Hispanic Florida GOP spokesman leaves over Trump
TALLAHASSEE -- The communications director for the Florida GOP said Monday he would rather work at another job than support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Wadi Gaitan joined the Republican Party of Florida in May 2015. He said Monday he is leaving to become press secretary for the LIBRE Initiative. The group bills itself as a non-partisan Hispanic outreach group. It receives support from conservative industrialists Charles and David Koch.
"I’m thankful for my almost two years with the Florida GOP, however, moving on gives me a great, new opportunity to continue promoting free market solutions while avoiding efforts that support Donald Trump," Gaitan wrote in a personal email Monday that was first published by The Washington Post and BuzzFeed.
Joe Gruters, the co-chairman for Trump's Florida campaign who is also vice chairman of the state GOP, said he was pleased that Gaitan decided to step down.
"I'm glad to hear the news that Wadi decided to step down and I think it was time for him to move on," Gruters said. "We don't need anyone who may get in the way of Donald Trump's win in Florida, which he will win."
In his official GOP statement that did not mention Trump, Gaitan said he was grateful for the opportunity provided by party Chairman Blaise Ingoglia.
“As some of you may know, tomorrow is my last day with the Florida GOP. It has been an exciting two years and I am grateful for the opportunity Chairman Blaise Ingoglia and the FL GOP team afforded me,” Gaitan wrote, later identifying his new position at the LIBRE Initiative.
Gaitan will begin his job at the LIBRE Initiative next week and he will be based out of its Arlington, Virginia, office, said Brian Faughnan, agency spokesman.
Gaitan was brought in five months after Gov. Rick Scott’s pick for state party chair was vetoed by GOP leaders. Party members instead chose Ingoglia, who is also a state House member from Spring Hill.
Gaitan’s mother is from Honduras and she taught him to speak Spanish. Ingoglia distributed a news release shortly after he was hired that touched on Gaitan's ability to connect with Spanish-speaking voters.
"Our vision for 2016 is simple – energize the party, activate our grassroots and reach all of the voters with our message – whether in English or Spanish," Ingoglia wrote in the release. "I know that these professionals will make it their daily mission to serve the party faithful and help elect Republicans to office.”
Gaitan also was communications director for U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, a Miami Republican, during his 2014 campaign. He also served as press secretary for the U.S. House of Representatives Republican Conference.