Beyrouti is Pinellas REC's new chair
Former Redington Shores Mayor J.J. Beyrouti was elected chairman of the Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee tonight. He beat Dan Tucker by 108 votes to 20.
Beyrouti will serve two years and replaces Tony DiMatteo, who is now a state committeeman.
Attorney Michael Guju beat Erwin Beck for the vice chairman's spot, 83 votes to 40. Chet Renfro won unopposed for the treasurer's job, as did Glen Schultz for secretary.
Will Van Sant, Times staff writer
From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, Bay Buzz offers the latest news on Tampa Bay politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
Congratulations JJ. A well deserved win and good luck in the future.
Posted by: AJS | December 08, 2008 at 08:59 PM
With JJ Beyrouti as Chair and Guju as vice chair we will keep running circles around the dysfunctional local dems.
Obama won Pinellas by 9 points and republicans won ever local open race and defended all of our incumbents. That is where grassroots shines.
Posted by: GPYR | December 08, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Turning over in my grave.
Posted by: A.Lincoln | December 08, 2008 at 10:04 PM
I am sure that Lincoln would be a fan of Beyrouti 10:04.
Posted by: | December 09, 2008 at 07:52 AM
All male; all white... Ummm, what's wrong with this picture?
Posted by: | December 09, 2008 at 11:45 AM
JJ failed repeatedly as a candidate and now he is being remediated by the party. The Dems will add to his record of failure.
Posted by: | December 09, 2008 at 11:47 AM
This is clearly part of an evil plan by DeMatteo and Bunting to both become state committeemen at the same time. And they also both willingly step down from their exec committee chairmanships? Does this sound like power play anyone?
Posted by: spectator | December 09, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Bunning and DiMatteo
Guns and bluster
Posted by: Les éléphants ont de longues mémoires | December 09, 2008 at 05:48 PM
Wow; left field...
Posted by: | December 09, 2008 at 09:27 PM
jj is a pig who cant organize anything the beaches were his only achievement and they always lost to the clearwater crowd
Posted by: | December 09, 2008 at 10:56 PM
DiMatteo's guy Jay wins 108-20 and you libs say he did a bad job? Wana buy a bridge?
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
I love meatballs
Posted by: | December 10, 2008 at 07:23 PM
JJ Beyrouti has had affairs with local officials Nancy Bostock been caught stealing from his partenrships and now he is going to steal from the local party
Posted by: | December 10, 2008 at 11:43 PM
So this is why JJ did not keep his word. It is nice to know and will be remembered. Anyone else that thinks that JJ is your friend, here is the answer!!!!!!!
Posted by: Nail In My Back | December 11, 2008 at 11:03 AM