LIVE OAK — The Suwannee County Republican Party, in conjunction with the Republican Party of Florida, announced last week that Lt. Col. Allen West will be speaking at the Camp Weed Cerveny Conference Center on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. The theme of this event is Restoring American Patriotism.

“We are so very fortunate to have a speaker of this caliber and national standing come to Suwannee County ahead of the 2020 election cycle,” said Sheri Ortega, Chairwoman of the Suwannee County Executive Committee, in a release.

West, who was born in Atlanta in 1961 and graduated from the University of Tennessee and Kansas State University before obtaining an MMAS from the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, served in the United States Army from 1982 to 2004, rising to the rank of Lt. Col. He was deployed to the Middle East in the Persian Gulf War and the Iraq War.

Following his retirement from the Army in 2008 he ran for Congress unsuccessfully. Then, in 2010, West was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida’s 22nd District and was the first black Republican elected to the House since Reconstruction.

Following redistricting in 2012, he lost his re-election bid, however he has continued to be active in Republican politics. He served as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National convention in Cleveland, nominating Donald J. Trump for President.

West has since moved to Texas and is the CEO for the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis. He is a master scuba diver, motorcycle enthusiast and a frequent contributor to Fox News.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the citizens of this area to be able to hear and have contact with a nationally recognized American Patriot who believes in our Constitutional Republic and stands in defense of our American values and liberties,” added Chris Summerlin, State Committee Woman for Suwannee County, in the release.

Tickets are available for the event, which has a limited number of seats available. For the speaking engagement only, tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students with student IDs. Prior to the speech, there will be a VIP reception and book signing with photo opportunity where people will be able to meet West. Tickets for the VIP reception are $75 each and include preferred seating and designated parking for the speaking engagement as well. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served during the reception.

For more information, contact Sheri Ortega at 386-647-6039 or Chris Summerlin at 386-466-4940. More information is also availably by contacting the Suwannee County Republican Party on Facebook.

The Camp Weed Cerveny Conference Center is located at 11057 Camp Weed Place in Live Oak.