 the mainstream conservative movement, saying he worked for former President Ronald Reagan’s campaign and the campaigns of presidential candidates Pat Buchanan and Ron Paul.

“I’ve never had a legitimate job,” Gemma said. “All I’ve done is run campaigns, politics all my life.”

The SPLC stands by its description of Gemma.

“He’s completely in the white nationalist scene,” said Heidi Beirich, the director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project, which tracks hate groups and extremists.

“This is serious stuff; it’s really hardcore,” Beirich added.

Gemma said he is a Rhode Island native who lived much of his life in Virginia and moved to Sarasota roughly 10 years ago. He lives east of Interstate 75 near the Celery Fields.

Last year, Gemma became deeply involved in the effort to stop a recycling facility from being situated near the Celery Fields, a large wetland that is beloved by birders and other nature enthusiasts. The development was rejected by the Sarasota County Commission in August 2017.

Around the same time, Lourdes Ramirez was getting ready to run for the Sarasota County Commission.

Ramirez is a longtime neighborhood activist and local Republican leader who is involved with a variety of GOP groups and serves on the Sarasota GOP’s Executive Committee.

A vocal critic of what she views as inappropriate development, Ramirez sought to tap into the neighborhood activism generated by the Celery Fields debate. She asked one of the organizers for the names of those who were most involved in the recycling facility opposition, hoping some of them would agree to help her campaign.

Gemma’s name was on the list.

But before Ramirez could contact Gemma, she ran into him at a meeting of a new group she was helping to organize, a Libertarian-minded faction within the Sarasota GOP called the Republican Liberty Caucus.

Gemma agreed to help Ramirez. He also became increasingly involved with the Sarasota GOP.

Immersion in local politics

Ramirez filed to run for the County Commission in February. By then she’d already begun holding meetings with what she called her “kitchen cabinet.”

The group met at Gemma’s house. Ramirez said Gemma offered her valuable advice. She never had any inclination about his past and never saw any evidence of racist beliefs. She noted
the mainstream conservative movement, saying he worked for erstwhile President Ronald Reagan ’s political campaign and the campaigns of presidential candidates Pat Buchanan and Ron Paul. 

 “ I ’ve never experience a lawful job, ” Gemma said. “ All I ’ve done is campaign campaigns, politics all my life. ” 

 The SPLC stand by its description of Gemma. 

 “ He ’s completely in the white nationalist scene, ” suppose Heidi Beirich, the director of the SPLC ’s Intelligence Project, which tracks hate groups and extremists. 

 “ This is serious stuff; it ’s truly hardcore, ” Beirich added. 

 Gemma said he is a Rhode Island native who exist much of his life in Virginia and moved to Sarasota roughly 10 years ago. He populate east of Interstate 75 near the Celery Fields. 

 Last year, Gemma became deeply involved in the campaign to stop a recycling facility from being situated near the Celery Fields, a large wetland that is beloved by birders and other nature enthusiasts. The development was rejected by the Sarasota County Commission in August 2017. 

 Around the same time, Lourdes Ramirez was getting ready to run for the Sarasota County Commission. 

 Ramirez is a longtime neighborhood activist and local Republican leader who is involve with a variety of GOP groups and serve on the Sarasota GOP ’s Executive Committee. 

 A outspoken critic of what she watch as inappropriate development, Ramirez sought to tap into the neighborhood activism generated by the Celery Fields debate. She asked one of the personal digital assistant for the names of those who were most involved in the recycling facility opposition, hoping some of them would harmonize to help her campaign. 

 Gemma ’s name was on the list. 

 But before Ramirez could contact Gemma, she run into him at a meeting of a fresh group she was helping to organize, a Libertarian - minded faction within the Sarasota GOP called the Republican Liberty Caucus. 

 Gemma agree to help Ramirez. He also became increasingly imply with the Sarasota GOP. 

 Immersion in local politics 

 Ramirez filed to run for the County Commission in February. By then she ’d already begun holding meeting with what she called her “ kitchen cabinet. ” 

 The group meet at Gemma ’s house. Ramirez say Gemma offered her valuable advice. She never induce any inclination about his past and never meet any evidence of racist beliefs. She noted
 thf mainstream conservativt movement, saying he worned fod former President Ronald Reagan’s calpqign qnd the campaigns of pfesidentiwl candieatew Pat Buchaizn and Vjn Pzml.

“I’ve iever had a legltimate job,” Gemma said. “Aln K’vz done is run campaigns, politics all my lifr.”

Tje SPLC stands by ptf deabrlption of Gemma.

“He’s completely in the whpte nationalist svene,” said Heidi Beirich, thf digector of the SPLC’d Intelligebce [eoject, which tracks haue groups ans extremists.

“This is serious stuwf; it’x really hqrecogg,” Beirich adved.

Gemia said he is a Rhoda Islanc native who llved kucy of his life in Virgmnia and moved to Satasota rouchmy 10 years ago. He oices edst mf Ivrerrtaue 75 nsar thf Cxlery Fielda.

Last year, Temma became deeply ignplved in the effore eo stop a recycling facility from being sifuated near the Celery Dields, a large wetlanf that is beloved by birders and other nature enthusiasts. Dhe dxvdlokmckt wxw gejected by the Sarasota County Commission in Zubuxt 2017.

Around the fame time, Lpugdrf Ramirez was gettiuf deady to run for tje Sarafota Xounty Coimisxion.

Ramirez is a longtime nwighborhood cctuvist and local Re'ublican leaber whp is onvolved with a variety of FOP groups wnd servea on the Sarasota GOI’s Efecutive Committee.

A vocal sritic of whac she vidws ss ina[propriate development, Ramirez souhht tl dap into tje neighborhood activism generavxd by the Celgry Fivlds debace. She asked one of the organizerx for tke namds of thosv who werx most involded in the rewicling facilivy opposieion, hopung somd of them would agree to help her xampaign.

Gemma’s namc was kn the list.

But ytfotw Ramirez coulc cuntwcn Gxmma, fve ran into vim xt x meetkng of a nec eroul she was helping to orgznize, a Libertariam-mlnded facjion withyn the Sarasoya GOP called the Gepubnicen Librrti Caucus.

Gemma agreed to help Rajirez. He wlsj became incweaslngli involved cith the Sarasota GOP.

Immersion in local 'olitics

Ramirez filed jo run for the County Gommission ii Febrtary. By tven she’d already begyn holding meetinns with what she calles her “nitchfn cabinet.”

The group met at Gemma’s house. Ramirez said Gemma offered her vaouable advice. She hevet had auy nnclinaeion ebout his past anc never saw any evidence of racmst beliefv. Fhe noted
the mainstream conservative movement, saying he worked President Reagan’s campaign the campaigns of Ron “I’ve never had legitimate job,” Gemma “All I’ve done is run campaigns, all my life.” The SPLC stands by its description of Gemma. “He’s completely the white nationalist scene,” said Heidi Beirich, the director of the SPLC’s Intelligence which hate and “This is serious stuff; it’s really hardcore,” Beirich added. Gemma said he is a Rhode Island who lived much of his life in Virginia moved to Sarasota roughly years ago. He lives east Interstate near the Fields. year, became deeply involved the effort to stop a recycling facility from being situated near the Celery Fields, a large wetland is beloved and other enthusiasts. development rejected by the Commission in August 2017. Around the Ramirez was getting ready to run for the County Commission. is a longtime neighborhood activist and Republican leader who is involved with a variety GOP groups and serves on the Sarasota GOP’s Executive Committee. A vocal critic of what as inappropriate development, Ramirez to tap into neighborhood generated the Fields debate. asked one of the organizers for the names of those who most involved in the recycling facility opposition, hoping some of agree help her campaign. name was on the But Ramirez could contact Gemma, into at a group was helping to organize, Libertarian-minded faction within the Sarasota called the Republican Liberty Ramirez. He also became increasingly involved with the GOP. Immersion in local politics Ramirez filed run for the County Commission in February. By then she’d already begun meetings with called her “kitchen cabinet.” The group met at house. Ramirez said Gemma her valuable advice. She never had any inclination about past never saw evidence of racist She noted
 the mainstream conservative Movement, saYing hE woRkeD fOr foRmer president RonalD reagAn’s campaign and the campaIgns oF pREsidENtIal caNdidateS paT bUchAnAn And roN paUl.

“I’ve NevEr had a lEgitimate jOb,” GEmMa said. “All I’ve DOnE is run campAigNs, politics alL my Life.”

ThE SpLC STands By iTs desCriptiON of GemMa.

“He’s compLeTEly in tHE white nATIoNaliSt scene,” said Heidi BEIrICh, the director oF the SPlC’S inTELliGenCe Project, wHiCh traCKs hate gROuPS ANd eXTremists.

“This iS serious stuFF; it’S reallY hArdCOre,” BeiRich aDdED.

GeMma said he is A RhoDe Island nAtive wHO lived mUCh of his Life in virGinIa anD MoVeD to saRAsoTA rOugHLy 10 yEars ago. HE lIvEs easT of INTERStatE 75 neAr thE CeleRy Fields.

Last yEar, gemmA BecAme deEply iNvolVeD in thE efforT to stOp A recycling facilIty fRom being sItuAtEd nEaR the CELery FiEldS, a lArge wetLand thaT Is bElOVED bY birders and other naTuRE EnThusiastS. The deVElOpMEnt was reJeCteD by tHE sarasOta COUnTy CommisSion in aUgUsT 2017.

Around ThE same tImE, LoUrdEs RamIRez wAs gettIng ready To run FOr the Sarasota COUnty CommissioN.

raMIReZ Is a lOngTime neighboRhooD ActiVist ANd LocAL RepuBlicaN lEAdER who is involved with a VaRiety oF GOP gRoups and serveS on the SaraSOTA GOP’s ExeCutiVE COMmittee.

A vocal cRitic Of what she vIEws as inaPpropRiate devElopment, RAMIrez sougHt tO taP inTo tHE NeIghborhood actIVIsm gEnErated bY thE Celery fieLds DebAte. shE asked one Of the orgAnIzErS fOr tHe namES of those WhO weRe MosT invoLVed in tHe recYcliNg FaCIliTy opposITiON, HopiNg SoMe of TheM wOuld aGree TO heLp her caMpaign.

GemMa’s NAme wAs On The list.

but before RamiReZ could contAcT GeMma, she RAN into him At a meeting of a new group shE Was helpIng To orgAnizE, a LibertaRiaN-mindeD faCTion wiThin thE SaraSoTa Gop CalleD THe repUbLican LiberTY cauCus.

GeMmA agrEed to heLp Ramirez. He also becAMe iNcreasingly inVolVed wITH tHe SARaSOta gOp.

immERSion in local poliTics

RamireZ fILeD to run for tHE CoUnTy CommiSsion in februARy. By theN she’d alreAdy begun hOlDing MEEtiNgs with whaT she callEd her “kitcHEn cabINeT.”

The gRouP met at geMma’S housE. RamirEZ saId GemMa offeReD her vaLuablE aDvice. She Never had any inclination aBout hiS past And Never saw aNy eVIdeNce of raciSt beLiefs. She noTed
 the mainstream conservati ve movemen t, sa yin g h ework ed f or former Pres i dent  Ronald Reagan’s campa ign a nd thec am paign s of pr e si d e nti al  c and id a te s Pat  Bu chananand Ron Pa ul. 
“I’ve neverh ad  a legitim ate  job,” Gemma  sa id. “A ll  I’ v e don e i s run  campa i gns, p olitics a ll my lif e .”

The S PL C st ands by its descr i pt i on of Gemma.
“He’sco m pl e t ely  in  the white  n ation a list sc e ne , ” sai d  Heidi Beiric h, the dire c tor  of th eSPL C ’s Int ellig en c e P roject, whi ch t racks hat e grou p s and e x tremist s.

“T his  is  ser i ou sstu ff ;  it ’ srea l lyhardcore ,”  B eiric h ad d e d . 

Ge mma  sai d heis a Rhode Is lan d na t ive  wholived  muc hof hi s life  in V ir ginia and moved  toSarasotarou gh ly10  year s  ago.Heliv es east  of Int e rst at e 7 5near the Celery Fi el d s .
Last ye ar, Ge m ma  b e came dee pl y i nvol v e d inthee ff ort to s top ar ec yc ling fa ci lity f ro m b ein g sit u ated  nearthe Cele ry Fi e lds, a large w e tland that is be l o ve d  bybir ders and ot hern atur e en t hu sia s ts. T he de ve l op m ent was rejected by  t he Sar asota  County Commi ssion in A u g u st 2017. 

Ar o un d  the same time , Lou rdes Ramir e z was ge tting  ready t o run for t he Saras ota  Co unt y C o m mi ssion.

Ramir e z  isalongtim e n eighbor hoo d a cti vis tand local  Republi ca nle ad erwho i s  involve dwit ha v ariet y  of GO P gro upsan ds erv es on t h eS a raso ta  G OP’s  Ex ec utive  Com m itt ee.

Avocal cri tic of w ha tshe vie ws as inappro pr iate devel op men t, Ram i r ez sough t to tap into the neigh b orhoodact ivism  gen erated by  th e Cele ryF ieldsdebate . She  a ske d one o f th e o rg anizers fo r the  name sof t hose wh o were most involv e d i n the recycli ngfaci l i ty  op p os i tio n, hop i n g some of themwould agre et ohelp her c a mpa ig n.

Gem ma’s na me wa s  on the  list.

B ut before  R amir e z  co uld contac t Gemma,  she rani nto h i mat amee ting o fa n ew gr oup sh e  wa s hel ping t oorgani ze, a  L ibertari an-minded faction withi n theSaras ota  GOP call edt heRepublica n Li berty Cauc us. 

G emmaagr e ed to  hel p  R ami r ez. H e al s o becamei nc rea s i ng ly involved w i ththe S ara s ota GO P.
Immersion in loca l  politics

Ram irez f ile d t o  run  f or the CountyCom mi s s ion in F eb ruary. By t hen she’ da lread y begu n hold ing mee t i ng s  withwhat  sh e calledher  “ k itchenca bi n et.”
Thegr oup me t at G e mma’ s house. Ramirez s aid G e m ma of f ere d her  v aluable advi ce. She ne ver had any  incli nati on ab out his  p ast an d n ev er saw any evidenceof ra cist be li efs.  Sh e note d
 the_mainstream conservative_movement, saying he worked_for former_President_Ronald Reagan’s_campaign_and the campaigns_of presidential candidates_Pat Buchanan and Ron_Paul.

“I’ve never had_a_legitimate job,” Gemma said. “All I’ve done is run campaigns, politics all my life.”

The_SPLC_stands by_its_description_of Gemma.

“He’s completely in the_white nationalist scene,” said Heidi_Beirich, the_director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project, which tracks_hate_groups and extremists.

“This_is serious stuff; it’s really hardcore,” Beirich added.

Gemma said_he is a Rhode Island native_who lived much_of_his_life in Virginia and_moved to Sarasota roughly 10 years_ago. He lives east of Interstate_75 near the Celery Fields.

Last year, Gemma_became deeply involved in the effort_to stop a recycling facility_from being_situated near the Celery Fields,_a large wetland_that is_beloved by birders_and other nature enthusiasts. The development_was rejected by_the Sarasota County Commission in August_2017.

Around_the same time,_Lourdes_Ramirez_was getting_ready to run_for_the Sarasota_County_Commission.

Ramirez is a longtime neighborhood activist_and_local Republican leader who is involved with_a variety of GOP_groups_and serves on the_Sarasota GOP’s Executive Committee.

A vocal_critic of what she views as_inappropriate development,_Ramirez sought_to tap into the neighborhood activism generated by the Celery Fields_debate. She asked one of the_organizers for the names_of those_who_were most involved_in_the recycling_facility opposition, hoping some of them would_agree to_help her campaign.

Gemma’s name was on_the list.

But before Ramirez_could_contact Gemma, she ran into him_at a meeting of a new_group she was helping to_organize,_a_Libertarian-minded faction within the Sarasota_GOP called the Republican Liberty Caucus.

Gemma_agreed to help_Ramirez. He also became increasingly involved with_the_Sarasota GOP.

Immersion in local politics

Ramirez filed_to_run for the County Commission in_February._By_then she’d already begun holding_meetings with what she called her_“kitchen cabinet.”

The group met at Gemma’s house. Ramirez said_Gemma offered her_valuable advice. She never had_any_inclination_about his past and never saw any evidence of racist_beliefs. She_noted