PRESS
RELEASE
from
RickPerry.org
For Immediate Distribution:
News Release
Sept. 9, 2011
Gov. Perry to
Participate in Florida
Presidency 5 Straw Poll
Announces
Florida Campaign Team
AUSTIN
– Texas Gov. Rick Perry will participate in the Florida Presidency 5
(P5), including the P5 debate, CPAC and straw poll in Orlando, Fla. at
the end of September. Gov. Perry also announced key members of his
Florida team for his presidential campaign. Nick Hansen will serve as
the Florida State Director, Bret Prater will serve as the Florida
Political Director, and Anthony Bustamante will advise the Florida
team’s grassroots efforts.
“Florida
is very important to me, and I am looking forward to bringing my
pro-jobs conservative message to Florida and the Presidency 5 straw
poll events,” said Gov. Perry. “I have also assembled a strong team of
Florida Republican professionals to help carry my record and vision for
job creation and fiscal conservatism to the voters of the Sunshine
State.”
Nick
Hansen has been involved in numerous successful elections, including
municipal, legislative and presidential races. He has served as a
campaign strategist for Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Jack Latvala for
State Senate, Sandra Murman for Hillsborough Commissioner, Bill Foster
for St. Pete Mayor, and Deveron Gibbons for St. Pete Mayor. Hansen was
the Tampa Bay Regional Field Director for Mitt Romney for President in
2008. Most recently, Hansen acted as a strategist and legislative
assistant to Representative Jeff Brandes.
Bret
Prater organized grassroots in Miami during the Bush-Brogan 2002
gubernatorial campaign, served as a Regional Victory Director in the
panhandle during the Bush-Cheney 2004 presidential campaign, and has
managed statewide projects for the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF)
for the past three election cycles. During the 2010 election cycle,
Prater served as the RPOFs Political Director, where he oversaw the
party’s Victory program, managed congressional affairs, and acted as a
liaison to statewide campaigns. Most recently Prater was the Florida
Political Director for Tim Pawlenty for President.
Anthony
Bustamante served as Senator Marco Rubio’s Statewide Field Director in
2010. While in that role, he built up the grassroots organization in
Florida by gathering support from local parties, the Tea Party, 9/12
groups, and many other conservative organizations across the state.
Bustamante has also served as a Regional Victory Director and 72 Hour
Director for the RPOF.
Presidency 5 will take place at the
Orange County Convention Center, beginning Thursday, Sept. 22 and
ending Saturday, Sept. 24. P5 will conclude with the Florida Straw
Poll, featuring the participation of more than 3,000 Florida Republican
delegates.
The presidency events in Florida
have a history dating back to 1979, when Reagan won the straw poll.