NO ONE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE SARASOTA/MANATEE POLITICAL SCENE THAN THE SARASOTA PHOENIX
THE REPUBLICAN AMERICA FIRST GRASSROOTS CANDIDATE SPIER HITS A HOME RUN ON MALEY’S BRADENTON TIMES PODCAST
The Goodman packaged/scripted/polished Gruters
Photography by Alex Stafford, Hair by Brian Goetz, Make-Up by Bethany Holmstrom of Fresh Salon & Spa.
If anyone, who wants to understand why the Republican America First grassroots candidate Eddie Speir and not the Republican Establishment candidate Syndey Gruters is the strongest candidate for Florida’s 16th Congressional District, they should listen to Mitch Maley’s Bradenton Times podcast interview with Spier.
An objective observer would conclude that the Republican grassroots candidate Speir delivered a standout performance—Eddie Speir hit a Home Run.
Anyone who wants to see a strong example of a respectful exchange between a conservative politician, Speir, and a liberal journalist, Maley, should watch Maley’s interview with Speir—especially in today’s toxic climate of culture wars on both the left and the right.
The Pedicini replacement Mitch Goodman to be the Gruters attack dog
Maley's professionlism is unlike Gruters political operative Mitch Goodman, who with his Ybor City RPOF political operative Anthony Pedicini has for years used Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch as an attack surrogate on numerous occasions to smear his clients. Goodman is using the same tactics to smear Spier for his client, Sydney Gruters
Goodman and Gruters are known to be part of a party hardy bunch. Goodman in the middle of Gruters and David Jolly the then Republican now running for Florida Governor as a Democrat.
What madkes the Speir/Maley interview a classic interview considering today’s divisive world of politics was that it had two individuals, who are well versed in local, state and national issues discussing in a civil manner what they may disagree upon and coming together on what they agree upon.
Both participants were knowledgeable, articulate, and well informed about the major issues of the day. They expressed their disagreements openly while also finding common ground—something rarely seen in today’s toxic political climate.
The Maley interview appears to have been encouraged by Speir’s grassroots activists supporters, who wanted to broaden the reach of his views through the Bradenton Times, a publication they see as a positive influential voice in the 2024 local election.
The Pedicini/Beruff/Neal Seven that turned Manatee County into a Shit Show with two of them (Mike Rahn and Amanda Ballard) up for re-election
Beruff/Neal/Pedicini
An election that saw the defeat of candidates backed by Anthony Pedicini, Carlos Beruff and Pat Neal, who had turned the Manatee County Commission into a political spectacle. A 2024 election that found Spier as a leader in the grassroots campaign, which took out the Pedicini/Beruff/Neal establishment County Commissioners.
Brill
A 2024 election, which NEVER saw Gruters waving a sign, making phone calls, going door to door or ANY activity to take out the Pedicini/Beruff/Neal Gang. Gruters also said not a word when over 130 Republican America First activists were purged by the SREC’s Chairman Jack Brill.
Donalds and Neal
Where the grassroots Republican activists did see Gruters recently was on stage with Neal stuffing over $1.4 million into the pockets of the Republican candidate for Governor, Byron Donalds.
Gruters local “Pay to Play” developer Neal made it official on Thursday (5/3/26), as Gruters watched that Florida Governor candidate Donalds is stuffed deep in Neal’s and his “Pay to Play” cronies’ pockets, as Neal put together a fund raiser that raised over 1.4 million for Donalds.
MALEY HAD TO BE IMPRESSED WITH SPEIR
Maley had to be impressed by this grassroots conservative candidate in how Speir defended his views, even if Maley disagreed with Spier on the issues. Speir exhibited intelligence, a strong grasp of history, and a command of a wide range of issues, as Speir articulated his views on various issues.
For example, Speir pointed to Iran’s political history since World War II, arguing that the country has come under the rule of radical Shiite clerics. He also stated present Cuba’s current Communist Party leadership are ones, who had ties to the former Soviet Union—points Maley did not dispute.
What stood out in the Maley interview was Speir’s ability to respond thoughtfully to Maley on points of disagreement and then pivot to what this election is all about, which is the key contrasts between his grassroots campaign and the Republican establishment run campaign of his opponent in the District 16 congressional race, Sydney Gruters.
For example, when Speir and Maley disagreed upon the war on Iran, Speir pivoted to his strong disagreement to Republicans like Linsay Grahman, who are establishment Republicans having no wars they don’t like.
Speir added that Gruters remained silent when 180 America First Republicans were removed from the Manatee County Republican Executive Committee, a development the Bradenton Times had reported.
Heisse and Wayman
Spier also questioned election integrity, noting that elected Republicans such as grassroots Republican America First Trent Wayman and Jackie Heisse were denied their positions as state committeeman and committeewoman with no objections from the establishment Republican Gruters. Maley did not challenge those points.
Maley and the conservative Speir spirited conversations on the issues began an immediately after Speir gave forth his impressive bio, which included among other impressive highlights included creating a multimillion-dollar high tech company and the establishment of the national recognized Inspiration Academy in Manatee County.
Buchanan
Speir’s resume also included his grassroots campaign against the Republican establishment U. S Congressman Vern Buchanan in 2024, which Speir received over 40 % of the vote while being outspent 7-1 by the 16-year millionaire incumbent, Buchanan.
Maley opened the discussion of the issues by sharing his views on the US/Israel war with Iran. Although he and Speir disagreed about Israel’s role in the war, Maley did not dispute that Iran has long supported global terrorism through proxy groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.
Raul and Fidel Castro
Cuba was another point of disagreement. Maley argued that the current Trump embargo has worsened humanitarian conditions. Speir countered that Cuba’s present humanitarian crisis stems from more than 60 years of a ongoing humanitarian crisis under the Castro communist regime and that stronger measures are now needed to end the suffering of the Cuban people.
Speir countered Maley’s view that Cuba poses no threat to U.S. security by citing the Cuban missile crisis, when Castro allowed the Soviet Union to place nuclear weapons on the island just 90 miles from the United States. He also argued that Cuba’s communist regime has long maintained close ties with socialist governments such as Venezuela and Nicaragua.
THE ECONOMY IS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPIER AND GRUTERS
Maley shifted the discussion to the economy, noting that the national debt has reached $40 trillion and arguing that it could double under Trump’s current proposed military budget. He asked whether Speir was concerned, and Speir again turned the question to the differences between himself and Gruters concerning the economy.
Gruters endorsed by the leaders of Washington swamp Bob Johnson/Steve Scalise/Tom Ermer/LisaMcLain
Speir argued that the Republican establishment leaders in Congress, who strongly support Gruters are the same ones responsible for driving the national debt into the trillions of dollars. He said those leaders also passed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which he believes will make it even harder for working families to avoid living paycheck to paycheck.
Spier argued that the debt is out of control and that individuals can no longer afford the consequences of what Congress has enacted.
Maley and Speir agreed on several issues, including concerns that U.S. military weapons stockpiles have fallen to dangerously low levels, that the Epstein files should be fully disclosed, and that the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which Gruters supports, is worsening economic hardship for people living paycheck to paycheck.
Other issues discussed included affordable housing, data centers, Mosaic, and “Pay to-Play” developers—topics on which voters deserve a clear answer in a one-on-one debate between Speir and Gruters.
Voters should understand that “Pay-to-Play” developers like Neal and Beruff handpicked candidates have Gruters political operative Goodman representing them in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
Speir said Republican establishment leaders desire Gruters in Congress because she would work comfortably within their system and align herself with Washington’s political establishment operating in the Wahington swamp.
Speir argued that Gruters would bring Florida’s Tallahassee swamp-political go along get along culture to Washington and reinforce the existing establishment operating in the Washington swamp.
A MALEY/GRUTERS INTERVIEW FOLLOWED BY A GRUTERS/SPEIR DEBATE IS NOW REQUIRED
What the Spier/Maley interview now calls for is a Maley/Gruters interview, followed by a Gruters/Spier debate, which seems highly unlikely if Gruters’s political operative; Goodman does not allow it to happen.
Just like his fellow political operative Pedicini’s playbook, the Goodman strategy is to keep Gruters out of the spotlight, rack up establishment Republican endorsements, and fill mailboxes with flyers bankrolled by wealthy donors seeking another politician they can control.
Speir readily agreed to face Maley, a respected progressive commentator with strong political knowledge. Goodman should stop shielding his polished, tightly scripted candidate and have her face Maley as well.
If Gruters believes she is the most qualified candidate for Florida’s 16th Congressional District, she should have her political operative, Goodman, allow her to come on Maley’s Bradenton Times podcast and allow the viewers to judge the most qualified candidate.
The only real qualification the Republican establishment candidate Gruters has is being endorsed by President Donald Trump, which occurred no doubt with Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles whispering in Trump ears to endorse her.
Helmich/Ramba/Power
Wiles is a former Ballard Partners lobbyist with a long history in Tallahassee politics, where she has worked alongside establishment figures including RPOF Chairman and lobbyist Evan Power, RPOF Chief of Staff Bill Helmich, and Tallahassee based lobbyist David Ramba.
The only thing Trump knows about Gruters is she is the wife of Florida State Senator and Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters.
Trump’s endorsement over two-term Florida State Representative Fiona McFarland frustrated the Annapolis graduate and U.S. Navy veteran—not to mention her mother, K.T. McFarland, the prominent New York conservative who served as Deputy National Security Adviser during Trump’s first term.
Gruters the New College Foundation $200,000 E.D raising funds for Corcoran's $2.1 Million yearly salary as New College President
Maybe McFarland can now get the endorsed Gruters last job getting paid a now reported over $200,000. A job to raise money as head of the New College Foundation to raise $1.2 million pay for New College President Richared Corcoran yearly salary, which bypassed the Florida State Legislature capping salary at $200, 000 per year.
Gruters $90,OOO assistant at New College and former Martin "Go cut the grass" Hyatt campaign manager Alice Rothbauer going door to door in the Venice City Council camapign.
LESS PHOTO OPS AND MORE ONE ON ONE DEBATES
No more photo ops with establishment Republican politicians. who accommodate multimillionaire donors and keep candidates like Gruters in their pockets.
No more of the Goodman arranged June 17 forum with eight candidates with six of the eight having little or no chance to be able to defeat Spier or Gruters. This event is just an opportunity for Goodman to avoid Gruters going one and one with Gruters and being exposed as a packaged Goodman party hardy politician with little or no substance other than she has Trump’s endorsement.
Goodman knows keeping Gruters away from debating Speir one on one would expose Gruters as nothing more than Republican establishment politician swimming in the Tallahassee swamp led by the three-lobbyist trio of Ramba, Power and Helmich.
Gruters should abandon the Pedicini/Goodman strategy of avoiding one-on-one debates and agree to debate Speir directly. That would give voters a clear chance to judge which candidate is better qualified to represent Florida’s 16th Congressional District.
Jon Susce
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