Looking forward to 2012, and unconcerned about promoting a "Tallahassee insider," Republicans elected David Bitner chairman of the state party on Saturday.

Bitner edged Cox-Roush in a runoff after none of the five candidates attained a majority in the first round of voting. Bitner led the initial tally with 109, followed by Cox-Roush, who garnered 58.

The three other candidates trailed far behind: Joe Gruters, 37; Sid Dinerstein, 16; and Tony DiMatteo, 7.

Bitner prevailed in the runoff as supporters of the second-tier candidates shifted to the Jefferson County state committeeman and former state legislator.

Both Bitner and Cox-Roush encountered anonymous attacks during the campaign, but still finished one-two in the balloting.

In his first act as chairman, Bitner brought his rivals to the podium at the Dolphin Resort at Disney's Epcot, where he applauded "a great team."

"There's unity here. There were no bad people in this race," said Bitner, who also worked several years as a lobbyist in Tallahassee.

Choking with emotion, Bitner said he was "honored" to lead the party.

"We are unified, and we will deliver," Bitner pledged.

Cox-Roush turned down a draft to nominate her for another term as vice chairman. True to her word during the campaign, she said she was not running for vice chair.

But, she added, "I'm not done yet."

Cox-Roush, whom many believed was the front-runner in the contest, was dogged by the revelation that she had been arrested for drunk driving in 2004.

She also was plagued by persistent reports that she used her position in the party to benefit her catering business. Cox-Roush denied the allegations, but the attacks chipped away at her standing.

Bitner, meanwhile, had his own issues. A 1999 domestic-abuse complaint filed and subsequently withdrawn by his wife, Wendy, raised concerns about his personal life. So did subsequent revelations about his four previous marriages.

Pointing to Bitner's voting state House record from 1992-2000, the Florida Lawyers Action Group claimed that his seat was "for sale." Bitner responded that he "never sponsored an earmark."

Saturday's vote suggested that Republican delegates considered the 1999 domestic incident ancient history. And riding a wave of support among legislative delegates, the former state representative prevailed in the runoff.

Bitner, appearing humble and soft-spoken in accepting his nomination, was the lone candidate to speak from the floor of the convention.

Invoking the names of his wife and Jesus Christ, Bitner promised party delegates, "We'll be one big family." His remarks were by far the shortest and most emotional of those made by the five candidates.

Cox-Roush, by contrast, brought out the heavy guns. U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, in his nominating speech, said Cox-Roush "stood (against Gov. Charlie Crist) when most people looked the other way."

Carole Jean Jordan, a former RPOF chair, seconded Ross' motion, saying Cox-Roush "formed a partnership with (John) Thrasher to take our party back. We don't have time for on-the-job training."

Gruters, the party chairman of Sarasota County, waged the most high-profile campaign for chairman. He received several endorsements, including a nominating speech from Sen. Anitere Flores. But instead of working for him, his age as the only candidate under 55 appeared to work against him.

Significantly, Gruters was the only candidate to publicly reference the tea party and 9/12 patriot groups. But his call for the RPOF to reach out to those voters appeared to fall on deaf ears, as he finished a distant third in the voting.

Similarly, Cox-Roush failed to connect with party delegates as she vowed to "create a culture of accountability" and promised "rigorous financial management" within the party.

"I'm not a Tallahassee insider. I don't owe anyone anything," she said.