Local Republicans to Talk Campaigns, Washington Tonight in Greater Brandon

Like any other election year, political parties are readying themselves for a vicious battle for power this November.

In August, Tampa will host the 2012 GOP Convention, but there is plenty of other work for the party to do locally. That's where Art Wood and the Republican Party of Hillbsborough County come in. Tonight, March 20, the group will meet and continue discussions on what they're doing to get ready for election time.

"One focus of the meeting will be to answer the question: are you better off now than you were four years ago?" said Wood, chairman of the HCRP. "We'll have a guest speaker to talk about what is going on in Washington and then we'll be working on growing membership and having our campaign leaders give their reports to let the audience know what we're doing and to keep them engaged."

Outside of providing volunteers, the group has little to do with GOP Convention. Instead, it's focusing its efforts on establishing groups that will help campaign for the eventual opponent of Barack Obama.

"We want to build a team that can assure a big Republican victory," Wood said. "We are always recruiting new members and conducting new member training. We had 250 people last time and I'd like to get closer to 300 this time. We're the largest county party in the state but we're trying to grow bigger. Anyone can attend the meetings, Republican or not."

Tonight's meeting will follow the agenda listed below. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. with a networking hour at 6 p.m. at The River of Tampa Education Center, 3738 River International Dr., Tampa.

State Committeewoman                      

Tina Mallare Pike

• Are you better off than 4 years ago?

Membership growth:

Voter fraud research:

Voter Registration:

Technology:

Club Activity:

District Activity:

Engage Hispanics:

Engage African-Americans:

Engage students:

Coalition-building:

Tony Jackson

Kimberly Kelley

Steve Emerson

Jonathan Torres

Chris Shalosky

Chris Shalosky

Mireya Linsky

V. Jenkins

Tarra Mitchell

Jim Bischoff