Manatee County Republican Board State Committeewoman: Cindy Spray

Name: Cindy Spray

What makes you a good candidate to hold this position?

I have been a resident of this community since 2008. However, the history I have with Manatee County spans decades.

I've volunteered for our local, state and federal candidates that ultimately led me to being nominated as the secretary of Republican Party of Manatee County, where I have served as secretary for the past four years.

I feel it is our obligation to be involved in all aspects of our county, to cultivate our youth as conservative voters and future leaders.

It was brought to my attention by a committee members that we didn't have a scholarship listed in our education system. When asked why, I wasn't sure how respond except by saying I would look into it. After months of research and communication, I developed a program offering conservative scholarships through our local Republican clubs. 

This year the Women of Manatee County Republican Club was the first club to adopt it, have it listed on the Manatee Education Foundation's website and awarded a student with funds this past spring. 

I've worked for the supervisor of elections as a poll clerk in the past few election cycles. It is an important role in protecting our rights to vote, and having polling sites is a tradition we need to protect. 

Being an informed voter on agenda items that are being considered with the Manatee County School District and the County Commission is among the things that are important for all of us to stay focused on. The decisions they make affect each and every one of us as tax payers. 

What are the most important issues you will address, if elected?

1. One of the most important tasks I want to do is to work with local and state leaders in cleaning up our voter rolls. There are laws in place to remove the deceased from our rolls. However, it's been proven that something is wrong with the process. Some whom have passed away are receiving absentee ballots and have been voting in our elections. I would like to see a bill passed that requires all funeral home and crematories to report deaths directly to the Florida Department of Elections or to the state of their legal residence. The current laws are not working, and it's a topic of concern among voters. 
2. I personally serve on the Lakewood Ranch Elks Club Veterans Committee in helping to raise funds for Paws for Patriots and Homes for Our Troops and helped make backpacks for Operation Stand Down where we handed out more than 100 backpacks with personal hygiene supplies, foods and other items at the fairgrounds to help veterans in need of some of the simplest things. As a Republican, I feel it's my responsibility to help the people who have served to protect our freedoms. Some of those freedoms are at risk of being stripped away. I didn't serve in the military, and this is my way of serving those who served us.

What is your favorite part of representing your party in this position?

The people and the ability to talk to them about our values. Share views and ideas about what we should do to promote our party. 

As the GOP fair chairperson, I have had the opportunity to talk with many people, some who have changed their party affiliation to Republican.

I am a pro-life, second amendment conservative who wants to make a difference in between the dashes in my life. 

It's my belief in being a true Republican, it goes beyond the political arena in our communities to be the best we can be in representing our constitutional conservative values. It's a path I was led to go down, and I hope I can leave something behind to make our community better because it's an honor to be a part of it.