Sunday, June 15, 2014

Brian T. Empric for Florida Federation of Young Republicans Vice Chairman

To the Florida Federation of Young Republicans delegates and my friends:

In the brief time since I attended my first FFYR Quarterly meeting in February 2013, I have developed strong relationships with amazingly devoted Young Republicans from around the state.  I am humbled by the trust that these Florida YR leaders have shown by asking me to consider a candidacy for Vice Chairman of the FFYR.

In case you don’t know me already:
  • I live in Windermere with my wife Michele, daughter Madeleine, and son Davis, and we are members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando.
  • I have worked in commercial construction management for almost 17 years and am now a Project Manager in Central Florida for one of the largest privately-held construction firms in the country.
  • I am the President of the Orange County Young Republicans and the chairman of the FFYR Platform and Policy Committee.
  • I was the “OCYR of the Year” for 2012 and the "Officer of the Year" for 2013 because of my efforts in promoting club activism on policy issues and in volunteering with multiple election campaigns, including Rick Santorum’s presidential run.  I now serve as one of the three co-chairs of Santorum’s Patriot Voices organization in Florida.
  • In October 2013, I was chosen by BusinessForce to participate in the Central Florida Political Leadership Institute's exclusive annual program for educating prospective candidates on campaigning, governing and public policy.


For the Republican Party, we know that our 18-40 age group is a critical demographic that deserves a seat at the table with those who are setting policy and calculating the political consequences of those policy decisions.  I was honored to lead the statewide effort to adopt a Young Republican platform last year in the tradition of the one that Ronald Reagan spoke about at the 1976 Convention, “a platform that is a banner of bold, unmistakable colors, with no pastel shades,” which we should carry throughout the state to communicate to our fellow young Floridians the obvious differences between ourselves and the Democrats.  I hope to be able to work further in the year ahead to include FFYR leadership in state Executive/Legislative policy discussions and communications.

In this upcoming year, we will continue to prove how invaluable Young Republicans are to the electoral success of this party.  We have an important few months of critical campaigning ahead of us, and I will put forth the same hard work, motivation and dedication that I have exhibited in three short years of involvement with the Orange County Young Republicans into the role of Vice Chairman of the FFYR.

I am proud to be running as part of a team that is dedicated to continuous improvement of an already award-winning organization.  We plan on improving attendance at our quarterly meetings, filling out all of the Federation’s committees to grow the talent of its members, and developing the strength of the Federation’s regions.

Like Reagan said in his acceptance speech at the RNC in Detroit in July 1980, the Republican Party may have internal quarrels, “but only as to the method of attaining a goal.”  There is no argument about the goal itself – it’s the same as it was 34 years ago – we must win, because our party is the only one that has the “positive programs for solving the nation's problems; a party ready to build a new consensus with all those across the land who share a community of values embodied in these words: family, work, neighborhood, peace and freedom.”

I would be honored to earn your support this weekend in Ft. Myers, and to allow me to serve this organization and to lead the achievement of our mutual goals for the benefit of the Republican Party in Florida.


Thank you, may God bless you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Speech Accepting the OCYR Presidential Nomination at the December meeting in Orlando



Four months ago, I formally announced my candidacy for this office, and tonight I gratefully accept the nomination for the presidency of the Orange County Young Republicans.

Michele and I have met some amazing people in Central Florida and around the state since we joined this club about 2½ years ago.  In this brief time, I have been privileged to be chosen as a state co-chair of Rick Santorum's Patriot Voices organization, to be honored as the "2012 OCYR of the Year", and to be elected earlier this year as the Vice President of this club.  I want to thank Christian Waugh and Eric Jontz for your guidance and your faith in me.

We have a big year ahead of us, with critical elections coming after our traditional Hob Nob event in July.  With training, hard work and dedication, we will regain a GOP majority in the Orange County state legislative delegation, by holding our current seats and flipping 2 seats from (D) to (R).  Young Republicans like ourselves will be on the frontline to re-elect the Republican Congressmen that represent our County, and we will lead the way in securing the crucial I-4 corridor for Governor Scott and the entire Cabinet.  We will continue to host the best guest speakers at our regular monthly meetings, to provide access for our members to the leading politicians in Central Florida.

For the Republican party, our 18-40 age group is a critical demographic that deserves a seat at the table with those who are setting policy and calculating the political consequences of those policy decisions.  I’ve been honored to lead the statewide effort to adopt a Young Republican platform in the tradition of the one that Ronald Reagan spoke about at the 1976 Convention, “a platform that is a banner of bold, unmistakable colors, with no pastel shades,” that we can carry throughout the state to communicate to our fellow young Floridians the obvious differences between ourselves and the Democrats.  We will continue to add young people into our Party, and we will strive to have the most members of any YR club in Florida.

Like Reagan said in his acceptance speech at the RNC in Detroit in July 1980, the Republican Party may have internal quarrels, “but only as to the method of attaining a goal.”  There is no argument about the goal – it’s the same as it was 33 years ago – our party is the only one that has the “positive programs for solving the nation's problems; a party ready to build a new consensus with all those across the land who share a community of values embodied in these words: family, work, neighborhood, peace and freedom.”

I am humbled by the additional responsibility conferred by your continued trust in me, and I will not nonchalantly watch our county, state or country suffer under mediocre leadership at any level.  The Governor likes to say “let’s get to work!” and I couldn’t agree more.  You and I will prove how invaluable Young Republicans are to this party and I am excited to start working on these goals together with you.

Thank you, may God bless you this Christmas season, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.


Saturday, March 30, 2013

Weekend Potpourri

@natebeeler
Glenn McCoy
Glenn Foden

Friday, March 29, 2013

Good Friday Florilegium


@varvel

@varvel

Jerry Holbert

@natebeeler


Thursday, March 28, 2013

Thursday's Thoughts

Robert Ariail


Michael Ramirez


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Wednesday's Write-up

@natebeeler

Lisa Benson

Glenn Foden