With 2010 in mind, Florida Republican women elect a dynamo as president

by Kay B. Day

Incoming FFRW president Cindy Graves of Jacksonville chatted with Sen. John Thrasher (R-Fla. 8) and Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Board chair Mike Hightower (right) at Thrasher's victory party after the race for Sen. Jim King's successor..At the Florida Federation of Republican Women Convention in Orlando in September, Cindy Graves was installed as the 2010 president of the organization. Graves, who married her high school sweetheart, is a retired PR professional. She says she is “the proud mother of 4 Republicans.” She is the elected Duval County Republican State Committeewoman and has an extensive background in campaigns at all levels. Along with Duval GOP chair Lenny Curry, Graves is co-host of “What’s the Buzz?” a popular weekly radio show airing Thursdays at 5 p.m. on ABC 1320 WBOB in NE Florida.  And there's one issue that really gets to her personally.
 
Graves says her passion is an “ongoing advocacy for foster and abused children and tougher penalties for those who abuse them.”

FFRW will celebrate 60 years of Republican grassroots leadership in 2010.

With Graves at the helm and talented officers and members on board, we are sure to witness a significant FFRW impact on GOP candidates in the upcoming elections. Few can keep up with this president's energy and even fewer can match her resolve. Graves agreed to a Q&A by email for this exclusive at The US Report.
 
Q:  You’re moving into the president’s office and a big year is staring you in the face. What’s your top priority?
A: Elections…In 2010 the FFRW will move from a committee mentality to one of a task force with a fool-proof and aggressive strategy for women to lead in electing Republicans for every FL cabinet seat, the US Senate as well as adding to our Congressional seats. Leaders from the FFRW will be “inside” every major campaign.
 
Q: Give us an idea of how the FFRW plans to support GOP candidates in the elections.
A: With leaders on the inside of every campaign, general election unity oaths in place and a winning regional and statewide strategy, the FFRW will move seamlessly as one united response team wherever candidates are most in need. We need little supervision and are experts in grassroots development.
 
Q: How much do you think the blogosphere influences Main Street?
A: New media has changed the face of campaigning for the better. “Mainstream media” is no longer an acceptable source for fair reporting. Blog journalists have become the nationwide source for conservative reporting just as Rush was in the 90’s. The members of the FFRW have mastered the social networks as a means of spreading the word.
 
Q: How’s the radio show going? You and Lenny Curry have some good sponsors—has the response from the community been pretty solid?
A: ‘What’s the Buzz?’ has been an amazing experience! Everywhere, Lenny and I find fans hungry for the abundant good news of conservative politics. We’re told the BUZZ is changing hearts and minds and giving people hope that the elections of 2010 can and will save this country.
 
Q:  What’s your greatest concern for the Party at the moment?
A: Harnessing the current momentum and reeducating voters to the fact that engaging in September 2010 will be too late! Our candidates need funding and professional service in-kind donations – one of the few forms of free speech left for elections. Passionate Republicans will overpower the Obama machine when properly led. 
 
Q: You must feel pretty good about the new auxiliary headquarters at the Beaches here in Jax. And Duval just opened a minority headquarters here as well. How does Jax get all this done?
A: Committed volunteer leaders from every walk of life - they are the heroes who give their talents, money and free time to our united conservative cause. We set out to create a blueprint for success the other 66 counties could replicate. Together, I think we have accomplished it. [A big asset of the FFRW, Graves added, is the executive committee.] The 2010 FFRW Executive Committee of ten is a refreshing group of strong and accomplished women representing every area of Florida and many different professions. We have an attorney, a PhD, a former GOP executive director, a CPA, an outreach specialist, a PR executive, an entrepreneur, a former NYC Commissioner, a Realtor and even a hard hitting general contractor.

Incoming FFRW president Cindy Graves gets a Kodak moment with Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele at the FFRW convention in Orlando in September.