Sen. Joe Gruters found himself in an unusual position this election cycle. The last-minute entry of a Republican primary opponent landed the two-term Senator in an open primary. For most incumbents, this wouldn’t be so bad. But since Gruters serves as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, he lives with a target on his back.

Voters throughout Senate District 22 will now have the chance to vote in the GOP primary, even Democrats, independents and members of third parties. That’s thanks to a voter-approved provision of the constitution that says if an election will decide the ultimate office holder, everyone has a voice. And for once, there was no write-in candidate filing at the last second to close the election.

But who is this last-minute opponent? Michael Johnson for the past several years has lived in a house in Seminole County that he shares with his son. He said he’s long been interested in moving to Sarasota, so might as well show up and rent a villa, then run for state Senate.

While Johnson has done little press since filing, I spoke to him this week. I must say I was somewhat surprised to learn he seemed fairly well-versed in the legislative process, relatively down-to-earth and holding a moderate posture— at least as he runs in an open election.

But there’s a fact I just can’t get over. This man is running for the wrong reasons, and voters need to consider that when they cast their vote. Johnson, a member of the group Grassroots For America, has been part of a Seminole-based effort to take over the Republican Executive Committee up there. When the group tried to call a special meeting to replace all local officers, the sitting leadership had a problem and ruled the mutiny out of order. Then they filed a grievance with the state party. Yes, the one Gruters chairs. Gruters sided with the local party leaders. So Johnson came down here to challenge Gruters for his Senate seat.

Let’s address the grievance itself. It seems entirely reasonable local leaders would react poorly to new members citing obscure rules to cut short their elected terms. But even if Johnson’s gripe with the party were legitimate, and he certainly feels it is, the avenue to challenge that is within the party. Going after Gruters’ Senate seat makes as much sense as suing his accounting firm for a problem with how he runs the Republican Party.

But more important to voters, the job of Senator holds serious responsibility. There are only 40 people in Florida with a say on the budgeting of $112 billion to various agencies, governments and partner nonprofits.

Democrats and even some left-leaning independents may feel tempted to vote against Gruters this year. He’s closely allied with Donald Trump and supported some divisive parts of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda, including on a few votes I and other suspect he would have resisted if not for his position in the party. 

But remember, the alternative in the election is someone who has pushed for more extremist elements to take over the party. This makes me suspect on whether he would be an independent voice or offer an ear to those well to the right of Gruters.

When asked at Tiger Bay to discuss what he would do to Sarasota’s vital nonprofit sector, he did not name one and described the entire world as somewhat suspect, raising concern over whether many nonprofits are crooked. But most are not. Fiscal watchdogs are welcome in Tallahassee, but nonprofits as an industry do not deserve this disdain.

Gruters always prioritizes the needs of the community and its nonprofits when he serves in Tallahassee, and he’s incredibly effective at passing legislation. It’s that ability to work with sitting leaders that seems to have driven Johnson into the race, a supposed catering to the elites. A vote to embarrass Republicans by defeating Gruters would perhaps deliver fleeting excitement, but elect a senator for four years who just moved the region to run on a partisan complaint.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor for SRQ MEDIA.

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At New College of Florida, students experience an education that fosters initiative, risk taking, entrepreneurship and community. For transfer students, this experience is even more relevant as they move closer to their post-graduation goals.

Year after year, New College is ranked as one of the most transfer-friendly schools in the nation. And we’re only one of two colleges from the State University System of Florida on Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Transfer Honor Roll this year.

We couldn’t be prouder of these nods. But our accolades, which have accumulated rapidly throughout the past few years, are only part of the picture. The proof of our success is in the students—those who continue to transfer to New College and find their lives transformed.

“We have increasingly been seeing the value of attracting and enrolling high-performing transfer students, and we have been working to make New College a more transfer-friendly environment,” says Tim Binns, New College’s assistant director of transfer and international admissions. 

Today in higher education, increasing numbers of students are opting to finish an associate in arts degree before transferring to another institution to complete a bachelor’s degree.

“Our transfer path at New College offers opportunities to those who may not have been ready or able to attend their target four-year college or university right out of high school, or who had never previously considered a four-year degree but are looking now,” Binns says. “We welcome these students—and their unique perspectives and academic talents—to New College.”

New College currently partners with such institutions as Daytona State College, Florida SouthWestern State College, Hillsborough Community College, Lake-Sumter State College, Santa Fe College and State College of Florida. Students from these colleges can transfer upon the successful and timely completion of their associate degrees. 

Each year, about 25% of our enrollment at New College is comprised of students who transfer from other institutions.Every transfer student is assigned their own faculty adviser and nationally-certified career coach (a luxury larger colleges can’t provide). Transfer students also receive generous guaranteed scholarships, making New College a highly cost-effective option.

In addition, since July 2021, our New Day transfer success program has allowed students to work one-on-one with a transfer bridge director—someone who helps students navigate the unique culture and academic procedures of New College.

Now let me tell you about some of the transfer students who have thrived—and are thriving—at New College. Take Corinne Laughrey, a physics student who transferred from State College of Florida in 2020 and will graduate from New College this spring.

“When I finished my A.A. at State College of Florida, I wanted to stay local. I chose New College over USF because I liked the idea of small class sizes, the ability to design my own courses for topics of special interest, and the opportunity to work closely with my professors,” Laughrey says. “Finishing my undergraduate degree at New College has helped prepare me for graduate school by giving me the opportunity to conduct research.”

Laughrey is now conducting solar physics research with the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Science at the University of Colorado Boulder.

“I would recommend New College to other transfer students who don’t feel challenged at their current institution. At New College, you have the opportunity to be more than just a name on a class roster,” Laughrey says. “Your professors really get to know you and what you’re capable of rather than comparing you to some standard benchmark. If you’re self-motivated, the sky is the limit on what you can learn and accomplish here.”

And transfer student Michael Bolesh (who is originally from Flackville, New York) just earned a coveted Boren scholarship to study French in Senegal this fall. The environmental studies and anthropology transfer student will join the French component of the African Flagship Language Initiative, applying the scholarship funds from the competitive award to intensive language immersion in Dakar.

“I eventually want to do the Peace Corps and/or go to grad school outside the states, so this is a critical stepping stone to get out of my comfort zone,” Bolesh says. “These past three semesters at New College have been nothing short of transformational for me.” 

“Transformational” is a word we often hear among our transfer students. And there’s a reason. New College is more than a stepping stone; it’s a life-changing experience.

Patricia Okker, Ph.D. is the president of New College of Florida.