Florida GOP names interim executive director as George Riley seeks help
The Republican Party of Florida is naming an interim executive director to fill in for George Riley as he gets help after he went missing and was later found last week after being kicked out of a trashed hotel room.
Party chairperson Evan Power is naming William “Bill” Helmich to take over as interim, according to a draft email obtained by the Tampa Bay Times on Friday. In the draft email, Power wrote that Riley “is getting the help he needs so that he can return to helping us move the party forward.”
Power wrote that he had consulted with several stakeholders, and that Helmich is “prepared to hit the ground running.”
According to the draft, Helmich began his career with the Republican Party of Florida in 1997 and, in the 2000s, was chief of staff for the Florida House Majority Office for two legislative sessions and director of house campaigns in 2006. He founded Helmich Consulting Inc., a legislative consulting firm, 20 years ago.
When contacted by phone Friday, Helmich confirmed the contents of the email and said that he is “honored by the opportunity.”
Helmich is a graduate of Norwich University, The Military College of Vermont, and served six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
On April 2, Riley’s family members notified Osceola sheriff’s deputies that they couldn’t reach Riley over a period of four days beginning that previous Friday. The sheriff’s office found him days later, after he had left a Hampton Inn in Kissimmee. Employees of the hotel told sheriff’s deputies that Riley had appeared to be “under the influence” and had damaged a hotel room. Employees noticed he had purchased so much alcohol they had to order more, and asked him to check out of the hotel.
In an interview with the Times on Tuesday, Riley apologized and said he was seeking help, saying he had been dealing with “alcoholism and mental health issues.”
Get help around Tampa Bay
Addiction Services
If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance use disorder, call Operation PAR’s 24/7 phone line at 888-727-6398 to get connected with services in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee, Charlotte and Lee counties, or visit operationpar.org/.
Hillsborough County residents can contact the Hillsborough Recovery Coalition at 813-740-4811 ext. 289, or email celoian@cfbhn.org.
Mental Health Services
For free, peer-led mental health support, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness — Tampa Bay at namitampabay.org/, and check out their meetings calendar.
Specific county offerings are also listed on the website. For help connecting with a mental health professional in your area, reach out to The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay by dialing 211 or by visiting crisiscenter.com.
You can also reach 211 Tampa Bay Cares by texting your ZIP code to 898211 or visiting online at 211tampabay.org/.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, reach out to the 24-hour National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by texting or calling 988 or chat with someone online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
