Originally this article was going to be published on June 13th and was just going to be about FL Senate President Mike Haridopolos, with the speech and interview that he gave at the Broward Event. However, we learned that the wife of Sen. Haridopolos, would be speaking at the Central Broward Republican Club later last week, so an article featuring the Haridopolises seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up.

The Candidate…

On the 11th, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos spoke to the attendees of the Broward GOP BBQ. He spoke of the need for proven leadership in the U.S. Senate. Of all the candidates running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Bill Nelson, Haridopolos is the only candidate that is currently in office. He stated that Nelson has grown out of touch with the Florida voters he represents in the Senate. “He’s a nice guy but he’s voted the wrong way on issues… Bill Nelson been in office since I was 2 years old…”.

Haridopolos has been criticized for legislation that has not passed in the short 7 months since his ‘swearing-in’ as President of the Florida Senate. While criticism is a regular part of any Republican’s political life, it normally comes from the opposite side of the aisle. Haridopolos has had to endure criticisms both from Democrats condemning the legislation he has passed, and from Republicans pushing for even more legislation to be passed.   Haridopolos takes it in stride, and points out the legislation that he has worked on and carried through the political process. It is legislation and a conservative agenda that has earned Haridopolos the endorsement of Florida CFO Jeff Atwater, who has stated that it is “the boldest, most conservative agenda ever passed by a legislature in Florida history”, and frankly, the list of accomplishments is pretty impressive. View the video of his speech at the Broward GOP here:

In the 7 months since taking the reins as Florida Senate President, Haridopolos has worked on and passed legislation that will have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of Florida taxpayers such as: legislation that requires welfare recipients to take mandatory drug tests prior to receiving benefits; A balanced budget amendment that eliminated $4 billion in spending, yet added no new fees or taxes; the Health Care Freedom Act, a constitutional amendment which provides a shield for Floridians against the Obama’s Healthcare insurance mandate; legislation that provides funds for a prescription drug database, and increases penalties for the owner/operators of pill mills. View the interview with Hridopolos here:

These are just a few of the accomplishments that Haridopolos reminds the voters of each time he speaks, and are an important part of his campaign’s election strategy, but there is another aspect to his race which is invaluable to Haridopolos’ ability to shake off criticism: The support of his family – specifically that of his wife Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos.

Behind every great man…

Historically, the wives of politicians were (wrongly) relegated to a role of “smile, look pretty, and wave”, completely overlooking the vital support, strength and charisma their efforts created for campaigns. In the modern era, political wives regularly publically champion their spouse’s qualifications, and their support adds a powerful dynamic to the candidate’s campaign. Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos is a prime example of this teamwork between candidate and spouse.

In her speech to the Central Broward Republican Club, Dr. Haridopolos demonstrated that she is well informed on the issues, and far exceeds the historical notion of a “campaign wife”. She covered the accomplishments of her husband as Florida Senate President thus far, and stated her admiration for his determination on an issue that was of particular importance for her – Florida’s pill mill situation. View the video of her speaking to the CRBC here:

As a practicing physician, Dr. Haridopolos knows better than most the destructive effects of prescription drug abuse. She spoke about the scrutiny that their family goes through, and the time spent apart, but that those hardships are worth it because of the work her husband is doing. When the gathering at the CBRC turned to the question & answer portion, the doctor was in! Stephanie Haridopolos showed a significant depth of knowledge on the issues facing Florida and America, and won the hearts of many in attendance with her charm, knowledge, and humor.

Team Haridopolos

While most political candidates display their family while on the campaign trail, it is clear that Haridopoloses are a team, and dedicated to working for the future of our country. The Republican primary to challenge Bill Nelson will be a hard fight, but Mike and Stephanie Haridopolos have made it clear that they are in it for the long haul. The Florida Senate President stated it clearly in his interview “… this isn’t just about winning a primary, it’s about being a principled conservative, and winning the general election…” All the candidates in the Republican Primary are coming on strong, but “Team Haridopolos” continues to gather speed, and will be one to keep watch on!

Keep Watch!