Together, we built an incredible base earning “On The Radar” status with the National Republican Congressional Committee Young Guns program and strong endorsements from Conservative groups including Concerned Women For America.

The decision to run for Congress is a deep personal commitment and sacrifice for the candidate and their family.

While I remain committed to supporting our Conservative Republican leaders, I have decided I will not seek the Republican nomination in 2012. Time has presented opportunities to my family and I am focusing my support there and most importantly with my three young sons.

We created a strong base in Central Florida and I will continue to be active in furthering our conservative values.

Your investment in my efforts is greatly appreciated and I am truly inspired by your strong trust and confidence in me. I look forward to being in touch.

Karen has made the decision to step aside for the 2012 election so she can focus on her family right now and, as she put it, “spend time with my three little guys.” She asked me to help make her decision public so that other good conservatives who may be interested in running for the seat would be encouraged to throw their hats in the ring. The timing is helpful, with the initial maps just starting to be released, so potential candidates have some idea where the new district lines may be.

Read more details and Sarah’s full blog here.

I look forward to attending the next meeting of the SouthWest Orange County Republican Club.

The club meets Wednesday, October 19th at 6:15 PM at the West Orange Country Club in Winter Garden (3300 West Orange Country Club Drive).

Be sure to RSVP to the event on Facebook or by emailing Club President Gary Shif at GShif_Pres@SWOCR.COM.

Link to Event Flyer

Read More at Sunshine State Sarah.

The PAC  is affiliated with Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with more than 500,000 grassroots members nationwide.

CWAPAC supported Karen in her 2010 run for Congress. Click here to listen to their audio endorsement from the last campaign.

Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America PAC had this to say about their endorsement:

“Getting to know Karen over the course of campaign 2010, it became clear to me that she would be a positive voice for the unborn and the family. Karen Diebel’s business background coupled with her pro-life convictions will make her a powerful addition to Congress in 2012. Concerned Women PAC endorses Karen Diebel because she will be a strong voice for the unborn and conservative values in Congress.”

Read more here.

Karen will be a much needed reinforcement for social conservatives in Congress

Washington, D.C. — Concerned Women Political Action Committee (CWPAC) has announced its endorsement of Karen Diebel for Congress in Florida’s newest congressional district.

Concerned Women PAC, established in 2002 by founder and chairman Mrs. Beverly LaHaye, is affiliated with Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with more than 500,000 grassroots members nationwide.

Karen Diebel ran for Congress in the 24^th District in 2010, and while she was not successful in that effort, she made a lasting impression on many in the pro-life, pro-family movement as someone who will carry a conservative agenda to Washington. While it is still not clear where the lines will be drawn in the new district, it is expected that Karen’s home will fall within the bounds.

Commissioner Karen Diebel has been an effective advocate on the Winter Park City Commission for pro-family and business-friendly tax policy.

“Getting to know Karen over the course of campaign 2010, it became clear to me that she would be a positive voice for the unborn and the family,” said Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women PAC.

“Karen Diebel’s business background coupled with her pro-life convictions will make her a powerful addition to Congress in 2012.

“Concerned Women PAC endorses Karen Diebel because she will be a strong voice for the unborn and conservative values in Congress.”

Penny Nance and Concerned Women Political Action Committee’s mission is to elect solid pro-family, pro-life conservatives to Congress. For more information on this race, or to set up an interview with Penny Nance, please contact Mike Mears at 202-408-4941.

Diebel was able to raise $100K in the last election reporting cycle, not bad for someone running for a yet-to-be geographically determined seat that is probably going to be drawn in somewhere in the vicinity of the I-4 corridor of Florida. Among Diebel’s supporters and donors is rising Republican Congressional star Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who donated $1000 to her campaign, as well as Congressman Spencer Bachus, who’s PAC donated $2500 to her campaign…

She is playing it smart by announcing early and kicking her fundraising into gear before the final lines are drawn. This aggressive move by Diebel could make her the favorite to win once the redistricting dust settles, if and when anyone decides to primary her.

The National Republican Congressional Committee today announced Karen Diebel as an ‘On the Radar’ candidate, the important first step in the ‘Young Guns’ program. Founded during the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the ‘Young Guns’ program is a Member-driven effort that is the primary method for recruiting strong candidates for both open-seat and challenger races. Diebel is running for one of Florida’s newly created Congressional District.

“We are looking forward to working with Karen Diebel, who has already proven herself by meeting rigorous benchmarks in the ‘Young Guns’ program that will position her campaign for victory,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “Karen Diebel’s dedication and
experience enables her to advocate effectively for pro-growth policies and fight the failed Democrat status quo in Washington. This will stand in stark contrast to the Democrats’ record of spending, borrowing and taxing that Florida families and small businesses know has failed.”

Specifically, the ‘Young Guns’ program encourages candidates who have proven their ability to meet crucial campaign benchmarks to develop their campaigns further in order to achieve victory on Election Day. In achieving ‘On the Radar’ status, Diebel has met the first set of these organizational and fundraising benchmarks and has already begun to establish herself as a strong contender. Diebel will now work toward even higher goals that will help her advance in the ‘Young Guns’ program and build an effective, winning campaign.

Karen Diebel has gained a wealth of knowledge serving as the Vice Mayor and City Commissioner of Winter Park since 2007. By opposing government-run healthcare and new taxes to businesses, Diebel is a strong Republican leader that understands what it takes to get the economy back on track. Working as the Verizon Business’ Executive Director also gives Diebel firsthand private sector experience that she will use to promote job-growth policies that will help alleviate the problems created by Obama and Congressional Democrats’ failed big government policies.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has announced our campaign is On The Radar, advancing in the NRCC’s Young Guns program.

The ‘Young Guns’ program encourages candidates who have proven their ability to meet crucial campaign benchmarks to develop their campaigns further in order to achieve victory on Election Day.

Read the NRCC’s press release here.

Diebel’s plan is to fill whatever new seat is added in the Central Florida area. This will be her second run at Congress in two years after narrowly losing in a Republican primary to Sandy Adams, the eventual winner of Florida’s 24th District congressional seat in 2010.

“My reasons and motivation remain the same,” Diebel said. “I think we haven’t gotten the changes right going forward. I’d like to help with that.”

Winter Park Mayor Ken Bradley congratulated her on her candidacy and said he looks forward to seeing her campaign take shape.

“She’s a good listener, very cautious and concerned about financial situations and very mindful of making sure we don’t spend money needlessly,” Bradley said. “I’d love to have her in Congress representing us.” …

Regardless of the eventual shape of the district Diebel hopes to represent, Sarah Rumpf, a former campaign consultant for Diebel, said that she’s made an important move getting into the running first. “She’s done well to establish herself as the front-runner being out there first,” Rumpf said. “It’s not a guaranteed slam dunk that you win, but it’s a big advantage.”

Diebel said the redrawing process could take more than six months.

“We may not know where the district lines are drawn until early next year with the way the Legislature is communicating that,” Diebel said. “Until they draw the district lines, we’re just setting up.”

Full article here.