Real Florida Republicans grew out of something I had been seeing for years: people cared deeply about their community, their state, their country, and the future their children would inherit, but many didn’t always know where they fit or how to become involved.
I helped found Real Florida Republicans with JT Corrales to create a place where people could come together around shared values while keeping the focus on education, relationships, community, and participation.
For me, RFR has never been only about politics. It’s also about helping people understand the process, meet the people serving their communities, support veterans and families, participate in local events, and become more confident about using their voice.
Today, I serve as President and Co-Founder of Real Florida Republicans, continuing to help shape the organization around a simple idea: informed and involved citizens make stronger communities.
Real Florida Republicans was founded as a grassroots organization built around shared principles, community participation, education, and the belief that people should have opportunities to engage beyond election season.
The organization emphasizes faith, freedom, family, economic opportunity, constitutional principles, public safety, veterans, and civic participation. Its official mission also focuses on educating and engaging the community while supporting Republican clubs, candidates, officeholders, and community leaders through resources, marketing, connections, and outreach.
What mattered to me was creating something that felt welcoming enough for someone attending their first political or civic event, while still being useful to people who had been involved for years.
I want Real Florida Republicans to continue growing as a useful bridge between people and their community.
That means educating rather than simply repeating talking points, creating access rather than creating distance, supporting good people who want to serve, helping clubs and organizations become stronger, supporting veterans and families, and bringing some enjoyment back into civic participation.
People can disagree on issues and still treat one another like neighbors. I believe organizations have a responsibility to set that tone.
One of the things I have wanted RFR to do differently is create opportunities for people to interact as neighbors and community members, not simply as voters showing up for a meeting.
That means family-friendly events, community outreach, educational programs, veterans activities, local partnerships, and opportunities to meet public officials and community leaders in settings where people can actually have conversations.
Politics affects our lives, but communities are built through relationships. I believe the two can coexist without every event becoming an argument or a campaign rally.
A major part of civic engagement is simply understanding how government, elections, public offices, and local organizations work.
RFR has worked to connect people with information about elected officials, local government, community organizations, events, and opportunities to participate. We also create opportunities for people to hear directly from candidates, officeholders, and community leaders rather than relying only on secondhand information.
I value access because people make better decisions when they can ask questions, listen, compare information, and form their own conclusions.
Over the years, Belltech has had the opportunity to work with businesses and organizations throughout Florida and beyond.
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Some relationships have lasted for many years.
That matters to me more than simply counting projects.
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Veterans support has been an important part of the organization from the beginning. RFR’s public mission specifically recognizes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active-duty wartime or campaign veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans.
For me, supporting veterans should be practical. It means showing up, helping organizations reach people, supporting membership and community events, recognizing service, and using our network when there is an opportunity to help.
Some of the most meaningful RFR activities have happened when politics moved into the background and service moved to the front.
My Christian faith is part of the way I approach leadership, service, family, and responsibility. RFR openly recognizes faith and the blessings of God as part of its mission, while bringing together people from different backgrounds who share common civic values.
Freedom also comes with responsibility. It means being informed, participating, treating people with respect, showing up for the community, and being willing to do more than complain about what is happening around us.
Those ideas are central to what I want Real Florida Republicans to represent.
One of the benefits of being active in local business, civic, and community organizations is the opportunity to know the people who serve our communities beyond a campaign advertisement or headline.
Through RFR events and outreach, I have had opportunities to work with and host elected officials, candidates, veterans, business leaders, and community organizations at events throughout Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay area.
The purpose of those relationships should not be access for the sake of access. It should be creating opportunities for residents to learn, ask questions, understand issues, and connect with the people making decisions that affect their communities.
I am a father first, and that influences the way I look at civic involvement.
I believe young people learn by seeing adults participate. They learn when they attend events, meet community leaders, volunteer, ask questions, and see that citizenship is something people practice rather than something they only discuss.
That is one reason RFR emphasizes family-friendly events and spaces where parents, children, veterans, retirees, business owners, students, and people from different backgrounds can participate together.
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