Unite Party (Spring 2009)

From Gatorpedia

Unite Party

Unite Party

Party President Joseph Regalado Senate Leader Joseph Regalado Senate seats 89 out of 100 Dates in existence Spring 2009 - present Party type System Florida Blue Key

The Unite Party is a current Florida Blue Key-backed System political party in Student Government. The party was founded in Spring 2009, essentially changing its name from the Gator Party. The party holds an extensive supermajority in the Senate and controls the executive branch with Student Body President Jordan Johnson. Opposition parties have also accused them of having significant sway over the judicial branch, namely the Supreme Court of the Student Body. The current Party President is Joseph Regalado.

The Unite Party controls the Senate leadership, with Senate President Ashton Charles and Senate President Pro Tempore Naadira Renfroe. The Party Leader is also Joseph Regalado.

[edit] Spring 2009

Following the Fall 2008 election and the exposure of the Green Means Go email scandal, the Gator Party's identity had become significantly tarnished. Then Senate President Jordan Johnson attempted to distance himself from the Gator Party as much as possible leading up to the Spring 2009 election. On January 14, 2009, Johnson announced his intention to run for the presidency under the new Unite Party. However, almost all of the main party leadership and campaign staff were former members of the Gator Party.

The party ran under the slogan "A Positive New Direction" and was extremely successful with its message and media output. Combined with the unanimous support of The System and the Greek community, the Unite Party won the executive elections and 42 out of 50 Senate seats up for election.

Unofficial party member Audrey Goldman (who filed as an independent within the Senate) became the Senate President, with Suzanne Hershman as Senate President Pro Tempore.