2nd Congressional District of the North Carolina Republican Party
www.2ndNCGOP.com

April 26, 2008

Convention Highlights

Fred Smith: 'We're Going to win this race'
Dan Mansell: 'I'll take your values and my values to Washington.'



Congratulations Delegates, Alternates and Presidential Elector!
Front row, left to right: Delegates Dodie Renfer and Stepahnie Ciaramitaro; Alternate Gayle Daniel
Back row: Presidential Elector David Oyster; Alternate John Young; Delegate Dan Mansell; and Alternate Jim Lee.



Sen. Fred Smith, candidate for governor, speaks to Republicans at their 2nd District convention at the Johnston County Courthouse April 26.
 

"I think people know who Fred Smith is," said Johnston County's favorite son and gubernatorial candidate speaking at the Republican Party's Second Congressional District convention in Smithfield at the county courthouse April 26, 2008.

Sen. Fred Smith, one of four candidates vying for his party's nomination May 6, said there is no "I" in football, the military, running a business or politics. He said it is all about winning and it takes we, and running a grassroots campaign is about "you," not "me."

Smith said he is a true conservative and social conservative and "we're going to win this race."

He said people are tired of corrupt government and want honest government. Smith said these are tough times due to a recession and people are living from paycheck to paycheck. He said Raleigh has spent $22 billion which is not like a family budget. Government spends more than they have, he said.

Sen. Smith said government is supposed to serve the people, not the people serving the government. However, he said that in order to win in November he will need conservative Democrats and unaffiiateds. There are 1.9 million Republicans out of 5.5 million voters, therefore a conservative must be on the ticket to win.

Smith said that in his Senate district 42 percent of the Democrats voted for him because of his conservative voting record. He said the urban vote will not help elect a Republican, and that's why his campaign has been visiting small towns and rural areas across the state.

"The Second District is where I'm going to win this race," Smith said to a standing ovation. "Together we can get'er done."

 

Second District Chairman Joseph Avery, above, said it's "time to win the gold" for November and urged all county chairmen to push for Republican victories. He asked each chairman if they were ready and they all said yes.

Gayle Daniel, the Chatham County chairman for Sen. Elizabeth Dole, spoke on her behalf and said Dole opposes raising taxes. She said some in Washington wanted the tax cuts to expire, but Dole wants the cuts permanent. She added that Dole opposed $2 million spent on bilingual education for illegals. English must be learned, not Spanish, when becoming a U.S. citizen, she said.



North Carolina National Committee Chairman Rep. David Lewis of Harnett County, above, said Vice President Dick Cheney will visit Raleigh April 28 to raise $100,000 for the state Republican Party. He said that the goal is to get as many Republicans to vote at the polls in November.

Dan Mansell, the Second Congressional District Republican candidate, said people across the district want honesty, solutions to problems and win back the confidence of the voters.

Gas and food are "skyrocketing," but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, Mansell said. "I'll take your values and my values to Washington."

He said it is important that the Republicans to come back to its core principles, because we have "erred in our ways" and learned a lesson.

Numerous candidates for local offices or their representatives spoke on their behalf at the convention.

Nine candidates vied for the six coveted slots as delegates and alternates to the Republican Party's national convention September 1-4 in Minneapolis. The following were elected: Delegates are: Dodie Renfer, Dan Mansell and Stephanie Ciaramitaro; alternates are: Jim Lee, Gayle Daniel and John Young.

David Oyster was elected as the presidential elector and John Edwards was elected as the district representative for the North Carolina County Chairman's Association for the Second District.

During announcements and new business Dan Mansell announced his campaign's grand opening 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 104 E. Main St. in Clayton.