FRANKLIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
101 WEST NASH STREET
P.O. BOX 909
LOUISBURG, NORTH CAROLINA 27549
(919) 496-1469
www.FranklinNCGOP.com 

March 17, 2006

County Convention Highlights

GOP is GROWING

The numbers are surging for the GOP. As Chairman Ed Strickland points to chart, held by First Vice Chairman Danny Pearce, the number of Republicans have increased to 9,799 at the March 17, 2006 GOP County Convention. At last year's March 20 convention the numbers were 9,421 -- a 378 increase in a year's time. During that same time span, the Democrats only gained about 100. It is possible that the GOP may reach their goal of 10,000 by the November elections.

  
Left photo: About 67 Republicans, including delegates and alternates, attended the convention.
Right: Commissioner Harry Foy, standing, speaking to fellow Republicans.

Cutting taxes, controlling wasteful spending and making government accountable were some of the topics covered at the Franklin County Republican Party's annual County Convention in Louisburg March 17. Candidates for various offices spoke and Lois Wheless was recognized for her 2nd District award. Resolutions were also passed including gas taxes and widening Highway 401.

Delegates and alternates attended the convention and they were elected to represent the Franklin GOP at the 2nd District GOP convention in April and the state GOP convention in June. They, along with several guests including Tillie Swanson, the wife of the late Joe Swanson, listened to candidates' speeches.

Dan Mansell, Second Congressional District candidate for Congress, said Democrat Rep. Bob Etheridge was like Superman in a phone booth. He would be Bob Etheridge but change in the phone booth and become Ted Kennedy in Washington, Mansell said.

He said he would vote to cut taxes and keep spending under control.

Mansell warned that immigration is a major issue. The U.S., Mansell said, is like a boat because no matter how much water is bailed out it keeps coming in. The hole needs to be plugged, he said. The only way to win is to get out the vote and bring five, ten or fifteen people to the polls, Mansell said.

Mansell added: "Have a Congressman that's part of the problem or part of the solution."


Chuck Stires (click to enlarge)

"He's on the left-hand side," said Chuck Stires of his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Doug Berger. Stires is running for the District 7 seat which includes Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties. Stires said that Berger blames President Bush for all of the problems in the district.

If elected Stires says he will support fiscal responsibility and a marriage amendment for a  man and a woman. Recently Stires worked with the Virginia Legislature to help kill a proposal for a $5 toll on the North Carolina-Virginia border. Berger, as Second Vice Chairman John Edwards said, was "asleep at the wheel" and did nothing to stop the toll.


Dave Harker (click to enlarge)

"God, family and country are important for the G.O.P." said Dave Harker, the Republicans' 49th District candidate which includes Franklin, Nash and parts of Halifax counties. "I will vote with my heart and your desires."

Harker said cutting taxes and widening Highway 401 is a priority. He said that Democrat Rep. Lucy Allen's past needs to be examined and "see that we don't want that as a future."

Harker has opened his campaign headquarters on 209 East Nash Street in Louisburg.

"Let's give'em hell," Harker said.

Harvey Satterwhite, who spoke on behalf of Republican candidate for sheriff, Terry Allen, said he was working during the convention (Allen is a Highway Patrolman) to "uphold the law of this community."

"We feel like it's time for a change," and new leadership is needed, Satterwhite said. "Consider his [Allen's] down to earth approach to law enforcement."


Kent Winstead (click to enlarge)

"It takes a lot of hard work and experience," said Kent Winstead, Republican candidate for sheriff. He said his 18 years of experience in law enforcement will "bring a vision and future for Franklin County."

"We want people to answer calls in all areas," said Winstead. He said he would guarantee "someone's going to call you," regarding 911 calls.

Winstead added that he has worked with aspect of law enforcement including local, state and federal.


Harry Foy (click to enlarge)

The taxpayers' friend, Commissioner Harry Foy, who has been elected in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 is vying for a fifth term and was the first Republican elected on the board in the 20th Century. Foy has never voted for a tax increase while on the board of commissioners.

"It needs to be returned to the taxpayer," Foy said. The Donnie Rudd tax scandal cost taxpayers about $295,000 but Rudd was ordered only to pay $60,000. So far, Foy said, Rudd has only paid the county about $2,900 in restitutions. Foy, and fellow Republican Commissioner Don Lancaster, were the only two who voted to refund people who were illegally charged a $50 fee by Rudd, who was the tax collector in the 1990s.

Foy said that his likely Democratic opponent, Commissioner Raymond Stone, made a motion for an income tax on property owners. Foy voted against the motion and thankfully it was defeated.

Foy added that spending is the problem in the county and "I have to manage my money and make it work," and the county should too.


Bob Winters (click to enlarge)

Bob Winters is running in an open seat for county commissioner in District 4 and told everyone at the convention that it was his wedding anniversary that evening.

Winters said that where he used to live that taxes were not enough to "feed the beast." He added that way back in 1968 that over time about one-third of his payments went to taxes.

"As a county commissioner, I will stop what's wrong," said Winters. He held a basket with a sign that read Welcome to Franklin County. In it were slips of paper with taxes on them. Winters kept adding tax after tax into the basket until it was full.

Winters stressed that he will oppose higher taxes and make "county government lean but not mean."

Check out Winters' letter to the editor about fiscal responsibility.

He also added that he will fight to keep 401 widened.

Resolutions honoring Joe Swanson, reducing the gas tax and supporting the widening of Highway 401 were unanimously passed at the convention.


Dr. Thomas and Lois Wheless (click to enlarge)

During the convention, Lois Wheless was honored for her 2nd Congressional District Award which she received last November at the North Carolina Republican Party's Hall of Fame dinner. Ten counties make up the Second Congressional District.