BRAENTON, Fla. (WFLA) – Republican voters in Manatee County elected Trent Wayman as state commissioner in the August primary. Jacqueline Heisse also won the election for women on the state board.
These two positions serve as important liaisons between local and national parties. A few months later they were told they had been removed from the office.
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“There was no legitimate procedure. There was no hearing for us,” Weyman said.
State Republican Speaker Evan Power sent a letter saying they were in office after the Florida GOP Complaint Committee and a turnaround plan for the local party.
The previous executive committee for Manatee Republicans was suspended last year after a heap of complaints and issues. Weyman also filed a complaint against his local party.
“Our committees weren’t actually doing their job. In fact, I think there was only one successful meeting last year due to all the issues we had,” Weyman said.
Local Republicans then said they started a local branch associated with the Florida Republican Congress when Manatee Republicans were in turmoil.
“My wife and I started the Republican Congress the year before 2023 because we thought it was necessary,” Weyman said. “I think what really confuses them is that we beat all the primary candidates.”
Currently, the election office supervisors show nearly 138,000 registered Republicans in Manatee County. In comparison, there are around 71,000 Democrats. Mark Flanagan, who also served in the Florida Legislature, has been appointed chairman of the Manatee Republican Executive Committee.
“We have an incredible team that’s put together,” Flanagan said.
Flanagan agrees that the party will reorganize the local party.
“We are a law and order-defense party, and we must always have a commitment to local and state organizations to adhere to the same policies we expect from others,” Flanagan said.
As for Wayman, he plans to continue sharing his story after being removed from his elected position.
“I’ll keep fighting this, I’ll keep sending this message until someone listens,” Weyman said.
He said he is currently in the process of launching a new political party called America First.
