NO ONE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE SARASOTA/MANATEE POLITICAL SCENE THAN THE SARASOTA PHOENIX
The Max Goodman packaged make-over of Sydney Gruters
Photography by Alex Stafford, Hair by Brian Goetz, Make-Up by Bethany Holmstrom of Fresh Salon & Spa.
THE MAX GOODMAN MAKEOVER OF SYDNEY GRUTERS INTO A PACKAGED U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN
Max Goodman as the political director and campaign manager for Republican David Jolly, who is now a Democrat running for Governor of Florida.
Local political consultant Max Goodman, with the help of stylist Jackie Rogers, has begun selling and packaging the wife of Florida State Senator Joe Gruters, Sydney Gruters, as a potential Congresswoman for Florida’s 16th U.S. Congressional District.
In the Goodman/Rogers makeover, Gruters stated in a Sarasota Magazine article, “I want to get out of the easy routine of wearing black and gray all the time and become more confident with colors, while still feeling pulled together and polished.”
The Goodman/Rogers packaged Gruters second on the right
SYDNEY’S TAKE: “I feel amazing. Jackie picked items I would never normally look at, and they worked for me. This taught me to think outside the box and not judge a shirt or dress from the hanger. Now I have a better idea of how to incorporate color into my everyday wardrobe.”
Gruters later added in the Sarasota Magazine article, “I feel amazing. Jackie picked items I would never normally look at, and they worked for me. This taught me to be creative.”
BTW, Goodman did not add this item to Gruters resume: “Rodan + Fields Anti-Aging Skincare Independent Consultant.”
The political operative Goodman, who has worked for numerous Florida Republican establishment candidates is attempting to package the handpicked candidate of the Republican establishment operating out the swamp in Tallahassee, Syndey Gruters.
Pedicini
GOODMAN'S CONNECTION TO PEDICINI
Goodman’s is connected the Ybor City consultant Anthony Pedicini, who critics say turned the Manatee County Commission into a “shit show.” The connection is is well established, as both are currently involved in the campaign of James Buchanan, who is running for Gruters’ term-limited Florida State Senate seat against Republican America First candidate Vic Rohe.
James Buchanan is Vern Buchanan empty suit son, WHO with Vern's $millions is running for Joe Gruters term limited Florida State Senate seat.
Goodman is also the political operative of a former Pedicini candidate, Mike Rahn, who is running for re-election for the Manatee County Commission.
The extended Speir family. Speir and his wife Claire are parents of two children and recent grandparents.
Spier and his wife Claire
SPEIR AND REPUBLICAN AMERICA FIRST ACTIVISTS TAKE ON GRUTERS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT RPOF
Gruters opponent in the Republican primary is longtime Republican America First activist Eddie Speir, who is running against establishment candidate Gruters, who was handpicked by the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) operating out of the Tallahassee swamp. A RPOF, which has purged thousands of Spiers America First activists' supporters from various local RECs over the last two years.
The Gruters/Speir race in Florida’s 16th Congressional District is expected to become one of the most watched congressional races in the nation. With the retirement of Congressman Vern Buchanan, the open seat pits an establishment Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump (Gruters) against Republican America First activist Eddie Speir.
“THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM” — THE FLORIDA REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT VS. AMERICA FIRST ACTIVISTS
Much of the 16th District lies within Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee Counties, a stronghold of deep-red Republican conservatism. With Buchanan’s retirement, the “elephant in the room” can no longer be ignored: the growing political confrontation between the Tallahassee-centered Republican establishment and conservative grassroots America First activists in Manatee County and beyond.
Speir, who is running in the August 18th Republican primary is the same Spier, who relatively unknown politically two years ago challenged the 16-year incumbent Congressman Vern Buchanan in the Republican primary.
Speir stunned the Republican establishment by gaining significant name recognition and favorability receiving 40% of the vote, despite being outspent more than 4-to-1 by multimillionaire Buchanan.
Pedicini's seven handpicked Manatee County Commissioners
SPEIR LED THE TAKEDOWN OF THE NEAL/BERUFF/PEDICINI “SHIT SHOW”
Speir was also a lead Republican America First activists in taking down the Tampa-based political operative Pedicini’s handpicked Manatee County Commission candidates, who critics said had turned the commission into a “shit show.”
Pedicini’s preferred candidates were viewed as closely aligned with major Republican establishment developers in “pay-to-play” politics.
Jensen/Benderson/Beruff/Neal
Records from the 2022 and 2024 Manatee County elections revealed that four major Republican establishment developers — Carlos Beruff’s Medallion Home, Pat Neal’s Signature Homes, Randy Benderson’s Benderson Development, and Rex Jensen’s Schroeder-Manatee Ranch — bundled multiple $1,000 contributions, the legal maximum, for candidates backed by Pedicini.
THE TALLAHASSEE-BASED RPOF SHUT DOWN THE MREC
After Pedicini-backed candidates lost in 2024, the Tallahassee-based Republican establishment retaliated by purging America First activists, including Speir, closing the MREC, and removing elected members.
Helmich/Ramba/Power
Following the defeat of the Neal/Beruff/Pedicini establishment candidates, RPOF leaders David Ramba, Evan Power, and Bill Helmich canceled elections for the Manatee County Republican Executive Committee and shut the organization down entirely.
The Manatee County REC became one of 10 county RECs in Florida where America First activists claim they have been shut out of leadership positions.
GRUTERS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND AS AMERICA FIRST ACTIVISTS WERE PURGED
Any effort by Goodman to package Gruters as an America First activist faces pushback from Speir supporters, who ask: where was Gruters when America First activists were being purged from the MREC?
Where were Sydney and Joe Gruters when more than 150 America First activists were removed from the SREC? Critics say both were sitting in their seats during meetings while SPD officers kept America First activists barred from entry.
Where were Sydney and Joe Gruters when thousands of Republican America First activists across Florida were purged by RPOF Chairman Evan Power and Executive Director Bill Helmich?
Critics argue Joe Gruters remained silent in Tallahassee as Florida’s Republican National Committeeman, while Sydney Gruters worked at New College in Sarasota under President Richard Corcoran, reportedly earning $150,000 annually.
Trump's Chief of Staff-Susie Wiles
Speir supporters say they do not care whether the RPOF chose Gruters or whether Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles encouraged President Trump to endorse the establishment-backed candidate, Gruters.
Wiles, a former lobbyist for Ballard Partners and Mercury Public Affairs, has faced criticism from America First activists who believe establishment Republicans continue promoting neoconservative policies.
Johnson
JOHNSON ENDORSEMENT SEEN AS MORE SWAMP POLITICS
The endorsement of Gruters by House Speaker Mike Johnson is viewed by critics as another establishment endorsement lacking grassroots credibility.
Graham
Critics also speculate Gruters could eventually receive support from Senator Lindsey Graham, whom they view as another neoconservative voice advocating continued involvement in Middle East conflicts.
GOODMAN STRATEGY HAS GRUTERS “FEELING PULLED TOGETHER AND POLISHED” WHILE TIED TO BIG-MONEY DONORS
Epstein
Critics argue that Goodman’s strategy is to keep Gruters away from controversial issues such as the Jeffrey Epstein files. Republican America First activists continue demanding answers about elite donors, abuse scandals, and foreign policy.
The Goodman/Rogers packgaged Sydney Gruters at a recent Selby Gardens Gala
The Tara on the Bay Selby Gardens $90 million parking garage and restaurant destroying the ambiance of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Some activists question why the Gruters regularly attends Selby Gardens galas in Sarasota, where Sarasota’s political and social elite gather. They also point to millions in public funding and tax exemptions that Joe Gruters helped secure the venue while serving in the Florida Senate.
Jennifer and Rob Rominieckl in the center of others at a Selby Gardens Gala
A major Gruters supporter is Jennifer Rominiecki, CEO of Selby Gardens. After relocating from New York, Rominiecki oversaw the transformation of Selby Gardens into a $90 million venue that critics describe as a gathering place for Sarasota’s “UNI Party” establishment.
One of Goodman’s primary tasks, according to critics, is separating Gruters from Sarasota’s arts-and-culture elite and broader Republican and Democrat establishment networks.
BTW, Goodman is also a contributor to the Arts and Culture PAC, which helped elect all five “UNI Party” Democrat Sarasota City Commissioners.
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Jon Susce
The Sarasota Phoenix team is the last media guardian in the Sarasota/ Manatee area and beyond laying bare for all to see how the Sarasota/ Manatee area and beyond is controlled by a UNI Party financed by millionaires and billionaires turning Florida into Paradise Lost..
As usual, Jon Susce offers great insightfound nowhere else in Suncoast and State Republican politics." Kevin Wright of the Manatee Republican Liberty Caucus.