Stephen Bittel, a real estate mogul and part owner of the Miami Dolphins, was tapped as the new chairman of the Florida Democratic Party on January 20th. In this article we’ll answer some questions about Stephen Bittel, what he hopes to accomplish in his role as chairman and profile some other noteworthy Democrats.
Achievements
A billionaire who has made his fortune in real estate, Bittel gave $1.5 million to the Democratic Party in 2009. He has also been an outspoken proponent of gay rights and liberal causes since the 1990s. In 2006, Bittel created a super PAC called “The Conservative Campaign Committee” that focused on electing conservatives to local and state offices all over the country. In 2010, Bittel donated the maximum $500,000 to the Republican Governor’s Association.
Bittel announced that he would be stepping down as president of his company, The Bittel Group, after his appointment as chair of the Democratic Party was announced. He has served in this role since 2014 and will continue in this role until a successor is found. The company focuses on real estate development and management in South Florida. Bittel’s annual salary had been valued at $6 million and he owns more than two dozen strip malls throughout Florida, many of which are leased to Walmart or Target stores.
Bittel said his role as chairman was to “focus on the issues, keep our relationships with the party, Democratic leaders and donors, and help develop our message.” Bittel will be responsible for fundraising and developing strategies, but will not have any official responsibilities in setting policy. Bittel said that he hoped to raise a million dollars for the Democrats in order to compete with the Republican Governors Association.
Bittel, who has donated to both Democratic and Republican campaigns in the past, will be using his wealth and South Florida connections to help the Democratic Party. Obviously, Bittel’s decisions will play a major role in whether the Democrats can compete for governor or not. Stay tuned for more coverage about this issue in the months ahead.
Original source to learn more: https://stephenbittel.medium.com/