The Second Congressional District of
The North Carolina Republican Party
 www.2ndNCGOP.com

April 21, 2007
 

Convention Highlights




Joseph Avery Elected Chairman


Chairman Joseph Avery, right, with Vice Chairman Al Lytton
at April 21, 2007 2nd District Convention.


Some of the delegates and elected officials at the convention.
 

CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY, BUIES CREEK, NC -- Joseph Avery was elected chairman of the 2nd Congressional District of the North Carolina Republican Party at its District Convention April 21.  The votes were 35 for Avery and 19 for David Hernandez. Al Lytton, who ran unopposed, was elected as vice chairman.

During the convention candidates, their representatives and elected officials spoke to delegates representing counties throughout the 2nd Congressional District. Several resolutions were also adopted including a condemnation of Nevada Sen. Harry Reid for his claim that the United States has lost the war in Iraq.

Harnett County Commissioner Teddy Byrd told convention goers that Republicans on the board have helped the county become more business friendly and is holding the line on taxes and wasteful spending.

Carson Daves representing his wife, state GOP Chairman Linda Daves,  said that a "desire for new leadership" is needed in the Legislature and that his wife is busy raising money and recruiting candidates. He said Linda is pro-life, pro-family, pro-2nd Amendment and pro-no debt and opposes allowing illegal aliens U.S. residency.

'The Republican Party Has to Reach Out'

Gubernatorial candidate Justice Bob Orr, pictured, said it is critical that the Republican Party take back the governor's office. He said he has been active in the G.O.P. all of his life and has won four statewide elections.

"The Republican Party has to reach out," he said. Orr emphasized strong ideas, established principles, economic development and bring in more jobs. However, Orr did say that it was wrong for Google to not pay any property taxes because it is "simply a bad way of supporting businesses."

Chris Farr with Americans for Prosperity said that local parties do not have time to deal with all of the issues and that's why AFP is needed in counties. She stressed that Republicans have at least one  AFP representative in each county to tackle such issues as Franklin County's trash tax, property taxes and other issues affecting taxpayers.

Medicaid is 'Making Poor Counties Poorer'

Bill Daughtridge, candidate for State Treasurer, said the gas tax must be held down because it will affect North Carolina's  travel and tourism. He said that Medicaid is making "poor counties poorer," and that a long view and vision is needed for the state.

The audience chuckled when Daughtridge said that the last Republican elected treasurer was in 1876. He hopes that he can take back the council of state seat next year.

 

'No One Will Outwork Fred Smith'

Jonathan Hill, pictured, speaking on behalf of gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith, said that 2008 is an important election year for the Republican Party. Hill ticked off several qualifications that Smith has for the office of governor such as being in agriculture as a cattle farmer, serving four years in the military and his experience as chairman of a bank.

Hill also said that Smith has over 700 employees and they must have a physical every year to help with their health care. Immigration, creating jobs and transportation are also key issues for Smith. Hill said that the DOT did not know what they were doing regarding a recent highway fiasco that is requiring millions of dollars be spent for a botched paving job. He said that Smith will put a stop to DOT's mismanagement and that he will not bid on contracts.

Lower taxes, improved education and family values -including Smith's support for the Defense of

Marriage Act- are also key issues. Hill said that Smith also received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association.

"No one will outwork Fred Smith," Hill said. He added that Smith has character, courage and commitment.

Prior to the election of chairman, several spoke on behalf of their respective candidates. Harnett County Vice Chairman Ginger Ballard nominated David Fernandez and Al Lytton seconded the nomination.

David Fernandez, pictured, said that he would push the Republican agenda forward and noted that it is urban in the western part of the district and rural in the east. He said that diversity is important in the GOP and that "we need to make the Democrats do our bidding."

Fernandez had served in the military which, he said, limited him from speaking out on issues until his recent retirement.

Lynwood Parker of Johnston County nominated Vice Chairman Joseph Avery for chairman. Avery said that for the last 10 years he had been running the local county party and would use ideas in all counties to help build the party.

He said that a Republican congressman must be elected to share "our values and not that of Pelosi." Avery said the GOP must work as a "whole team" in order to achieve victory in 2008.

Dan Mansell nominated Al Lytton for vice chairman who said that the GOP must be built with grassroots. No candidates for treasurer and secretary were nominated and they will be voted on at the May 12 district meeting.

As votes were being tabulated for chairman, Andy Lancaster of the Bill Graham for Governor campaign introduced Graham who was the keynote speaker at the convention.

"People want to hire a problem solver," said Graham. He said North Carolina's taxes are too high, education must be improved, and economic development are some of his top priorities.

He said that immigration policy must be reformed and that it was wrong that illegal aliens can get free health care in jail while law abiding citizens cannot.

"How can you be for something that starts with the word illegal?" Graham asked. "No amnesty. We're done with that."

One third of public school students will not finish high school, he said, and that more discipline is needed in the classrooms. Graham said that students need to learn a trade if they are not going to college.

After Hurricane Katrina, Graham said that North Carolina added a three-cent-a-gallon gas tax. "Enough is enough," and he added that North Carolina taxpayers were able to get a cap on the gas tax which he lead the effort to repeal.

Graham said that it was wrong for North Carolinians to pay the highest gas taxes, corporate taxes and income taxes in the Southeast.

North Carolina has "lousy public education" and "lousy transportation," and that state government has more employees than there are in manufacturing said Graham. He said that Medicaid needs to get under control and that Raleigh needs "common sense solutions."

Graham emphasized that North Carolina has "so much potential" and that the problems he mentioned can be resolved.

Also during the convention Franklin County delegate Wyatt McGhee introduced a resolution supporting the Litter Reduction Act of 2007 (Senate Bill 215) which would impose a 10 cent deposit on bottles and cans. The resolution was adopted but with some opposition.

By acclamation a resolution supporting an independent redistricting commission was adopted. The support for a commission, as stated in the resolution, is due in part because of "congressional and legislative districts that do not follow easily recognizable boundaries, but instead split neighborhoods, precincts, counties, and other established communities." For example, some congressional districts literally go down the middle of a neighborhood street with the Smiths voting for Congressman A and the Jones voting for Congressman B.

Also, Dan Mansell introduced a resolution to condemn Senate Majority Harry Reid for saying that the United States had lost the war in Iraq. He said that Reid committed an act of treason. The resolution was adopted by acclamation.

After Avery was elected chairman he said that it is important to elect conservative Republicans throughout the district. He also said that a Republican would be elected governor in 2008.


Outgoing District Chairman Joey Powell, center, is flanked by Joseph Avery and Al Lytton at the convention. Powell was applauded for his job as chairman.

The next 2nd District meeting will take place 9:00 a.m. Saturday May 12 at the White Swan Restaurant in Smithfield.