At a recent meeting of Broward GOP club presidents, new chairman Rico Petrocelli made an offer many may refuse. Petrocelli told the presidents they would receive $200 for their clubs for every $1000 contribution they brought into the Broward Republican Executive Committee. Sources say the $1000 would purchase an advertisement on the Broward GOP website.
This commission scheme could be very problematic. Would contributors be told of the 80/20 split? Why would a club hand over $800 instead of keeping the entire $1000? What would stop Petrocelli and Michael George DeGruccio, his handpicked director of party development, from bypassing the clubs the next time they approach the same donor?
In an attempt to sell his plan to skeptical club honchos, Petrocelli trotted out his experience as a used car salesman. According to a source, Petrocelli said he knew the dealership was making $300,000 off of him but it did not matter because he was pocketing $100,000!
This plan may explain Petrocelli’s announcement of a new African-American club, headed by the Rev. ONeal Dozier, and an alliance with the Pinecrest Teen Republican club. Dozier has access to national donors and the Pinecrest teens have mommies and daddies who can afford Pinecrest tuition. Let’s hope Rev. Dozier and the Pinecrest folks know a bad deal when they see it.
The Broward GOP could certainly use the money. The January financial reports posted on Brenda Snipes’ website shows BREC funds were used on December 18, 2012 to pay $500 to Michael George DeGruccio for “partial reimbursement gen[eral] election expenses”. Gee, how much is the next partial payment?
[...] of Petrocelli’s plan to give commissions on money raised by Broward GOP clubs. As RED BROWARD previously reported, Petocelli stated if clubs raised $1000 for BREC they would receive $200-250 in [...]