REC Chairperson, Tony DiMatteo, threatens bodily harm to REC RP supporter!!
Submitted by jennla on Sat, 12/01/2007 - 10:06I found this on the Ron Paul Forums:
Back ground:
The Pinellas County REC decided to have a Straw Poll the night of the Republican Debate in St. Petersburg Florida. At the REC Meeting in October the REC Board announced the Straw Poll and advised its members that only 1,200 tickets will be available and sold for the Straw Poll and that anyone can vote in the straw poll as long as they are over 18 years of age and have a Florida Driver's License. Due to the limited number of tickets available people interested in attending the Straw Poll should purchase their tickets quickly.
Pinellas County REC Member and Ron Paul supporter Sophie from Clearwater was concerned about the limited number of tickets available and was considering purchasing a block of tickets that she could then individually resell the tickets to Paul supporters. She contacted the local Republican office and spoke with Marilyn. She inquired about the possibility of purchasing bulk tickets. Marilyn advised her she can purchase 50 tickets in bulk. Later Mayiln calls Sophie and advises her that she can purchase as many tickets as she wants and that other people in Pasco County and Hillsborough County are only allowed to buy 25 tickets because only a finite number of tickets which are to be sold. Sophie purchased 325 tickets and immediately invests her time into reselling the tickets to Ron Paul supporters. She works the phone, the internet and Meetup groups and sells 225 tickets.
She attends the straw poll and it becomes obvious that Mitt Romney supports are voting dozens of times a piece. This fact is well documents with both video and news reports of the unethical activity.
Three St. Pete Times articles documenting and exposing the fraud are found at the below links. Additionally, several Youtube videos are availed exposing the fraud as well.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2007/...omneys-ba.html
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/28/So..._shunned.shtml
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/29/Wo..._straw_p.shtml
As disgusting and corrupt as one may find the above information, what you will hear at this point is completely unacceptable. The Pinellas County REC Chairman Tony DeMatteo has crossed the line. Sophie was upset that the rules she was provided at the REC meeting and as well as confirmed by Marilyn had been different than what took place. She called Tony DeMatteo on Thursday to take issue with the unethical way the straw poll was conducted and the fact that she purchased a block of tickets only because of the information the REC provided her, to learn that the information was false. Tony DiMatteo then told Sophie " it is too bad for you and if you start any trouble you will be hurt".
Sophie, shocked, upset and concerned from being threatened called Clearwater Meetup Organizer Paul Bourgeois. Paul had previously talked to Tony about all of the rule changes. Tony made it clear that Paul BETTER not take it any further or it would make us (Ron Paul Supporters) look real bad.
Physically intimidating and threatening people are completely unacceptable behaviors. Tony DeMatteo's actions needs to be addressed by the Republican leadership and the Pinellas county REC members.
Paul and Sofie have decided to go public with the stories to shed the light of truth on the present state of ethics in the local Republican Party. Joining a political party should be an honorable thing, people that are interested in improving our country and our communities. It is supposed to be composed of honorable and respectable individuals that work to better the conditions of local, state, national and worlwide affairs. How many people would want to remain in a party which condones this type of behavior, especially by people in leadership positions?
Sofie is understandably concerned about being threatened by Tony. Many people care about her and will help to protect her.
We look forward to building a better Republican Party with honesty and integrity.
Paul and Sophie’s video can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8wjJieSib0
Please contact the Florida Republican leadership the news media and do not tolerate this type of behavior from someone in their leadership. Anyone else who has information about Tony DiMatteo please post it on this forum or provide it to me at scottincr@yahoo.com and I will forward it to Paul and Sophie as they gather evidence about for possible legal action or a restraining order against this thug. If anyone has Tony Dematteo’s contact information please post it here as well. People who do not tolerate physical threats and intimidation may wish to contact Tony directly.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Florida Governor and Pinellas County REC Member Charlie Crist
Phone: 850 488-7146 email: charlie.crist@myflorida.com
Bay News 9
Liz Rosenblum - Political Producer
Phone 727 329-2400 email: liz.rosenblum@baynews9.com
St Pete Times
Adam Smith - Political Editor
Phone: 727 893-8111 ext 8241 email: adam@sptimes.com
Janet Zink - Political Reporter
Phone: 727 893-8111 ext 3401 email: jzink@sptimes.com
Tampa Tribune
William Arch - Political Correspondent
Phone: 813 259-8225 email: warch@tampatrib.com
Laura Fiorilli - Political Correspondent
Phone: 813 259-8225 email: lfiorilli@tampatrib.com
Krista Klaus - Political Correspondent
Phone: 813 259-8225 email: kklaus@tampatrib.com
update when you call
I'd personally like to read what he says. I'm going to be out most of the morning tomorrow...
Why Wait?
Call him now. 727 398 5850
contact info
Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee
Tony DiMatteo (Chairman)
(727) 539-6009
pinellasgop@verizon.net
PO Box 0231
Saint Petersburg, FL 33731-0231
(727) 822-1001
Thank you!
I will be calling this guy on Monday to let him know how I feel about his idle threats.
If anyone else decides to call, please, be civil. We don't want him to turn this around on us.
law suit
Sophie should consider a lawsuit. If for nothing else but to expose these people. Are there any written rules or regs for these straw polls? Any laws broken?
Stuff like this is going to get worse and we all need to be alert.
St. Petes Times
The three St. Pete Times articles links are not working. Did the Times have them removed? Hmmm....
Thanks for posting the contact info. I am going to send each an email. I hope others that see this will join me. This should at least get some attention. It is blatant and wrong.
Thanks.
will do
I was at both strawpolls, the Ron Paul table at the Instant Runoff poll was the most busy one there. You can be sure I will protest this outrage.
We arrived at the GOP poll minutes before closing time of 7 in pouring rain and the electronic vote machines had all been TURNED OFF at about a quarter of. A gentleman claiming to be the GOP county chair swore that he would take our two voice votes for Paul, and that of one other Paul supporter. Because everything was closing, wet, and dark, we did not observe anyone who did not get to vote-- but the fact that the machines were turned off early and the reception we got indicates timely voters might have been turned away. I can understand turning off for rain, but no paper backup?! No contingency plan?!
Everyone build the flak on this one, it looks like it has legs! Especially in Florida, Bush v Gore country.
But that man should play the tyrant over God, and find Him a better man than himself, is astonishing drama indeed!~~D. Sayers
There is no difference between an authoritarian government from the right or the left...F. A.Schaeffer
DiMatteo...
DiMatteo is nothing but low life scum bag.
Listen people....I was THERE and saw this BS with my own eyes. I drove 7 and a half hours from Atlanta just so I could vote in that poll.
St. Pete looked like a RON PAUL RALLY not a Republican Debate! We didn't see ONE sign for ANY other candidate in the city. I PROMISE YOU!
There where THREE airplanes circling overhead with banners for Dr. Paul. Boats in the harbor had HUGE Paul signs scaling their sides.
It makes me want to throw up when I think about slimy Mitt Romney "winning" that poll, when he had basically NO support. His people were voting 10, 20, 50 times each.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact those people above and tell them we are NOT going to stand for this crap!
What
I would say your driving that far to participate in the poll was quite shady...what you're telling me is this poll gives us no idea of our support in Florida !!!
Where's the contact details
Where's the contact details of this Tony guy?
I want to talk with him--no threats--just a conversation about what he meant by "hurt."
Please, if anyone has his details, post them!
contect info
Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee
Tony DiMatteo (Chairman)
(727) 539-6009
pinellasgop@verizon.net
PO Box 0231
Saint Petersburg, FL 33731-0231
(727) 822-1001
Spend the $ and effort to get primary voters
Hey this is all outrageous and everything.
But wouldn't the money for the tickets to the straw poll and the energy put into this be better used going out and getting new voters for the primary for Ron Paul?
Winning Straw polls is great and It's awesome that Ron Paul supporters are exposing the corruption.
Lets take the energy and anger and build a force to show up for the REAL vote in the primary..
Just a disgrace. Is this how Mitt follows the Bible...he must
need some glasses when he's reading!
Mike
Ron Paul is my HERO!!!
"Fire Team for Freedom" on RonPaulRadio.com
Mondays and Wednesdays 10pm EST
or visit mikeandjake.com
Mike
"Fire Team for Freedom"
visit www.mikeandjake.com
I met Sophie
I met Sophie walking from one event to the Straw Poll. She told me, and showed me the stack of tickets in her hand, about why she bought them and that she was furious that they sold more than they said they would. She also said that she believed that they gave, not sold, many of the tickets to non-Ron Paul supporters....probably after they figured out that many that bought tickets were RP supporters. And they couldn't have him winning.
Sophie had also mentioned that she had paid an additonal thousand dollars to have lunch with Ron that day along with 15 others. She is a great supporter and said what a thrill it was to lunch with Ron.
She apparently doesn't really have the extra money to be doing these things, but like a lot of us, made the sacrafice....just to be shafted on the tickets later on.
Thanks Tony and the Pinellas GOP heads, very classy indeed.
Lastly, it made me sick when CNN introduced our new Governor, Crist, as the best in the country. I don't know much about him, but I know this: He apparently got elected with insurance company money and made light of it the day before he was elected. Being in the real estate biz for 27 yrs. and knowing how big the insurance and tax problem is currently, I knew if he won, we were in big trouble. They are now trying to pass a new tax law under the guise that it will be great for the people of Florida. After looking at it, that is not the case. What a surprise!
Bob W., Naples, FL
I think we should buy the
I think we should buy the rest of the tickets from Sophie so she can get her $2000 back.
here's a brilliant idea (I think) for Sophie...
Sophie should autograph the remaining tickets and auction them on Ebay. I know I'd snap up at least 1 as a campaign souvenir, and wouldn't mind paying the ticket price for it.......
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Get active NOW to put Ron in the general election. ronpaul.meetup.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
What is begun in anger, ends in shame.
That is totally BS!!! This
That is totally BS!!! This guy needs to get out of politics... oh wait, he just announced he's with the Rudy camp... shows what kind of loser he is. A crook just like his candidate! Scum!
~Joe
Here is Tony's Phone Number
727 398 5850
contect info
Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee
Tony DiMatteo (Chairman)
(727) 539-6009
pinellasgop@verizon.net
PO Box 0231
Saint Petersburg, FL 33731-0231
(727) 822-1001
Be nice!
Just let him tell his side of the story. Don't go making accusations and giving him ammo to use against us!
Disgusting
Disgusting.
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looks like he two timed Rudy,,,
Wayne Garcia Says:
November 28th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Oh, from yesterday, here’s evidence that if you are a Pinellas Republican and NOT a fan of Rudy Giuliani this is not your election cycle. Pinellas GOP Chairman Tony DiMatteo, a transplanted NY homer for Rudy, made it official yesterday in an e-mail from the campaign:
Pinellas County Republican Party Chairman=20
Tony DiMatteo Joins Giuliani Campaign
=20
Winter Park, FL - The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today
announced Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Tony
DiMatteo is endorsing Mayor Giuliani. DiMatteo will help expand the
campaign’s grassroots efforts in Pinellas County.=20
=20
“Rudy is the one candidate with the experience to keep the country
moving forward. He can win both Florida’s primary and general elections.
I’m honored to join other leaders from Pinellas County who are joining
the Mayor’s campaign,” said DiMatteo.
=20
The campaign previously announced endorsements from Pinellas County
including Sheriff Jim Coats and State Representatives Peter Nehr and
Rich Glorioso. Pinellas County will be the host for Wednesday’s
CNN-YouTube Republican presidential debate.
About Tony DiMatteo:
=20
DiMatteo has served as the Chairman of the Pinellas County Republican
Executive Committee since 2004 and has been active in Florida politics
for over 15 years. He worked for Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign in South
Carolina. DiMatteo operates a pest control business in Pinellas County
where he lives with his wife Susan.=20
=20
Pinellas County Leaders Supporting Mayor Giuliani:*
=20
Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats
State Representative Peter Nehr
State Representative Rich Glorioso=20
Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni
Pinellas County Tax Collector Diane Nelson
Former Speaker Pro Tempore Leslie Waters
Mayor of Safety Harbor Andy Steingold
Mayor of Belleair Bluffs Chris Arbutine
Mayor of Oldsmar Jim Ronecker
Vice Mayor of St. Petersburg Beach Mike Finnerty
Tarpon Springs Mayor Beverly Billiris
Former Mayor of Reddington Shores J.J. Beyrouti=20
Commissioner of Safety Harbor James McCormick
Commissioner of Safety Harbor Joe Ayoub
Governor Crist Campaign Chair for Pinellas County Margie Milford
Member of the Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board John Millford
Vice President Pinellas County Veterans Liaison Counsel Anthony Rizzo
Florida State University Board of Governors Member Frank Harrison
University of South Florida Student Body President Barclay Harles
=20
*Previously announced=20
=20
Titles and affiliations are provided for identification purposes only.=20
###
Paid for by the Rudy Giuliani Presidential
If voting could really change things,
it would be illegal. Here is hoping for change!
That's absolutely vomitous.
What a sickening statement about the condition of the GOP.
Folks, in the infamous words of Hitlery: we need those people out, and we need our people in.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Get active NOW to put Ron in the general election. ronpaul.meetup.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
What is begun in anger, ends in shame.
This has to stop
Will another candidate pick up on this? No ,because they are depending on the corruption to be there for the election , because the most corrupt always wins . So I suppose it is up to us to expose this , call radio shows ,write and call the media in all forms and help stop this or we don't have a chance.
Link to Ron Paul Forums
Here's the link to those who want to follow the conversation:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=45222
Florida corruption
First, It sounds like Sophie should call the police and file a complaint as I believe it is unlawful to threaten someone with bodily harm. Second, Sophie and anyone else who bought tickets should demand refunds since the event was corrupt and the terms were misrepresented. Third, a suit should be made against the organization.
why are we giving money to the rep party of Florida, anyhow?
We all know that both of the parties in Florida are among the most corrupt in the nation, along with a supermajority of our elected officials... The question is why do we even bother to spend all this money on a useless straw poll... Wouldn't it be better to just donate directly to the campaign or into helping the local meetup group and other ron paul candidates out there? What about donating to the costs that our delegates would incurr at the national convention... The rest of the field is so aweful, that they can't even get anyone to come out other than Ron Paul supporters... Save you money and help the delegates...
Got that right! File a
Got that right! File a police report.
..................
"The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theory is that conspiracy theorists actually believe in a conspiracy because that is more comforting. The truth of the world is that it is chaotic..." —Alan Moore
Great video
Let the corruption be known.
Whole links.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/28/Southpinellas/Straw_poll_i...
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2007/11/team-romneys-ba.html
I couldn't find the third one.