'Listening Tours' Invite Direction for Lake County Republican Party

Lake County residents will have an opportunity to sound off at a "Listening Tour" sponsored by the local Republican Party during the next few weeks.

In calling for five Listening Tours beginning May 29, Lake County GOP leaders appointed a committee to organize a series of gatherings fashioned after town hall meetings. The meetings will be held across the county in five locations easily accessible from all population centers.

Mike Levine, one of the facilitators and a district representative for the Republican Executive Committee in the South Lake area, said, Participants will be encouraged to communicate their vision for the role of the Lake County Republican Party in the 2012 election cycle and voice their expectations for the values and priorities that the party should embrace.

The times and venues are as follows:

• Tuesday, May 29 -- Community Building, 237 W. Guava St., Lady Lake.
• Wednesday, May 30 -- Lakeside Inn, 100 N. Alexander St., Mt. Dora.
• Thursday, May 31 -- Astor Community Center, 24148 Ann St., Astor.
• Monday, June 4 -- Community Building, 109 E. Dixie Ave., Leesburg.
• Tuesday, June 5 -- Jenkins Auditorium, 691 W. Montrose Ave., Clermont.

"I'm excited about the possibilities these Listening Tours can create," said Patricia Sullivan, head of the statewide Tea Party Network. "Many in the tea party movement may just need to vent and be heard. Then, hopefully, we can join forces to move in a positive, prosperous direction."