Florida Gov. Rick Scott chats with the Pasco Republican Party June 29.

With the Republican National Convention (RNC) fast approaching, the Republican Party of Pasco County is preparing for this historic political event that will bring lots of national attention to the Tampa Bay area. A number of upcoming events are helping Republicans from all across Pasco, including Wesley Chapel, get excited for the RNC, which will be held at the end of August in downtown Tampa.

To further bolster excitement for the RNC, the Republican Party of Pasco County is hosting Florida Governor Rick Scott as its keynote speaker at the group’s annual “Reagan Day Dinner” at Spartan Manor in New Port Richey on Friday, June 29.

“A lot of other elected officials will be showing up to attend that, too,” says Mike Moore, president of the Wesley Chapel Republican Club. “Any time you get access to the governor, it’s a great thing. Besides doing the speech, I’m sure he’ll be pretty accessible to people if they want to meet him, shake his hand or ask him a question.”

In past years, the Reagan Day Dinner has hosted other elected officials as featured speakers, such as U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and former Governor Jeb Bush. Moore says that the club’s recent and upcoming events are getting people “energized to volunteer.”

The club’s last event, which featured candidates for Pasco County Sheriff, including current Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, brought out a crowd of more than 100.

“We had that many people come out in a room made to accommodate 40,” he says. “It was standing room only. You can tell people are starting to get more engaged.”

Speaking of Romney, the Republican Party of Pasco also just opened its “Victory Office” for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign on June 16 in New Port Richey off U.S Hwy. 19. Moore says that there are plans in the works for a potential office in Wesley Chapel, although a location has not yet been chosen.

“We want to get people involved throughout the County,” Moore says. “It’s tough for people to drive all the way to New Port Richey or Dade City. We want to make (an office) accessible for everybody.”

Moore says that the office will serve as a hub for making phone calls on behalf of the Romney campaign, as well as a meeting place for when the group begins doing “walks” later this year, in which they go door-to-door to try to persuade people to vote Republican in the upcoming election.

“We need people big time for phone-banking during the convention,” he says.

Other volunteer opportunities are available as well, including greeting delegates at the airport or being “runners,” people who help get the delegates to and from the RNC. “We’re going to see a lot of impact in Wesley Chapel,” Moore says. “We’re going to utilize our economic opportunities.”

More specifically, he means that many volunteers will work as “hosts,” taking delegates to local attractions, such as the Shops at Wiregrass Mall and local restaurants during their time in the area during the Convention.

The Wesley Chapel Republican Club’s next meeting will be held Thursday, July 12, 7 p.m. at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel, located at 27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd. For more information, please visit PascoGOP.org or contact Mike Moore at WCRepublican@att.net. For lastminute tickets to the Reagan Day Dinner on June 29, please contact Bill Bunting at (727) 862-1063.