Alfie Oakes at his re-election announcement on April 4 at his restaurant, Food & Thought 2.
June 30, 2024 by David Silverberg
Two powerful groups within the Collier County Republican Party have taken opposing stands on the future of the local Party, endorsing very different slates of candidates for local positions in the Aug. 20 primary election.
In a break with past practice, the Collier County Citizens Values Political Action Committee (CCCVPAC, referred to here as the PAC) has chosen to make endorsements rather than rate candidates as it has in the past.
Many of these endorsements are at odds with those of the Collier County Republican Executive Committee (CCREC, referred here as REC), the official county body of the Republican Party of Florida.
The REC is dominated by Francis Alfred “Alfie” Oakes III, a local grocer, farmer and extreme political activist and Donald Trump supporter.
“The local Republican Executive Committee (CCREC) has adopted a more authoritarian stance, aiming to oust many current elected officials, revoke charters of established Republican clubs, and implement divisive tactics against those with differing opinions,” wrote Mike Lyster, the PAC’s endorsement chairman, in a mass e-mail sent out Thursday, June 27 and again today. “This approach has driven away many long-standing members and could deter potential candidates, ultimately weakening our conservative representation.”
Mike Lyster (Photo: CCCVPAC)
The PAC “consists of dedicated, long-standing Republicans, including three former Republican Party chairmen and representatives from the five Collier County Republican Clubs active last year,” according to Lyster.
In response to what it perceived as the authoritarianism and lack of qualifications of the REC candidates, the PAC made its own endorsements to offer “conservative voters an alternative perspective that may differ from the CCREC. It’s important to note that the CCREC represents only a small fraction of Collier County Republicans.”
He continued: “While Collier County enjoys competent local governance, replacing experienced officials with angry, inexperienced individuals to address national issues could undermine our community’s standards.”
Chief differences between the PAC and the Executive Committee include the PAC’s endorsement of Melissa Blazier for county Supervisor of Elections over the REC’s endorsement of David Schaffel.
On the county School Board, the PAC endorsed Stephanie Lucarelli for District 2 and Erick Carter for District 4 in contrast to the REC’s endorsement of Pamela Cunningham and Tom Henning.
The PAC endorsed Vickie Downs for county Property Appraiser while the REC endorsed Jim Molenaar.
The PAC is also endorsing Douglas Rankin for state Committeeman. “We see Doug as the best opportunity to bring reason to the local party and lessen the deep divisions and rancor that currently exists locally, and also at the state and federal levels,” Lyster wrote.
Rankin served in the office from 2008 to 2020 when he was ousted by Oakes for being insufficiently pro-Trump. Oakes had intended to run for re-election to be state committeeman this year but was disqualified when he failed to file his candidate qualification forms on time.
During Oakes’ service he was criticized for missing numerous meetings. In contrast, Lyster pointedly noted that Rankin “never missed a meeting during his years of service.”
The PAC is endorsing Burt Saunders for county commission in District 3. “He stands head and shoulders above his Republican opponents,” wrote Lyster. The REC has not posted an endorsement for that seat.
It did, however, endorse Rick LoCastro for commissioner in District 1. Both groups endorsed William McDaniel for county commissioner in District 5.
The PAC also endorsed JoAnn DeBartolo for state committeewoman and Kristina Heuser for state committeewoman. Clarification from earlier reporting: Kristina Heuser was personally endorsed by Alfie Oakes, not the Collier County Republican Executive Committee.
In addition to these endorsements, the PAC endorsed:
Yvette Benarroch for representative, Florida House District 81;
Erik Leontiev for 20th Judicial Circuit Court Group 6;
Elizabeth Krier for 20th Judicial Circuit Court Group 28.
To receive a PAC endorsement, candidates had to receive a 60 percent vote of its members.
Efforts to reach Oakes for comment had not received a response at publication time.
Liberty lives in light
© 2024 by David Silverberg