Abbott Public Relations News Release - Abbott Position in John Cox Campaign Featured in FL Paper

The Winter Haven (FL) News Chief featured Stephen Abbott in its Sept. 27 edition. Abbott lived in Winter Haven for 16 years.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006
9:05 AM on Wednesday, September 27, 2006

PCC grad joins Cox campaign
By Jessica Levco
Winter Haven News Chief (FL) staff

With a political bumper sticker slapped on his bicycle, one former Winter Haven resident began his career as a political advocate as a 6-year-old.

On Monday, Stephen Abbott, who graduated from Winter Haven High School and Polk Community College, was named the campaign communications director for Rep. John Cox's 2008 presidential campaign.

Now, the 39-year-old lives in New Hampshire, but still has fond memories of growing up in Winter Haven.

In 1984, he worked for the Ronald Reagan campaign in downtown Winter Haven, making phone calls and passing out literature about "The Gipper."

"Winter Haven is politically active and educated about issues," Abbott said. "It's full of open minded and conservative people. The warmth of the community rubbed off on me."

Judy Joiner, a world history teacher at Winter Haven High School, fondly remembers her former student from 1985.

"I'm not surprised he got into a career involving politics," Joiner said. "We would talk before and after class about world events. Most students didn't care about or had the kind of perception he had."

Abbott plans to continue to run his public relations firm in Manchester, but is excited to start his new job as the communications director. On an average day, he'll discuss political issues with Cox and form relationships with media outlets.

Abbott was elected as a delegate to the New Hampshire Republican Convention and to the Republican State Committee in 2004. He also managed a New Hampshire gubernatorial primary campaign in 2004.

Besides his goal of getting Cox elected as president, he wants to see the campaign grow. Right now, there are 11 state coordinators and 50 county coordinators who help out with the campaign. There aren't any coordinators in Florida, but Abbott said he's looking for volunteers.

Cox is a businessman from Illinois who wants to reform social security, abolish the Internal Revenue Service and get Iraqis to pump their own oil to become self-sufficient.

Abbott said that Cox is socially and fiscally conservative, which would be appealing to Florida voters.

"He's very charismatic," Abbott said. "He's good at explaining his views on a one-on-one basis."

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