Life Of The Party

Carole Jean Jordan, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, relaxes at RPOF downtown headquarters in Vero Beach. “When I first moved to Florida I had absolutely no intention of becoming involved in politics,” she says.

At first glance, she’s the picture of understatement: crisply tailored navy blue suit, matching shoes and purse, hair swept neatly off her face. Upon closer inspection, however, a single accessory stands out: a large gold pin on her lapel in the shape of a W. Make no mistake about it: Carole Jean Jordan is an enthusiastic member of the Republican Party and a loyal follower of George W. Bush. “Senator Mel Martinez tells me I can always turn the pin upside down whenever I’m in his presence,” she laughs.

As chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), Jordan holds a key position in the state’s political organization. A dedicated Republican for more than 30 years, she has worked steadily to move up the ranks. But her debut in the party all those years ago was more a matter of serendipity. “When I first moved to Florida in the late 1960s, I had absolutely no intention of becoming involved in politics,” she says. “However, the political climate was in the midst of change and I became intrigued. While many people in the area considered themselves Southern Democrats, they were discovering that the ideals of the Republican Party were more in line with their own.”

At home in Vero Beach, Jordan became acquainted with local political activists Georgia Scurlock, Jeannette Riel and Virginia Nutting, and entered the world of politics by joining Republican Women of Indian River Federated in 1973. Within the club, she was instrumental in recruiting, training and supporting candidates, and in attracting new members to the organization on a local level. “I worked with people from all walks of life, encouraging them to become involved in any way they could,” she recalls. “It was a tremendous experience.”

Read the entire article in the February 2006 issue