FishHawk Republicans Celebrate Ronald Reagan At 1980's Party

Big hair, loud clothes and even louder music were the order of the day June 11 when the FishHawk Republican Club celebrated the Reagan era with a “Back to the 80's” party at Park Square Cellar & Bistro, 16132 Churchview Drive, Lithia.

Deborah Cox-Roush, chair of the Hillsborough County Republican Party, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan and State Senator Rhonda Storms all dropped in on the party.

“Part of the purpose tonight is to keep our people energized with the Tampa convention coming up and next year’s elections just around the corner,” said Cox-Roush who said FishHawk Republicans are among the most active in the county.

The club boasts an email list of more than 200 currently with some 60 active members. With their eyes keenly focused next year’s presidential election and the Republican Party Convention – it will be in Tampa in 2012 – Republicans are revving up the party machine.

With more than 60,000 more Democrats than Republicans registered in Hillsborough County, the GOP has some work to do in voter registration, said Cox-Roush, a FishHawk resident.

“We are going to be concentrating hard on registering more Republicans. People are hurting out there and with the gas prices and the state of the job market, people are more engaged.” 

“It’s a night to let people know who we are and what we do,” said FishHawk Republican Jeff Lukens. “It’s also about recruiting people so we can get them on our email list and let them know what is coming up. And it’s about having some fun.”

In that regard, Stacy Snow Feiler channeled her inner Sarah Palin, donning the dress, the accent and even the accessories, including, as she put it, an oil can to symbolize Palin’s “drill, baby drill” speech.

For more information on the FishHawk Republican Club, visit the group’s web site.