Reports Mixed Over Dave Bitner's Future as RPOF Chairman

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Dave Bitner will step down due to health reasons after the Presidency 5 summit, according to a new report. But party officials dispute the story first posted at the political website Shark Tank.

Bitner, who was elected to lead the RPOF earlier this year, was subsequently diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.

RPOF spokesman Brian Hughes issued a statement, saying:

"David Bitner is the chairman of the RPOF, and he is working every day to advance the mission of our party. He has courageously and publicly discussed his ALS diagnosis, and yet he works every day to make Florida better.

"These new reports about his future as the RPOFs chairman are premature, factually inaccurate, and reek of the worst kind of political opportunism. People should spend less time gossiping about Chairman Bitner and more time admiring a man who displays principled leadership every single day."

Joe Gruters, chairman of the Sarasota County Republican Party, characterized the Shark Tank report as "a false rumor."

"Dave Bitner is our chairman and I will continue working with him to advance our shared agenda," Gruters said.

Palm Beach County GOP Chairman Sid Dinerstein called the report "untrue and unkind."

"Chairman Bitner is a class act who wakes up every morning to serve the Republican voters of the state of Florida," said Dinerstein, who also ran for state chairman.

"Despite serious health issues he will serve his entire term which will culminate in the winning of Florida's 29 electoral votes and a U.S. Senate seat for the Republican Party of Florida."

Doug Guetzloe, a longtime Republican consultant and a former consultant to the Florida TEA Party, said, "The rumors of Chairman Bitner's early retirement by certain political consultants and would-be pundits are an unfortunate reality of those that seek to destroy and not build the party.

"Chairman Bitner has provided a steady and even leadership to the party even though he faces a life-threatening illness.

"As long as Bitner believes he can continue to provide that leadership, attempts to force a resignation are disgusting," Guetzloe said.