Socialized or Government Run
- Sustained Economic Development and Growth
- Effective Education Tools for Learning
- Common Sense Homeland Security
- Crime Prevention and Reduction
In addition to advocating for sound, affordable and accessible health care, Thorpe supports sustained economic development and growth, excellence in education, a common sense approach to homeland security, crime prevention and reduction and environmental awareness. Dr. Thorpe’s candidacy has attracted national media attention and he has spoken on numerous cable news channels and radio talk shows.
Thorpe, a medical doctor, is a graduate of Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received his degree in medicine. He has recently served as Florida’s top doctor as Chief Medical Officer for the Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration. He is chairman of the statewide Medicaid Reform Advocates Coalition and chairs Care Broward.
The meeting is open to the public and refreshments will be served. For additional information, call Greater Pompano Beach Republican Club President Carol Waldrop at 954-786-7536.
