Republican women, angry over Winter Park race, leave party

(There is a disturbance in the force)

A group of Winter Park Republican women Thursday met at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office to change their voter affiliation to independent. Their action, they said, was fueled by anger over the county party's involvement in the non-partisan race for mayor

This wasn't the first internal dispute over the election, as several members of the Winter Park Republican Women club, including two board members, have resigned over the group's endorsement of Mayor-elect Steve Leary over his opponent, Cynthia Mackinnon.

Orange County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Lew Oliver said that it's the organization's directive to support a Republican in any election against a Democrat, even in non-partisan races where party identity isn't listed and candidates can't identify their parties.

Party mailers, entitled "Republican Alert," stated that Mackinnon supported President Barack Obama in the 2012 election and showed Obama making a "shhh" gesture.



http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-orange-republican-women-change-registration-20150319-story.html