RPOF: Hidden Networks Steering Elections – Inside The Florida GOP: Affect, Consulting And Conflicts Of Curiosity – JP
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Edited by Eduardo Vidal
Boca Raton, Florida – Across the country, Republican parties are experiencing a quiet but consequential struggle between establishment insiders, on one hand, and grassroots activists, on the other. Florida’s recent GOP battles illustrate how local decisions can ripple nationally—raising questions about transparency, accountability and the integrity of internal party governance.
1. In Manatee County, the Republican Executive Committee (REC) was shut down entirely, including duly-elected State Committeeman Trent Wyman and State Committeewoman Jackie Heisse.
2. In Charlotte County, popular REC Chairman David Kalin was removed by the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) despite public support from his Board. His resignation was even rejected—apparently to bar him from participating in party activities for two years. The rest of the Board may face the same fate as Manatee’s leadership for supporting him.
3. In Osceola County, members who resigned from other organizations to comply with new RPOF rules were later prevented from voting and suspended.
4. Meanwhile, in Brevard County, the new MAGA-aligned REC Chairman was ousted by RPOF leadership.
These actions reflect more than simple internal disagreements—they suggest a systematic sidelining by the RPOF of county REC leaders willing to challenge the party line.
The Power Players
Three figures sit at the center of this unfolding drama:
1. Evan Powers, RPOF Chairman;
2. Bill Helmich, RPOF Executive Director; and
3. David Ramba, a Tallahassee based consultant and lobbyist active in multiple counties.
Powers and Helmich have long-standing ties to Ramba. Notably, Helmich maintains a vote-by-mail address at a property owned by Ramba, while claiming a homestead in another county. None of this is illegal, but the optics suggest overlapping influence within the very party structures responsible for candidate selection and internal policy enforcement.
Records show Helmich’s homestead in Leon County, yet he has been voting and serving as a committeeman in Madison County. Under Florida law, one can only represent the county where one is officially registered to live. Ironically, Helmich is reportedly responsible for removing the aforementioned REC Board members and State Committee representatives for rule violations. Might this be a case of “rules for thee, but not for me”?
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Evan Powers’ connection is particularly concerning: he is directly employed by Ramba Consulting. As Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Powers influences support for candidates seeking state-level office—officials who, once elected, would vote on legislation affecting Ramba’s clients in utilities, transportation and public affairs. Again, not illegal—but certainly eyebrow-raising.
David Ramba, who operates in Palm Beach, Leon, and Hillsborough Counties, has built a network that blends consulting, political strategy and access to decision-makers. While his firm’s work is publicly recognized as consulting, the alignment of his staff, professional relationships, and the use of his properties intersect with party leadership in ways that raise legitimate concerns about where private interests end and party governance begins.
Notably, Ramba serves as Executive Director of the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association, Inc. representing the 67 County Supervisors of Elections in Florida—many of which oppose the reforms demanded by grassroots advocates, such as voting system security, absentee ballot oversight, and broader election integrity. These same issues resonate in swing states from Pennsylvania to Arizona.
How is any of this not a conflict of interest?
The Broader Implications
These developments are nationally relevant because they mirror tensions across state Republican parties throughout the country: grassroots activists clashing with entrenched leadership. The pattern is consistent—populist-aligned grassroots leaders are removed while establishment figures consolidate power.
Such dynamics risk deepening divisions within the party, potentially alienating the base at a moment when voter engagement is critical. In Florida, when party executives, consultants, and administrators operate in overlapping spheres of influence, the optics alone demand scrutiny. Questions of property use, professional relationships, and voting arrangements may or may not have direct legal implications—but perception matters.
Trust in the electoral process and confidence in party governance are fragile commodities, especially when the voices of local grassroots members are sidelined.
Florida’s Republican Party stands as a cautionary tale for the national party: without reform and transparency, internal divisions may intensify—leaving both leadership and grassroots activists in conflict. The stakes are high, not only for state politics but for the credibility of the Republican Party nationwide.