Working with political players behind the scenes is nothing new for Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota for nearly a decade. But this year he played a major hand in getting the next president of the United States elected. Co-chair for the Donald Trump campaign’s Florida efforts, Gruters also managed to win a seat for himself in the Florida Legislature, marking the first time the long-time political player scored a victory at the ballots for himself. Love or hate his politics, nobody else in the region made such spectacular waves in politics this year, making Gruters SRQ's pick for political newsmaker of the year. 

To call 2017 the biggest in Gruters’ life, he says, is a ridiculous understatement. “I have 20 years of working the grassroots. I’m a guy who started as a door-to-door walker for little candidates,” he says. He got a break in 2006 as chairman of Vern Buchanan’s first successful Congressional campaign, then became the GOP county chairman in 2008. Today, Gruters serves as vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, but in 2010, he feared state leaders would shun him after a controversial decision to host a campaign event for Rick Scott, who at the time was making a rogue run for governor. “If Rick Scott lost,” Gruters says, “I would’t have been local chairman in 2011.” But Scott did win, in both the primary and general election. Suddenly, Gruters was among a handful of Republican leaders in Florida to get into Scott’s corner early; it also showed Gruters the power of an outsider’s voice.

So when Donald Trump announced his presidential candidacy, Gruters jumped in with his support early. Sarasota twice hosted Donald Trump for Statesman of the Year awards, so Gruters knew the candidate. Trump surprised most observers by winning the White House this year. This month, Gruters emceed an event in Orlando, part of Trump’s thank-you tour. A few days later, Gruters served as one of 29 Florida members of the electoral college, casting the vote that officially named Trump the victor.

Along the way, Gruters also won office himself: a closely contested primary for a Florida House of Representatives seat 73. Rival Steve Vernon won Manatee County, but Gruters eked out a victory with heavy support in Sarasota, ultimately winning with 50.9 percent to Vernon’s 49.1 percent. He easily won the conservative district over James Golden, taking 65.1 percent of the final vote. He was sworn in during a ceremony in Tallahassee in November. Trump has 4,000 administration jobs to fill, and Gruters could still find a place in Washington, or even as an ambassador. If he gets a job under Trump, he would resign his House seat, forcing a special election. But that’s all hypothetical.  “It would be a true honor to serve Mr. Trump in this administration, but I’m planning to go to Tallahassee,” Gruters stresses. “I already have bills in drafting stages. But who knows what the future is going to hold.”

Honorable Mention: Greg Steube rose above a crowded field of candidates to become Sarasota County’s newest state Senator. Nancy Detert retired from Senate and won a seat on the Sarasota County Commission without opposition.

All this week, SRQ Daily names a newsmaker of the year for 2016. Individuals selected were chosen by our editorial team based on meaningful impact within a field where they have demonstrated leadership, effectively redirecting community conversation in important and lasting ways. Read tomorrow's edition to learn the culinary newsmaker of the year.