James A Greer | |
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Chairman, Republican Party of Florida | |
In office 2006–2010 |
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Deputy Mayor of Oviedo, FL | |
In office 2004–2008 |
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Member, East Coast Planning Commission | |
In office 2006–2009 |
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Council Member, City Of Palm Bay, FL | |
In office 1992–1995 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
James Austin Greer June 8, 1962 |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Lisa M Greer |
Children | 5 |
Residence | Oviedo, FL |
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James Greer (born June 8, 1962) is an American politician and businessman, serving from 2006 to 2010 as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Previously, Greer served on the city council of Palm Bay in the early 1990s. He was also elected Deputy Mayor of Oviedo in 2004. Greer also served as a member of the East Coast Regional Planning Commission appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush Greer worked as a lobbyist in Tallahassee for the restaurant and hotel industry. As a member of the Republican National Committee, Greer served as the chairman of the standing committee on rules. His community service includes serving as President of the Rotary Club and as a board member the Chamber of Commerce.
Greer was re-elected as Chairman of the republican party with over 77% of the vote. Greer was considered for election as RNC National Chairman due to his outreach efforts to African Americans and Hispanics.
Outside of politics, Greer was President/CEO of a Nationwide company called Regulatory Compliance Services Inc., which specialized in alcoholic beverage and food regulation compliance, from 1984 to 2007. Greer became a millionaire as a result of his ownership of Regulatory Compliance Services.
Closely associated with Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Greer resigned from his office as Chairman and other positions within the state party following a number of controversies involving party finances and spending behavior by state elected officials. Greer was arrested on June 2, 2010 after being indicted on six felony charges: organized scheme to defraud, money laundering, and four counts of grand theft Prosecutors alleged that Greer, while chair of the Florida GOP, schemed to take money, over $100,000 from the party through a fundraising company he created, Victory Strategies LLC. The Orlando Sentinel further noted that, "The contract for Victory Strategies to take over major donor fundraising was withheld from top GOP finance officials." Three years after his arrest, Greer pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering charges on February 11, 2013, and was sentenced on March 27, 2013 to 18 months in prison of which he served 15 months at a low security work release facility. During the investigation evidence including several affidavits from the state party finance chairman and major donors supported Greer's claim that the Governor and other top party officials knew about the arrangements, however, Greer choose to end his trial and surprised many by pleading guilty which avoided a potentially embarrassing trial for the Republican Party and certain elected officials.