The relationship between state Sen. Joe Gruters and Gov. Ron DeSantis has always been a hard one to decipher.

The Sarasota Republican leader was DeSantis’ choice to lead the Republican Party of Florida in 2018. But the presidential election was the party priority then. It made sense to have the man who led Donald Trump’s campaign to victory in Florida in 2016 helm Team Red into 2020.

But there were always grumblings whether DeSantis wanted someone more focused on his own ambitions leading the party into the Midterms. The problem was Gruters proved good at running the party. Registrations were through the roof. Turnout was the envy of Republicans nationwide. Gruters led the state GOP through four years and then some, and DeSantis never openly stood in the way.

But then Gruters left on his own. This year marked the first time in a decade and a half he didn’t hold the title of county or state party chair. Yet, friction between Gruters and DeSantis continues to make headlines.

Last week, the state Senator became the first member of the Florida Legislature to formally endorse Trump as he seeks a White House comeback in 2024. It would be no shock if Trump put Gruters in an important position in his campaign. The former and would-be President would like to win some of those states he swears were stolen in 2020, and Gruters' efforts in Florida guaranteed an outside-the-margin victory for Trump here.

But what’s this mean for Sarasota in the meantime. The Legislative Session is supposed to come a close this week, and the most important remaining task is finalizing a budget. That document will land in front of DeSantis, who boasts line-item veto power and a history of holding grudges. Local institutions who win over the Legislature before the budget is approved this week should still hold back on buying Champaign.

The idea Gruters’ endorsement could undercut important projects in the area may seem petty, but that’s politics. Remember, Gruters’ public support of Trump in a real sense confirmed what always loomed over his relationship with DeSantis. There wasn’t loyalty there at the moment DeSantis needed it most.

Gruters endorsed Trump during a particularly embarrassing week for the Governor’s struggling presidential campaign. DeSantis had announced a trip to Washington to woo members of Congress for endorsements. But Trump seized on that and won over members of Florida’s congressional delegation first. He secured 11 endorsements from Florida’s U.S. House members, including both U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan and Greg Steube.

When a picture of Trump hosting those endorsers at Mar-a-Lago surfaced, Gruters could be seen smiling at the same table. I couldn’t tell if any salt sat nearby if it had all been rubbed into DeSantis’ political wounds.

But Gruters can still create more trouble for DeSantis from his seat in the Florida Senate. That showed this week when the Senator cast a lone GOP vote against the latest bill advancing the Governor’s unwise feud with the Disney corporation. Gruters issued a statement using the same pro-business logic many Republican candidates fighting DeSantis for the nomination employed to mock this endeavor.

“We should be finding ways to support our job creators and turbocharge Florida’s economy,” Gruters said. “People’s pocketbooks are more powerful at influencing corporate behavior than the heavy hand of government. I’m sure Floridians will make their voices heard on this issue.” 

No other lawmaker in the Legislature has countered DeSantis' foolish proxy war against the Mouse. But for Gruters, the ears are on and the gloves are off. That means the fight is finally about to get good.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor for SRQ MEDIA. 

Image courtesy Facebook: Joe Gruters and Ron DeSantis.

Timeshares and vacation clubs are often synonymous with high-pressure sales. With the sun out and their guard down, vacationers can quickly find themselves on the hook for a life-long commitment. And, while they're easy to get into—these contracts are incredibly difficult to escape, according to a new study by the Better Business Bureau. 

The study - Unpacking timeshare and vacation club sales - examines patterns of customer complaints, dollars spent and lost, customer reviews, related scams and more to show how predatory companies and scammers take advantage of consumers hoping to score deals on travel. 

Some timeshare-related businesses, however, treat consumers ethically, resulting in positive experiences for buyers and owners. By calling out and denouncing substandard marketplace behaviors of businesses and scammers, this study intends to make consumers smarter and businesses better. 

From the beginning of 2020 until the end of 2022, BBB received nearly 30,000 business complaints and almost 10,000 negative reviews related to travel companies. A majority of those were related to the timeshare industry, with $32 million in disputed funds. 

Most commonly, consumers said they felt reality didn't match the big promises made in timeshare pitch meetings. 

Complaints to BBB also reflect consumers' opinions that timeshares can be nearly impossible to sell, and consumers often feel misled about the amount and frequency of maintenance fees associated with timeshares. Some say their timeshare became unaffordable after several years of ownership due to increased fees. 

A Maryland woman told BBB years of previously undisclosed maintenance fees and better vacation options led her family to want to sell their timeshare. 

BBB has monitored deception in the timeshare industry and warned consumers about timeshare exit companies for nearly half a decade. But some skilled sellers continue to talk buyers into unfavorable deals that often worsen when desperate investors try to offload purchases through the timeshare exit industry. 

Owners looking to sell their timeshares find many exit companies claim to be able to sell timeshare commitments quickly for high prices. Months and even years tick by with no sale in sight, however, as owners continue to pay annual maintenance fees. And complaints to BBB reveal exit companies often fail to honor money-back guarantees. 

A Texas man paid nearly $3,000 upfront to a timeshare exit company he thought looked legitimate. The contract stated he had a 10-day grace period to back out of the agreement. He was given the runaround when he attempted to get his money back.

More than 1,100 BBB Scam Tracker reports reveal fraudsters have used the same high-pressure tactics common in timeshare sales to con consumers out of $3.5 million in the last three years. Fake debt collection on supposedly unpaid timeshare fees is also a common ruse used on unsuspecting owners.  

BBB urges timeshare-related industries to self-regulate by establishing and following ethical sales practices. Timeshare companies of all types should cease high-pressure sales tactics at pitch meetings and ease restrictions for longtime, non-delinquent customers who wish to cancel their timeshare. 

BBB tips for anyone considering a timeshare or exit company:

Extensively research timeshare properties, vacation clubs or exit companies and thoroughly read contracts for language about lifetime commitment, heirs' obligations, maintenance fee increases or guarantees. 

Beware of misleading or high-pressure sales tactics. If you feel like someone is trying to push you into a deal, walk away. 

To sell a timeshare, contact the resort directly and see if they have a resale or buyback program. 

Be realistic about what you can get for your timeshare. Most of these contracts are not investments and may return considerably less than you paid. 

If it sounds too good to be true, it is. There are deals to be found on travel, but scammers know consumers want to save money and take advantage.

Be wary of paying timeshare exit companies all fees upfront until services are rendered.   

Better Business Bureau Serving West Florida provides business profiles on companies within its 11 county service area.  These counties include: Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, Desoto, Charlotte, Lee & Collier. 

Report suspects scams to Better Business Bureau (BBB)