Richard Swarttz, longtime chief financial offer for the Republican Party of Florida, was "let go" Monday morning, victim of the party's cost-cutting measures.
Wadi Gaitan, RPOF communications director, confirmed the move by telephone, saying Swarttz's release was "extremely regrettable but necessary."
Amid swirling rumors of RPOF's shaky financial picture going into an election year, party Chairman Blaise Ingoglia sought to put members at ease. On Monday he released this written statement:
"Our focus is, and will remain, defeating Hillary Clinton in Florida, delivering this state to the Republican nominee, and getting Republicans elected up and down the ballot. We are making these needed adjustments now to ensure that we are in the best position possible to do just that. Our party continues to be debt free, hold a cash on hand advantage over the Florida Democrats while holding significant digital, data and field operational advantages as well.”
Swarttz neither answered nor returned SSN's phone call Monday morning.
Those close to Florida's Republican Party structure say more housecleaning is inevitable.
RPOF Executive Director Brad Herold might have signaled coming changes when he announced Sunday he will leave the position Jan. 15 -- before the end of the quarter -- to manage Florida Congressman Ron DeSantis' bid to replace Sen. Marco Rubio.
"When he was elected chairman a year ago, Blaise walked into a lot of personnel bloat," one political operative explained. "None of us like seeing Richard (Swarttz) go, he's such a genuinely nice, likeable guy. But RPOF has a big task ahead. This is no time to get wishy-washy -- he's doing what he has to do."
Politico quoted an insider about Swarttz's impending demise: “This is all about winning the White House,” the Republican said. “It’s going to be hard to see in January, but the goal is that, in November, we will look back at this and say these were difficult decisions but they were the right ones. And the truth is, the party just can’t afford a six-figure CFO with everything that’s happening.”
RPOF's financial doldrums are the direct result of Gov. Rick Scott's displeasure over rank-and-file Republicans electing Ingoglia instead of his hand-picked chair candidate, Leslie Dougher.
After Ingoglia was elected, the GOP majority in the Florida Senate moved out of RPOF headquarters, also pulling out its $800,000. The governor, as he had threatened, immediately stopped raising money for the party, dialing for dollars only for his own political committee. Cabinet members did the same thing. That left only House Republicans fully engaged financially with RPOF.
Despite the cash crunch, under Ingoglia, RPOF pulled off a successful Sunshine Summit in November 2015, luring 14 presidential candidates, including all those on the A-list. The event gained national and international attention.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
